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Osiry
Joined: 19 Mar 2015
Posts: 84
Location: Nanjing
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 Posted: Wed Aug 12, 2015 4:25 am Post subject: Looking for ESL job asap for myself and my girlfriend |
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Hi there,
So the time has finally arrived, myself and my girlfriend are finally ready to start applying for ESL jobs in China.
We've been looking around for positions, but there are so many shady sounding offers out there it's hard to know which are legitimate and which are not!
I just thought I'd post here and see if anybody knows of any institutions that are currently hiring.
We're both native speakers from New Zealand, we both have a 120 hour TEFL certificate.
Me:
27 years old
Bachelor's Degree in Social Sciences (Psychology)
Masters Degree in Applied Psychology
2 years teaching experience at tertiary level
Her:
26 years old
Bachelor of Law (Hons)
1 year teaching experience at tertiary level, and 5+ years of coaching children's gymnastics.
She's looking for a job either teaching young children, or adults. Something like kindergarten or university would be perfect.
I'm looking for a job teaching adults. University would be perfect, or a training center with reasonably low hours.
Neither of us want to work more than 25 hours per week, with 16 - 20 being perfect.
We'd ideally like to be living together, so both employed at the same place, or different places but reasonably close to each other.
Any pointers as to where we should be looking? Or does anyone know of any positions that would suit?
I know it's quite late to be looking for university positions, but thought I'd ask just in case any universities had someone bail on their contract etc.
Thanks!
Vin. |
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OhBudPowellWhereArtThou
Joined: 02 Jun 2015
Posts: 1168
Location: Since 2003
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| Posted: Wed Aug 12, 2015 12:08 pm Post subject: |
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Try applying to several different schools. Compare their offerings. Read as much about the industry as possible so that you are informed. Don't rely solely upon advice given on one ESL board. Do some homework.
What is "shady sounding"? Did you do any research into these operations? (e.g. reading many esl boards about the school(s); Googling the school name, etc.).
Forget living with your girlfriend. Yes, you can probably still file for a cohabitation permit to allow you to live together, but it might not be worth your time. If you manage to get jobs in the same school that offer free accommodations, just live in one abode together. |
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jimpellow
Joined: 12 Oct 2007
Posts: 913
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| Posted: Wed Aug 12, 2015 9:37 pm Post subject: |
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| OhBudPowellWhereArtThou wrote: |
Try applying to several different schools. Compare their offerings. Read as much about the industry as possible so that you are informed. Don't rely solely upon advice given on one ESL board. Do some homework.
What is "shady sounding"? Did you do any research into these operations? (e.g. reading many esl boards about the school(s); Googling the school name, etc.).
Forget living with your girlfriend. Yes, you can probably still file for a cohabitation permit to allow you to live together, but it might not be worth your time. If you manage to get jobs in the same school that offer free accommodations, just live in one abode together. |
China is just a shady place - period. As the vets always state, dealing with most recruiters increases the shadiness tremendously.
I am always against the herd with the hiring season theory. China abounds in positions year round. The visa process is never so fast so best to look somewhere else if ASAP in terms of starting right away. Have you thought about Japan or Vietnam?
But I do like what Bud Powell's, or whatever he is calling himself these days, comment about living with the girlfriend. These high schools and universities can get very conservative about such things as they do not want their precious youth exposed to the morally corrupt Western Lifestyle. It would be better if you were gay as they would never figure it out. Seriously...
Private schools dig couples as they can fill two positions at a time and can save on one apartment. |
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Non Sequitur
Joined: 23 May 2010
Posts: 4724
Location: China
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| Posted: Thu Aug 13, 2015 3:30 am Post subject: |
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Jim is right about positions being available all year but the OP should be looking for the bog standard uni or vocational gig and I feel they mostly occur in the hiring season. It's the hard to staff gigs that appear all year round and OP should avoid these.
You are both admirably suited to the Chinese public system and I'd say that even if you weren't Kiwis!
You'll find Nth China pretty bleak so I'd recommend Dalian south ie Shandong and so on and coastal.
Many China cities have uni areas so even if you teach at different schools they will be walking distance or a short bus ride from each other.
Listing on Seriousteachers.com might be a good start.
Best |
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Brunouno
Joined: 18 Apr 2013
Posts: 129
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| Posted: Thu Aug 13, 2015 5:44 am Post subject: |
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What's the main purpose of your endeavour? Are you doing it to save cash or for the cultural experience? If it's the former, I would be concentrating on finding a good kindergarten job for your girlfriend. Some of these places pay very well, and you're not going to make as much as her if you're only willing to teach adults. After she has found a good job, you could find a job in her area.
If you're more concerned about working together, then I'm sure that there are a plethora of language centres licking their lips to hire both of you even this late in the hiring season.
In regards to being concerned about shady offers, take ohbudpowell's advice. It also doesn't take long during the interview to know if you would want to work for them or not. |
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OhBudPowellWhereArtThou
Joined: 02 Jun 2015
Posts: 1168
Location: Since 2003
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| Posted: Thu Aug 13, 2015 6:46 am Post subject: |
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| jimpellow wrote: |
China is just a shady place - period. As the vets always state, dealing with most recruiters increases the shadiness tremendously.
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I wonder just how many recruiters the anti-recruiters horde have dealt with and how they became involved with them. My experience with dealing directly with a school revealed that most of the time the person in the other end of the phone in another city was actually a recruiter.
I also wonder how the negative folks became involved with their disappointing recruiters. Putting one's resume on a public board increases the chance of becoming the target of a rogue recruiter such as Mr. FZ who operates under several different names. He doesn't pay for access to job seekers, so he has nothing to lose if he scr*ws over a dozen recruits. There's no one for the recruits to complain to. If the recruiter isn't part of a paying agency, you'll suffer heart ache.
There are a lot of good recruiters out there. One must use common sense when dealing with all recruiters and the terms of the contracts (if you are even shown a real contract). That's why I am a proponent of reading many contracts and becoming familiar with many recruiters. It doesn't take long to sort the lead from the gold.
If one can walk across the street to another language center, there's no need for a recruiter, but I wonder how many FTs seeking jobs a few hundred miles away from their present employer have the time and wherewithal to meet a prospective employer in person. Even if one can walk across the street to get another job, there is no guarantee that you won't be given vague answers to your pointed questions. It happened to me. I took a bus to the other side of the city to interview for a job. I pressed the rep hard about the company's ability to hire FTs when that particular school in the chain had been open for only six months. I was assured that it could hire FTs. I wanted it in writing. I was told that i could join immediately on a tourist visa while I waited for my Z visa application to clear.
Yeah right. A month later, I got an email telling me that they would have to wait another seven months before it could hire FTs at that school, even though the chain had been in business for years. (At the time, law required schools to be in operation for thirteen months before it could hire foreign teachers. This particular school already had several FTs working for it with tourist visas).
Recently, I've recently been sent numerous proposals by supposedly experienced recruiters working for agencies I've never heard of only to be given the spiel, "You can transfer to our school on a tourist visa and then change it to a Z visa."
I don't want to hijack the thread, but I feel as though the recurring anti-recruiter sentiment should be addressed. There are many considerations when working with a recruiter. My recommendation to the newbie is to read the experiences of others, collect names, and get as many contracts in your hands as you can so you can get a feel for both the recruiter and the school. |
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Osiry
Joined: 19 Mar 2015
Posts: 84
Location: Nanjing
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| Posted: Thu Aug 13, 2015 8:01 am Post subject: |
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| OhBudPowellWhereArtThou wrote: |
Try applying to several different schools. Compare their offerings. Read as much about the industry as possible so that you are informed. Don't rely solely upon advice given on one ESL board. Do some homework.
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I have been trawling through a lot of job ads on a couple of sites (one that you recommended to me awhile back which has been great!), and I've been reading all sorts of threads on this forum for the past few months to get an overall picture of people's experiences and opinions.
I think I have somewhat narrowed down the types of jobs I am looking for, unfortunately they seem to be few and far between (decent university jobs are a little scarce right now, and most training centers seem to want you to teach kids).
| OhBudPowellWhereArtThou wrote: |
What is "shady sounding"? Did you do any research into these operations? (e.g. reading many esl boards about the school(s); Googling the school name, etc.).
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By 'shady sounding' I mean that they are a bit too good to be true. Yes I always google the name of the recruitment company, the institute/school, and the person who I am corresponding with.
I have responded to a couple ads and found that their promises of marvelous salaries aren't actually true. It turns out that the advertised job is gone, but they have this other greeeeaattt job for me.. with half the salary.
The same goes for ads with grand promises, but no actual figures or details provided. They seem to be just a catch all net to incite interest, followed by offers of sub-par positions when you actually contact them.
I've found one or two offers that seem to be quite good, and I am currently discussing my options with an outfit called New Life ESL. After searching around for reputable recruiters they seem to be one of the best. They're extremely transparent about how they operate, and you don't sign a thing with them. They find out what you want and facilitate contact with a school that meets your requirements.
They've found my girlfriend a position in Nanjing teaching kindergarten and elementary at a private language center that seems perfect for her, so now I am looking for a job in Nanjing as well. I've been informed that my desire to only work with adults is a bit of an issue, and limits my options quite a lot.
I suppose it is good to narrow down my search to a specific city though, I can give my poor eyes a break from reading countless advertisements! |
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Osiry
Joined: 19 Mar 2015
Posts: 84
Location: Nanjing
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| Posted: Thu Aug 13, 2015 8:07 am Post subject: |
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| jimpellow wrote: |
I am always against the herd with the hiring season theory. China abounds in positions year round. The visa process is never so fast so best to look somewhere else if ASAP in terms of starting right away. Have you thought about Japan or Vietnam?
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When I say ASAP, I don't mean that I NEED to come out right now, but that I'm ready to begin the application process immediately if something comes up. I understand that the visa process can be lengthy sometimes.
While there may be a lot of positions year round, there don't seem to be that many in which I'd be teaching adults, as I've missed the prime university recruiting season (especially now that I have possibly narrowed down the city to Nanjing).
I will happily eat my words if someone knows of a university currently hiring in Nanjing! |
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Osiry
Joined: 19 Mar 2015
Posts: 84
Location: Nanjing
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| Posted: Thu Aug 13, 2015 8:13 am Post subject: |
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| Brunouno wrote: |
| What's the main purpose of your endeavour? Are you doing it to save cash or for the cultural experience? If it's the former, I would be concentrating on finding a good kindergarten job for your girlfriend. Some of these places pay very well, and you're not going to make as much as her if you're only willing to teach adults. After she has found a good job, you could find a job in her area. |
A bit of both really. We're not looking to save a whole lot of cash, and we'd like to get out and see all of China/SEA so lower hours is good. In saying that it would be nice to save a bit to take back home with us when we are finished (be that after 1 year, or after 5+ years).
Your words concerning kindergarten work ring true! We've managed to find her a good position in Nanjing teaching kindergarten and elementary. I am now trying to find a job in Nanjing as well, but it's hard to find positions that are only teaching adults.
| Brunouno wrote: |
If you're more concerned about working together, then I'm sure that there are a plethora of language centres licking their lips to hire both of you even this late in the hiring season. |
Not too worried about working together, as long as we're in the same city and can possibly share accommodation. Finding a language center that has the option for teaching adults rather than children would be perfect. |
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Brunouno
Joined: 18 Apr 2013
Posts: 129
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| Posted: Thu Aug 13, 2015 9:55 am Post subject: |
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| Funnily enough, I'm in Nanjing now. I won't be here for much longer, though. It's a very modern city, and I'm sure you'll enjoy it here. Good luck! |
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jimpellow
Joined: 12 Oct 2007
Posts: 913
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| Posted: Thu Aug 13, 2015 3:32 pm Post subject: |
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"While there may be a lot of positions year round, there don't seem to be that many in which I'd be teaching adults, as I've missed the prime university recruiting season (especially now that I have possibly narrowed down the city to Nanjing)."
I am familiar with Nanjing and there are definitely some adult private schools in Nanjing from the big chains to smaller ones. They of course hire according to need year round. Not a bad choice of city at all in my opinion - save the weather. Nanjing is also a college town so I am sure some foreigner will not show up in a couple weeks for his prime university position, or get denied his z-visa because his FBI background check showed he was arrested back in 1986 for bear wrestling without a permit.
I never worked university, but personally stayed away from them as I like to teach adults and my friends who did uni generally were of the opinion that a fair share of their students never acted like adults. But the hours would certainly permit you time to travel. At my first job in China at Web (an adult school) I was able to renegotiate to only work three days a week. Wall Street offers part-time (though still a lot of hours). There is a respectable smaller adult school (whose name escapes me at present) in Nanjing that has a part time option. Just saying the training centers have options too if you want to get your fair share of travel in.
As you can see, I only enjoy teaching adults so I know it can be frustrating on the surface with all the ads to "Come to China and teach the cutest little emperors and empresses in the World!" |
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Non Sequitur
Joined: 23 May 2010
Posts: 4724
Location: China
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| Posted: Thu Aug 13, 2015 7:31 pm Post subject: |
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The availability of a Z visa process is the main issue.
Don't let your search for the perfect gig (location, age of students etc) lull you into the tourist visa trap.
There's good advice in the idea that your partner get her job first and you slot into something close by.
The Z is the thing though. |
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