Job Discussion Forums

[JohnE3294]

I'm looking at jobs on GoldStar recruiting, and they have profiles on Wall Street English, English First and other training centres and they are saying salaries are "excellent" at 7,000 - 10,000 RMB a month?

Based on prior research that I've done, I thought that English centres generally pay upwards of 15,000 rmb a month?

For those of you currently in China, are salaries declining?

[LarssonCrew]

Yes. Not only salaries but also benefits.

Before it was normal to get a house and 12 months pay plus your flight at the end of the year.

Now it seems to be places pay 10 months [some even mess you about at Spring Festival!], plus pay 'upto 6000 for flight' and the worst is I've seen places offering 'a comfortable 2000 RMB a month housing allowance in Beijing.' I mean...2000?

Almost every advert in a big city says 'housing provided or a housing allowance' and I know every time I look into it further it'll be a housing allowance, and never enough to cover, same with flights. Return flights to the UK direct can be $1500. But they give you $800 or less sometimes.

Plus, many many places are offering 10,000 or so , and expect you to be there 8-5 or 'work hours are 9-5 but you only have 15 hours of classes'

[bograt]

[LarssonCrew]

I'm not talking about taking a dodgy Uzbek airways flight with a nine hour layover. I just randomly looked at London > PEK PEK > London from August until June [latest I could search]

https://www.skyscanner.net/transport/flights/lond/bjsa/160816/170606/airfares-from-london-to-beijing-in-august-2016-and-june-2017.html?adults=1&children=0&infants=0&cabinclass=economy&rtn=1&preferdirects=false&outboundaltsenabled=false&inboundaltsenabled=false#results

Cheapest direct flight is 1077 pounds. You can't say 'we'll pay for your flight but it has to be with a cheap airliner from the former soviet states.' To be a reasonable economy return direct from my hometown to the capital of China is fair.

[JohnE3294]

That's disappointing. I'm strongly reconsidering making the transition to ESL after seeing some of these salaries for an ESL centre.

I was under the impression that universities paid around 7000 rmb, but with very minimal hours; but now, ESL centres are paying the same with double the work? A little disheartening.

[JohnE3294]

Excellent salary: 7,500 – 10,000 RMB per month (depending on location, ---qualifications and experience)
Flight allowance: 4,200 RMB
Legal ‘Z’ work visa
12 days public holidays plus 10 days extra holidays
Insurance allowance: 1,300 RMB
Performance related bonus: up to 13,900RMB per year
Assistance finding accommodation
On-going training and academic support (plus 1 week full training course on arrival)
Promotion opportunities to Senior Teacher and Academic Manager within the Shane network


7000-10,000 without accommodation, is that even liveable?

[bograt]

[JB140767]

[LarssonCrew]

But I like to fly direct. I don't understand if there is a direct option why should I not take this. When Saudi employers buy flights for their incoming teachers they pay directly to Saudi from wherever if that is an option.

You paid 700 quid for what must be a 20 hour flight. I'd rather have the hassle taken out and fly LON -> PEK direct. Which is 1077.

Should I pay 447 with Ukraine Air and fly over the Ukraine, and then have 19 hours in a desolate airport to hang around so that my school can save money??

[JB140767]

[OhBudPowellWhereArtThou]

Is it reasonable of a school To ask you to spent 2.45 hours in an Airport to save 400 quid ? -

Yes, it's reasonable (though probably the maximum time I'd allow for a layover), and maybe desirable under certain circumstances. If connections get fouled up, that layover may make it easier for you to make the connection or make another connection.

But then, I think that it's your call whether it is reasonable or not.

I've seen worse layovers of 6+ hours arranged by bimbo FAO's who either don't know what they're doing or who are spiteful.

[Jmbf]

A couple of hours layover in the airport isn't a big deal if you are travelling by yourself. A few drinks in a bar and the time flies by. If that's not palatable then Priority Pass is available from USD 99 / year.

[LarssonCrew]

I just checked Qatar airways, the 700 pound flight that I found had this bad boy in the middle:


Connect in airport
Long wait 11h 40

Yep, half a day in an airport. that means I'm going to go and check into a hotel...in Qatar, one of the most expensive places on earth. With eating 2 or 3 meals there plus taxis that's probably another say....150 USD on top of the flight just to entertain myself.

I'm certainly not going to sit in an airport departure gate for almost 12 hours.

[ghost]

Doha airport is among the best airports in the world for a layover. Plenty of stuff to do, very good dining opportunities, from cheap to expensive - for example you can get a basic rice and beans meal with salad for just a few dollars equivalent. Great bookstores - I could go on. They also have optional rest areas, and lounges which you can join, especially if you build up Qatar Air Miles.

Qatar Air will not let you down, and they deliver. No need for a hotel for that time frame - look at it as an extended day at work with some good books and dining opportunities. I once spent 12 hours at Guangzhou Airport, when China Southern had a delayed flight from Guangzhou to Manila, coming from Kathmandu, Nepal. In that case China Southern did not deliver, and we (the delayed passengers) had to beg for some water and a bento meal box....it was a sad episode, with very little customer care. Doha, Abu Dhabi and Dubai airports are good airports to spend time in, and Qatar Air will give passengers meal tickets for many of the restaurants, in the case of flight delays. I know spending that amount of time in an airport can be a grind, but you could do much worse than Doha, Qatar airport.

Ghost in China

[LarssonCrew]

I'd still rather just get on the plane in point A and arrive in my destination without any break in the middle.

Essentially taking over a day to go from UK to China. You could spend 12 hours in the airport lounge OR you could spend those 12 hours at your hotel in Beijing relaxing having arrived, or at home before you travel.