Job Discussion Forums

[CanadianMike]

Ok - I realize there's lots of posts relating this subject - but I've gone through them and I can't find an answer to my question, so I'd be hugely grateful if anyone with experience can help me out.
My basic question is - if I go to Beijing this April, will I be able to find a job quickly? I have a university degree, a TESL, and 6 months experience, and money's not really an issue although I'd like to be able to find a job where I'm not worked to death. I had thought it was incredibly easy to find work in China, but I've also been reading stories here about people not being able to find jobs. If I wanted a job, where would be a good place to start? Is it essential that I have a job waiting for me, or will I be able to find one there?
Are there visa issues I need to worry about? What if I wanted to leave early, what are the risks involved with that?
Thanks for your help!
-Mike

[smalldog]

There are plenty of jobs in Beijing but they can be difficult for newcomers to find as most positions are filled through contacts. Make sure you arrive with enough funds to last a while, and be active in your job search. Using a recruiter to find a first job is not necessarily a bad idea.

Arriving on an L (tourist) visa could be a hassle as they're now pretty much impossible to convert to Z (work) visas and getting more difficult to convert to F (business) visas. Arriving on an F visa would be best--either get one in Hong Kong on your way or in Canada before you go (an invitation letter is necessary for that, but not difficult to obtain--pm me for details).

[Klava]

A good idea would be applying for jobs that suit you through the Internet but don't sign the contract until you've actually seen the school and talked to the foreign teachers who've taught there (if there are any). This way you always have an option of refusing the job and the school you don't like without having problems of breach of contract. Personally check the schools that you've applied to and that would like to hire you. If they are reputable schools they wouldn't mind it. This way you can also bargain for your salary and provisions of the contract "on the spot" which is the only way to do it with Chinese.

And if you didn't like any of the schools you had in mind coming to China it would be easier for you to find another one because by that time you'll have a better understanding of what you are looking for.

[cheekygal]

try www.thatsmagazines.com
they usually have plenty of offers under Part-timeand Education adds.
There are also other topics regarding life in Beijing.

good luck

[smalldog]

The That's Magazine websites seem to have been taken over in a coup earlier this year and are now pretty awful, in my opinion. The website of the magazine is now www.thatsbj.com and is pretty good for finding jobs.

[rickinbeijing]

Finding a university or college position as a FT in April, or any time mid-term will be very difficult even in the big B. You might luck out if you correspond ahead of time and secure a contract through www.chinajob.com (an official government website). You could search the ads at thatsbeijing but like beijingscene before it, it has been sacked. Actually, it was taken over by expat.com and now their website sucks. As a previous poster cautioned, come with some loot to last you. At worst, you can linger on until summer and find a camp job. Rent will run you anywhere from 1500 to 8000 RMB a month depending on your lifestyle and wallet. The TEFL certificate will help for middle school jobs but the lack of teaching experience may hinder you in finding a college level position. Most contracts begin in August/September; a few become available in January/February too. Good luck.
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"What's does that have to do with the price of tea in China?"
-Harry Truman