Job Discussion Forums

[nicbur]

I'm just starting out and I'm a bit frustrated. I was originally told I could work legally almost anywhere without a degree but now it turns out that's not true. My first year I'm in this for the money then I'll be in it for the travel and culture experience. So I was hoping for South Korea till I found out the degree dilemma. Now the only money country I qualify for is Japan and it's turning out to be very difficult to get a job there from home (I'm Canadian). So, if I have to go to China can you tell me how to get the most money out of it as possible? Where should I go and who is the best to try and work for? I should mention it's myself and my boyfriend coming together and we'd like a couples position if possible. I know China is not the money maker which is why I need your tips please. Thanks!

[Norman Bethune]

[Zero Hero]

[klasies]

Hi There

What a load of BS. I worked in Dalian last year for a year and I made 16000 a month, so it is possible to earn big salaries in China if you are willing to work 7 days a week (and you are good at what you do.) And yes, of course some of my teaching was illegal, so please spare me the lectures on: Oh don't work illegally, blah blah blah!!! I made a conscious decision based on my knowledge of how the system works here and I am not referring quanxi, I don�t believe in it. What I do believe in is that there: �Are no free lunches in China.� If you use some high up official to help you do something it will come back and bite you on the ar*e. He will almost certainly want something in return. �I have this friend who has a child who would like to learn English from you. You are such a good teachers������..�

I am not fresh off the banana boat and I have been teaching here for a number of years so please, be careful of telling newbies what is and isn�t possible here in China.

So nicbar, if you and b/f want to make money here, it is possible, if you are willing to twist the regulations a little and you make an informed decision and are willing to accept the consequences of your actions.


Enjoy it.

[Zero Hero]

Oh well, if you are going to work illegally, then why stop at teaching English as a second language? Why not go for the real big bucks and go in for a touch of bank robbery, extortion, or child trafficking?

[nolefan]

without a degree, you will find it difficult to find a decent job at a public university. Then again, you do want to make the big bucks so you should look more into working for some of the private schools or the semi-private one.

I know a few folks working "legally" in China without a degree. I won't get into the argument of what is legal and what is not legal, suffice to say that they all have the required visa and permits.

[bdawg]

[Sinobear]

Klasies (what kind of moniker is that?) is right. If you like to take money from gullible oafs (con them), and you like to question their intelligence openly (insult them)...then consult them!
There's so many areas that require English that you can easily establish yourself as some sort of 'expert' and make a career out of jumping from place to place dotting 'i's and crossing 't's. Depends on your morals and ambition.

It doesn't have to be illegal, it doesn't even require a degree (although the Chinese highly value degrees that they paid for).


Good luck!

[Norman Bethune]

[Norman Bethune]

[Magoo]

I agree with nolefan, in that private (peixun) schools are where the earning potential is greatest, especially if you're willing to work unsocial hours (late evenings followed by early-till-late weekends) and don't have contacts. The money can be good during school holidays, as kids are shoved off to these places to 'study' English/maths/piano.* Just make sure that you have a minimum wage, as classes can suddenly disappear off the radar, leaving you with nix. Before my contract ended at my last school/mill, everyone's timetable became skeletal, but we had a safety net of 4000 kuai. It wasn't bad, as I still taught French privately.

*It is illegal for Chinese children to enjoy their holidays. If discovered, the parents of these miscreants are sent off for 're-education', never to be seen again.

[bendan]

The private schools can be good, but I'd say they're better on a part-time basis. If you're full time with them they can dictate a constantly-changing schedule, and they are usually opposed to any side jobs. Their overtime pay is often below the going rate.

I think the ideal is a low-hours, Mon-Fri, daytime university job. That usually gives you a fixed schedule (well, fairly fixed), a visa and a place to live, leaving you to pick up part-time work wherever you want. You still have the flexibility to ease off if you're getting tired, and you can still have a long holiday in the summer or winter.

[Magoo]

[bdawg]

[Zero Hero]