Job Discussion Forums

kev7161 · Joined: 06 Feb 2004 Posts: 5880 Location: Suzhou, China

Last year, I signed on for a second year at my current school. My reasons were varied, but mostly it was because I was "comfortable" where I was. The school wasn't (and isn't) the best, but I had my nice apartment, I knew some people, had some Chinese friends in the area, etc. Going to Hangzhou was sometimes a pain in the a**, but I could easily navigate around the city once I got there. Sadly, my time at this school has become more and more frustrating as time goes by - - it's almost over though!

So, my question to you: Do you choose where you will work based on the school qualifications (salary, accomodations, teaching resources, students, school reputation, etc.) or for the location (weather, apartment, scenic spots, shopping, modern-ness, etc.)? Are both equally important or does one or the other influence whether or not you'll work or stay at a school?

I'm gearing up for my move a bit further north and the packing and cleaning and stuff are tedious, to say the least. However, I've been to my new school and seen my accomodations and I'm excited about being there - - once I get there and settled, that is.

MoggIntellect · Joined: 04 Apr 2003 Posts: 173 Location: Chengdu, P.R.China

Personally I think the general area is important to me, such as north/south/east/west. Beyond that it is school school school.

This year my school was abysmal... they not only didn't support the teachers but distinctly made their life/jobs more difficult! So from now on, school is most important. I am trying to get into a good university to see what it is like to teach there.

tw · Joined: 04 Jun 2005 Posts: 3898

I hate hot weather and humidity, so I narrow my criteria to northern coastal cities like Dalian and Qingdao since they have winter. Therefore, Beijing is definitely out of the question for me. Shenzhen, Shanghai, Guangzhou? No bleeping way with all the people there and high crime rate. That having said, it's obviously difficult for me to find work but sometimes if the school sounds good I will consider it.

wonderd · Joined: 06 Jun 2005 Posts: 68 Location: Shanghai, China

Shanghai's been cool to me. I've had a few problems here, but nothing serious. I don't know about crime, maybe I've just been lucky. I've been pick-pocketted a couple of times, but that's about it.

Certainly I don't really feel any danger to my life here. In fact I feel a lot safer that way than I do in my own home country.

There are a ton of people here. I won't deny that. If you can't handle crowds, then Shanghai is not the place to go... actually, if you can't handle crowds, I don't know if China's the place to go... there's a few people here.

Guangzhou was not my favourite place in the world. Much the same as Shanghai but it seemed more crowded and definately not as big. Also a lot of the stuff was run down there when I went.

anthyp · Joined: 16 Apr 2004 Posts: 1320 Location: Chicago, IL USA

The school is definitely more important ... how could anyone think otherwise!

You could work in Beijing, Shanghai, HK, or any of the other fabulous metropolises, and still be miserable. When you're searching for a job, sure, you want to go to one of these places, and not to the hinterlands where living in China can really be tough. Location is most important to the newbie who is unsure of what life in China can really be like.

But I daresay that, regardless of where you are, if your school doesn't take care of and support you, you are going to be miserable during your stay in the PRC. I suppose one could argue that one could be happy in any of those places, even with a terrible school, but ... take it from me, I have been stuck in the backwaters of Jiangxi for 16 months. Because my school supports me 100%, I have found it more than bearable. No foreigners, nor Western amenities to speak of ... yet I am considering staying another year.

Of course, my girlfriend may have something to do with that (ahem). But my relationship with my school has been more important than anything in determing how long to stay here ... really! I think I have been extremely fortunate in that regard, and if you want to stay in the PRC for longer than your average back - packer stay, you have to find a school with which you can work.

I for one am glad to learn that the OP will be staying another year; I hope your new employers treat you better than your old ones did!

nolefan · Joined: 14 Jan 2004 Posts: 1458 Location: on the run

the school, by far!

don't get me wrong here, location does matter a bit but not as much as one could think. I'd much rather work in a school where I feel like I'm getting something accomplished, where the administration supports my decisions and I am treated like I belong.

brsmith15 · Joined: 12 May 2003 Posts: 1142 Location: New Hampshire USA

Try this for comparisons:

Job #1. The city is a sh*thole but the job is dreamy: quality management who treats you like an honored person, high pay, a lovely apartment with all the amenities, energetic and eager students in small classes, fair pay (and on time), paid vacations, low hours. There's an FAO who seems like she exists only for your benefit.

JOb #2. Your locale is wonderful with fine weather, polite people, quiet. The school is run by cheats and liars who go out of their way to make your life a living hell, your many classes are composed 50-65 yelling brats who'd rather be anywhere but in school, your share your apartment with a reformed born-again Christian drunk who smokes heavily and constantly berates you for the little drinking you do do. He snores. The apartment is falling apart, nothing works and no one ever seems to do anything about it. The school sends you on long trips to teach elsewhere from time to time. Pay is always late and it seems they're always deducting something from it.

OK, gang. What's your choice?

tw · Joined: 04 Jun 2005 Posts: 3898

OK brsmith15 if you want to put it that way, then I choose job #1 and hopefully the FAO is young and single too. :-p

latefordinner · Joined: 19 Aug 2003 Posts: 973

For me, its about 10% location and 90% the school. I don't want to spend the summe in the heat and humidity of the southeast, but outside of that there are plenty of schools to choose from. The trick, as ever, is to find the good ones. Perhaps brsmith has the right idea; what is likely to cause the greatest headaches, to bring the most regrets?

amandabarrick · Joined: 30 Dec 2004 Posts: 391

I could pretty much work in any city, as long as the school I am at is the best for me and have great co-workers, a great FAO, high pay, great students, a nice apartments, decent hours, etc... If I had the perfect school it could be in the biggest hell hole in China for all I care...
AB