Job Discussion Forums

kendall · Joined: 05 May 2003 Posts: 8

hello everyone! i am on the verge of signing a contract with dalian university of technology in dalian, china, and i was wondering if you have any advice on things to be sure of before signing it. the pay is pretty low, 277RMB, but i have no experience, and i am not even TEFL certified. i do however get housed, paid vacation, reimbursement for my return flight, etc...

is there any stipulations that must be in the contract? please let me know.

thanks!

kendall

kendall · Joined: 05 May 2003 Posts: 8

i really appreciate it. i did take the time however to get a good education from the university of texas, which is nothing to scoff at. after reviewing the post, i noticed a typo in the salary. i will be receiving 2700 RMB per month...i dont know what i was thinking before.

and for all of those who are jealous and took the time, maybe a little additonal research would have guaranteed a quicker postion. thanks for being an ass, dude..

kendall

Minhang Oz · Joined: 23 Apr 2003 Posts: 610 Location: Shanghai,ex Guilin

The basic proforma contract doesn't include anything apart from salary and housing. You need to ensure that all of your extras are written onto both the English and Chinese copies, signed by both parties, dated and stamped. Get a non-school local to translate the Chinese version to make sure they match. So, utilities need to be broken down: sometimes they'll ask you to pay gas, or your entire phone bill. Make sure they pay for the medical and visa - these are expensive. Internet? Holidays, plane fare, how much and when?Very important is to make sure your end of contract date matches the school's own last official date of term. Some places like to stop paying salary once your classes have finished, which can be weeks before the term ends. Ask for a copy of the school calendar.

You're on the very bottom end of the pay scale, so you can't afford to reach into your pocket for these things. After you've been working for a while, and all is going well, raise the subject of an end of contract bonus. Chinese teachers get a New Year hong bao, and as you're on a similar salary, there's no reason you shouldn't as well. A month's salary is a reasonable ask - I looked for 8 and got 10! These schools will keep paying low salaries as long as there are people willing to accept them, which makes perfect economic sense.

Roger · Joined: 19 Jan 2003 Posts: 9138

OK, they pay you 277 RMB...per...???
If it is per hour, it is a very decent hourly wage.
Considering that the absolute minimum pay PER month is 2200 RMB (two-thousand, nil-nil RMB), which is never actually offered; mostly it is 3000 or more for 12 to 15 hours A WEEK...

Bertrand · Joined: 02 Feb 2003 Posts: 293

arioch36 · Joined: 21 Jan 2003 Posts: 3589

And flaming lives on. yeah 2,700 is a little low...normally, especially Dalian,, not the most expensive place, but not the cheapest. still, liveable...unless you are a party dude who wants to live it up, and fly around the country. 2,700 for 12 hours is better then 4,500 for 18 hours.

Good advice...heating, etc. If you have electric heating (many places now have radiator), it can ad up. Who pays for all the utilities. Computer? All the bennies, they can ad up quickly. This is China..bargain bargain bargain.

China Pete · Joined: 17 May 2003 Posts: 86 Location: Henan, China

In Dalian you should make twice that. 2700 is on a very low end of the scale, especially for summer time. I understood the typo. But if it was 270 an hour, that would be acceptable.