Job Discussion Forums

[NickD]

Hi

I will arrive in China late November, early December, hoping to get an English teaching job. I realise the school year has already started - do you think schools/universities will still be looking for teachers, or have I missed the boat? What about the private sector?

Bascially, going on your experience, does the job market dry up around December? BTW I don't have any teaching experience, but will have a TESL certificate (hopefully).

I'd appreciate your advice. Thanks.

[Mideatoo]

Everything is possible in China; yes you will find a JOB, maybe best luck in large cities.
A perfect time for a recruiter, although be very cautious with recruiters...

In regards of your experience, they will reduce your salary.
I heard that FTs working in smaller towns have scored great jobs, when actually furnishing fake letters of recommendations...

In my case, my employers insisted that I should help them with my Master�s original, dated from 1986!!! And the hell to it, as I did it!!!
(Well it was a certified copy of the original, coming straight from the U.)

[Roger]

I am not as optimistic as Mideatoo seems to be; December is the month before China goes into its annual lunar new year holiday hibernation. During that period of time - which lasts one whole month - you won't be working, hence a reluctance to hire so shortly before the commencement of the holiday. And put the notion of holiday camps firmly out of your mind - few takers!
Having said this, you might be lucky. Just lucky. No more.

[therock]

Although not the greatest time to be arriving you'll have no problems with finding a job. There is such a huge demand for English teachers that there are always vacancies available, especially at private language schools. If you are looking for a public school job then chances are the only positions that you will find are the positions where the teachers have left their contracts earlier. At my old school which was a public college they hired foreign teachers in December.

Good luck!!

[Super Mario]

You're best to do your legwork on the internet and line something up for the Spring semester starting in Feb.
Other than that, you'll be chasing language mill and holiday camp jobs [shudder]. These may not supply you with the necessary visa.
Of course, you could do both of the above.

[KarenB]

The universities, colleges, high schools, and primary schools all begin their terms on Sept. 1 and end at Chinese Spring Festival (in late January). Unless they started the year short on their teaching staff, they probably wouldn't have a job for you in December. They start up again in mid Feb and go to early July, so Dec. would be a good time to apply for a job beginning in Feb, if you can get a 3-month visitor visa and have enough funds to tide you over until the new semester starts. Remember, you usually need a Bachelor's degree in any field, not just a TEFL certificate. Teaching experience is helpful, but not required.

In my experience, prior teaching experience doesn't make a difference in salary. At my first school, I drew a higher salary than the other teachers in town because I had a Master's Degree. But no difference because of my previous teaching experience.

There's lots of private training centers out there that would hire a qualified English teacher at any time of the year. I think they would probably hire you with just a TESL certificate.

As mentioned by posters above, you'd do best to start your job search online, rather than just waiting til you get here. There's a thread here that lists some of the sites listing jobs in China, and you can also find out if you're connecting with one of the bad news sort of places.

[tw]

There is always "English winter camps" that many private language training centres will be setting up or as I call it expensive daycare service with some foreigner. December is also a good time to find work in public colleges and universities for the Spring term.

[NickD]

Thanks everybody - this is all good advice! I will arrive hopeful of finding something, but also mindful of the words of caution from Roger and KarenB. Cheers!

[bigroh73]

HI NICK,

From a fellow Aussie, you will be able to get work up here - you can get work almost any time of the year. HOWEVER - in terms of "quality, full-time contract" positions, they will be harder to come by just prior to the Chinese New Year - which begins end of January in 2006.
Most Chinese schools wouldn't want to be hiring anyone on a full-time contract just before a public holiday, unless it stated that you are due to start official work on a specific date AFTER the CH.New Year break.
You may want to consider coming here, shopping around for a full time gig to begin immediately after the Ch New Year, and in the meantime, you could pick up some short-term part time work, or the chance of a holiday camp that is running while you wait for the main job to start.
Look for jobs on this website, also go to www.asiaxpat.com, or for Shanghai jobs - look into www.shanghaiexpat.com. shanghai-ed.com.

p.s. - you will have to lie to them, and tell them that you have had at least 1 year ESL teaching experience. They don't need proof of this - but most employers require it - and most teachers say it.

[jeffinflorida]

You can have my job - NOW

[therock]

Mine too!!