Job Discussion Forums

[Klamm]

Ok. To any vets out there, I could use some genuine help. What's the deal on work and getting a decent salary in China? I think my school (doing summer work) is low-balling me at 3,500 Rmb a month offer. Really...??? Let's think a moment: that's bare minimum, even on recruiter pages. And if recruiters are offering such and they're getting a big hook-up fee?

I've heard people talk about higher salary jobs. How do you find them and get them? I'm an American BA English, young and so on. Should be fairly a decent sell in China. I suppose Roger might say being an American might hurt my value but I've been here long enough to beg to differ on that one. The North American accent is in demand.

I don't want to make money such an objective...I just can not realistically do another year in China at that kind of salary. Ya, I know the cost of living in China. But I also know the cost of things back home in America...including degrees And...3,500 is a low ball. Foreign faces, bodies and English mean cash.

If I roll into Shanghai and hunt around there...or Beijing..or any other major city. What are the real chances I'll find something better than snooping on the net? I mean once I'm in the city where do I go to look for work that I wouldn't go otherwise? I can't read Chinese, though I speak alright. Hm. Get my drift? I tried hunting around Chengdu once and pretty much realized that the net was my option for hook-ups. So it seems being "on the ground" is virtually the same as being abroad unless you're fluent in spoken and written Chinese or are in the "know".

Any help? I'd appreciate some direction. I'm holding out on my school thinking they're low-balling me and will turn in the end. Who knows. But anyway, at their salary there are any number of jobs and places in China I could show up and get quite easily so if they don't increase. Asta!

K.

[Minhang Oz]

Are you talking about a regular job, or vacation earner? There's been lots of work offered locally [Shanghai] all summer, and I'd say that will continue. Most - though not all - are language mills. I've seen a few saying they can do a Z visa. There's some corporate stuff. If you're dead serious about money, shop around, and see if you can pull 3500 a week; not a month. I think it's do-able, but you'd need to choose wisely. Don't go looking for job satisfaction though!
Look at the teacher small ads. in
www.thatsshanghai.com
www.expatsh.com
I found a very good gig there. I don't think there's much that ISN'T on the net, as that's where everyone looks

[Peter]

3500 a month......for 8 hours a week, yes.
But you can ask for 8000.......its more to the point.

NEGOTIATE. it is pure capitalism over here

Look at the top af the page for contract essentials as well

[Mavrik]

3500 a month??
Highway robbery if you ask me! I came to China my first time at 6000RMB a month, now I'm on my way back in two weeks for 9000/month, and a friend of mine from the last job just took a job in Beijing at 9000/month. From what I gather from most of the ads on here and other sites, 6000 seems to be the average. Like the previous posters said, check out the expat sites and negotiate!!!