Job Discussion Forums

[mount real]

Better than finding a job on the net? I've heard salaries are much higher if you show up in person instead of setting something up over the net. Is this recommended for newbs in China?

[nolefan]

It's not always true that you can get a higher salary when you're in the country. most of the time, salaries are the same or maybe just 100 to 300 RMB higher.
The biggest advantage of being here is that you get to vist the school and look at the accommodations before you commit yourself for 6 months or one year.

A main consideration is cash! Where will you stay while searching for this magic job? a hotel? a hostel? rent your own flat?
If you're not in one of the bigger cities, how would you go about finding that job or looking for schools?

It all can be done but it's not as easy as some folks make it sound

[Craig!]

noelfan's comments (above) are very concise and correct.
i would just add,
coming in person also allows you to talk with other FTs, past and present, so you can 'better size' up the place.
And to see the relative cost of living in the locale.

I know that coming all the way from Montreal Canada, you will want to land a good salary.
But, a high salary should not be your top concern, if i may say so. Working with a good, reputable school should be.

My salary is perhaps average , but the cost of living in this semi- rural small city is very low. And i get unexpected bonuses all of kinds for job well done.
'Do what you love, work in good faith, and the money will follow'.

[frank d]

Mount Real,

I agree with Craig!'s astute ideas and sentiments 100%! (NoleFan's also)

Take heed... they are giving you excellent advice (which is not always the case at this discussion forum)!

Good luck to you!

fd

[adamsmith]

I agree with the above posters as well. The only thing I would add is that if you arrange for a job over the net - shoot for a 6 month contract which will give you a place to live and cash to use to travel around and get a feel for the land while you look for that prime position. Avoid signing a one year contract at a school you really dont know well as then you can be a locked in and th job may turn out to be terrible. At least if you are under a 6 month contract you can change easily and if the school is good and you do a great job you can really negotiate any follow up contracts.

[mount real]

Hi, thanks for all the great info everyone! I'm considering a job in Harbin, for a school called YingBo located on the Harbin Institute of Technology campus....The pay is not the best but I'm getting a good vibe from them, better than all the other schools or recruiters I've dealt with. Anyone heard about them? Thanks again! MR

[adamsmith]

I have not heard of the school itself, but I was offered a position in Harbin last year. When I went there to see the school I was impressed with the city and people. I thought the city itself was very nice, but then I only spent 3 days there. The people that I met though were all friendly. The weather in the summer was excellent, although it does get chilly in the winter. It is not as bad as a northern canadian winter but the temps do like to hover in the -15 - 20 range. Should be no problem for you.

[MrBeijingles]

[no_exit]

If you have the funds to support yourself, and are prepared to possibly make a trip to Hong Kong or Thailand to process your work visa (in some provinces you can't get a tourist visa switched over without leaving the country), then you should come to China first. You'll find better jobs (consider that only a small percentage of schools advertise on the net), and many schools would rather hire someone who is already here because it is more convenient, they can see what they're getting, and being here already shows that you're serious about wanting to work in China.

One word of advice: Make sure you get compensated for your air ticket. Some schools will try and argue that since you're already in China, they don't need to pay for your airfare. Negotiate this before you sign the contract, and make everything clear (the airfare part of the contract can be really ambiguous sometimes) regarding what you're owed when the contract ends.

[erinyes]

Wothout a support network, I woudn't just 'turn up'. I would sign up for a summer camp (or maybe a winter camp) and make some contacts there. Then you can get some cash after only a few weeks, meet some other FTs from various places around and probably get hooked up with something.

Cheers.