Job Discussion Forums

viovio · Joined: 20 Oct 2006 Posts: 63 Location: Chile

Hi, just to let you know that over the weekend I sent at least 50 emails asking for an English job and received only 3 answers letting me know that I do not qualify.
It's not that easy to find a job in China if you're not a native speaker...
I'm still looking, thou Razz

7969 · Joined: 26 Mar 2003 Posts: 5782 Location: Coastal Guangdong

no positive replies yet? depends on where you applied to. if you applied to schools in major cities that are popular with native english speaking expats (beijing, shanghai, guangzhou et al), then you can likely expect few, if any replies. non-native speakers are often relegated to the second or third tier cities/regions in china, at least thats what i've seen so far in my three years here.

i've worked with a few non native speakers, and all of them had found their first china job in less cosmopolitan areas of henan, and heilongjiang. once you're here, then finding the second or third job in more desirable locations becomes a bit easier.

further, its now the middle of the term. schools in china dont plan too far ahead and few schools will be hiring right now. and since you only sent your emails on the weekend, and its now only Tuesday, you need to give it a bit of time. a lot of schools might reply to you a week or two later. administrators in china take their time with these things.

just curious as to which cities the schools you sent your emails to were in?

Steppenwolf · Joined: 30 Jul 2006 Posts: 1769

Some places certainly are overrun by TEFL-jobseekers.
Try to avoid the trap that agencies will build around you. Many do not advertise the fact they are recruiting on behalf of others...If you want to engage the service of a reputable recruiter I would be able to mention one (there are very few in China).

viovio · Joined: 20 Oct 2006 Posts: 63 Location: Chile

Well, I got this answer from a recruiting agency.

Dear Violeta,

Regarding your application, I am afraid that we cannot hire Chilean nationals for our teaching positions. We take our role as an agency very seriously and wish to provide both teachers and schools with the most excellent of services, and although we are of the opinion that non-native speakers can be very good teachers, our contact schools only desire to employ teachers from native speaking countries.

My sincerest apologies,

And I have more,

What I did was to send emails to all posts on the China job board.

And,

clark.w.griswald · Joined: 06 Dec 2004 Posts: 2056

7969 · Joined: 26 Mar 2003 Posts: 5782 Location: Coastal Guangdong

good post clark. just before i took my first esl job in korea several years ago, i posted my resume right here on eslcafe. i took a look at the resumes after mine was posted just to check out the competition. a lot of the resumes posted there were utter trash, breaking most of the guidelines you just posted above.

vikdk · Joined: 25 Jun 2003 Posts: 1676

clark could you us posters a run down of your work experience in China - after all you've been here for 12 years now - what are you doing now - do you still do classroom teaching - are you still a DOS - have you ever worked for EF?????
Not that it makes any difference to your post - but some of us still like to know the roots of the info provided here Wink

7969 · Joined: 26 Mar 2003 Posts: 5782 Location: Coastal Guangdong

good post clark. just before i took my first esl job in korea several years ago, i posted my resume right here on eslcafe. i took a look at the resumes after mine was posted just to check out the competition. a lot of the resumes posted there were utter trash, breaking most of the guidelines you just posted above.

clark.w.griswald · Joined: 06 Dec 2004 Posts: 2056

Thanks 7969.

I thought of a couple of other ways to avoid wasting time sending out resumes to no avail.

10. Only apply to jobs for which you meet the minimum criteria even if those criteria suck. If the school wants someone with a masters degree and you don't have one then you are probably better off not applying. Sure you might just get the job but chances are you probably won't.

11. Tailor your application cover letter to the job that you are applying for. Don't send out a form letter saying how much you like working with university students if the job you are aplying for is at an elementary school.

vikdk · Joined: 25 Jun 2003 Posts: 1676

well Clark it is of great relevance since you are that famous poster that has told us all that the only real qualification needed by the FT is a good character - I just want know how you make these kind of assumption - you know, with what have you filled your sack of experience - those 12 years in China are they some sort of state secret

and me asking this question all the time - well clarkie old boy you advertise that recruiting site under every one of your posts - another reason why it could be polite tell us bit more about you and the buxiban boys - otherwise those adverts get more and more to resemble unsolicited junk mail Exclamation

Lhorde · Joined: 20 Oct 2006 Posts: 30 Location: Shenzhen

Viovio,

I know a school in Yangshuo who is concerned more with the quality of your teaching and your personality than whether or not you are a native speaker. They cater mostly to young adults, and the last time I was there in September they had teachers from Italy, Switzerland, and Israel; all of whom the students liked very much.

The only thing is they might have you work on your (L) visa, as the owner told me they don't sign contracts!

Feel free to PM me if you want the contact details.

no_exit · Joined: 12 Oct 2004 Posts: 565 Location: Kunming

Lhorde, with all due respect...

The school you're describing would be employing teachers illegally. Also, "caters to young adults" reads like "hires backpackers" to me (especially considering the school is in Yangshuo ...) Someone with viovios qualifications should get a legal job (actually, everyone should, right?), and a decent one, or not come at all. I don't see why anyone who is making a decent salary in their home country would give that up to become an illegal worker in China.

viovio

Keep looking, but take your time and find a real job. If you're lucky, you can find something that utilizes your native language, which could possibly be more lucrative than teaching English. I know some Italians here in Kunming who, by virtue of speaking Italian, English, and Chinese, manage to make several thousand RMB a day. If you do end up teaching English, then find a school that will hire you legally and pay you a fair wage with decent benefits. If you can't find that, then put off coming until you can. Good luck!

viovio · Joined: 20 Oct 2006 Posts: 63 Location: Chile

Thanks you all for answering. I am looking for somthing legal, thou.
Have you noticed that teachers in China are the most active posters in these forums?Why is that?

dajiang · Joined: 13 May 2004 Posts: 663 Location: Guilin!

hey viovio,

you should try private unis.
I worked at one outside of beijing, and had a great time. can give you the email contact if you want to.

i started out as a backpacker myself btw in Yangshuo a few years back. had a great time there, and i think it was in the same place that Lhorde described. i have since learned much more, got a BEd and all, but still think fondly of those times there. Dont worry too much about that being illegal and stuff (boy some posters are gonna trip over this again...), it really doesn't matter much.

and as to why the china forums are the busiest: I guess our jobs are so bloody easy we got the most time on our hands...

Dajiang

Steppenwolf · Joined: 30 Jul 2006 Posts: 1769