Job Discussion Forums

[Bohemian]

I'm hoping to secure a teaching position in this September. I've been trying to research and most of the websites look questionable or sketchy. So I have a few questions:

1) Is it better to go with an agency or try to get a position yourself?

2) Are there out-of-pocket expenses expected if I go with an agency?

3) Can you recommend some reputable agencies?

4) I have a philosophy degree from 1st tier university and consider my English language skills to be top-notch. However, I don't have any certification... what are my chances of securing a position at a university? Should I just target a language school instead?

Thank you in advance.

[william wallace]

I'd go backpacking for a year, and IF you run across a job somewhere to your liking, stay and do it, and then go home re-focus,take the necessary training, and then get a job.

The big school chains are the safest, but remember they're akin to McDonald's. Did you get that philosophy degree to work at McDonald's ?
Cheers

[Girl Scout]

University jobs are easy to come by. I don't recommend an agency, however most most school use a recruiter. This is often someone who has worked for the school in the past. There job is simply to post the ads and pass on the information to the FAO.

You should be asking yourself what area of China do you want to work in? Do you want a big city, small city? By the coast? Near the mountians? In the middle of nowhere? How many modern and western comforts do you need? Then start looking for a job that meets these needs. For university work you should be searching now.

A lot of the jobs seems sketchy because people do not know how to place good ads. They spend too much time explaining what a wonderful experience China will be and how historic the area is. If you want more info on a school, you can search the archives or you can ask for an e-mail address of a current teacher then ask them. If a school will not let you talk to a current teacher, that's a bad sign.

[Steppenwolf]

Competition for jobs is hotting up and many will be by-passed. It's becoming ever more difficult to by-pass agents. They are almost the only ones that advertise, or that answer your CV posted on any website.

Try Buckland (www.buckland.org) as one of the very few and reliable go-betweens.

[james s]

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[tofuman]

"Ask for Y6000-Y8000 monthly in smalltown China. Y4000 in Beijing(though its more expensive there)."

Perhaps my location, but I've never seen a contract in smalltown China that offers anywhere near 6-8K for a first year teacher. Are these figures realistic?

[james s]

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[sheeba]