Job Discussion Forums

lanceevan1 · Joined: 26 Jun 2007 Posts: 21

I just have a question for the Forum regarding the cost of living ete. I just took a job teaching fourth grade an International School in Hong Kong starting in August. While I cant disclose exact salary details, I will be making between 40,000 and 50,000HKD per month. Is this enough money to have a comfortable lifestyle there? How much should I be looking to pay for rent for a small one bedroom appartment in the city? I have never actually been to Hong Kong so any advice would be greatly appreciated.

11:59 · Posted: Thu Jun 28, 2007 3:30 am Post subject:

I am not all too sure if it is a good idea to take a job in HK (and thereby commit oneself to one or two years here) without ever having visited the territory before. Some people simply hate the place and flee within a few months. Start-up costs are high and so a sudden departure can cause significant financial loss.

Anyway, by in the city I presume you mean HK Island, specifically, the hellhole otherwise referred to as the Central area. One bedroom flats in the pretentious Mid-Levels area can vary anywhere between $15,000 HK and $80,000 HK per month, depending on a whole range of factors. My advice though would be to forget living in an overpriced shoebox in a Gweilo filing cabinet and take a place in the NTs or on an outlying island instead.

lanceevan1 · Joined: 26 Jun 2007 Posts: 21

Thanks for the advice. New Territories? Where is that? I am assuming that there will be no public transportation there (ie. trains or busses).

I do know however that I cant back out now as I have signed a contract and I would be liable to the recruitment agency (Search Associates) in the US for $1500USD , and I would also be blacklisted from the international school circuit.

On a good note, it is one of the top schools in HK and many many teachers have tried to get in there. It made the news in last weeks Economist. They also provide a substantial relocation alowance and assist in finding an appartment.

anninhk · Joined: 08 Oct 2005 Posts: 284

There is a very good transport system to all parts of Hong Kong. Even if you can't use MTR/KCR, there will be buses. Don't worry!

Serious_Fun · Joined: 28 Jun 2005 Posts: 1171 Location: terra incognita

Smoog · Joined: 11 Jan 2005 Posts: 137 Location: Hong Kong

And why exactly can you know disclose the exact salary?
Is it in your contract that you're not allowed to?
Are you afraid that the CIA is monitoring your keystrokes with their uber-secret-reptilian-NewWorldOrder-Freemason sattelite?

Quick don the tinfoil hats everyone! And keep watching the stars!

lanceevan1 · Joined: 26 Jun 2007 Posts: 21

Nothing Personal!

I think a ball park figure is satisfactory!

11:59 · Posted: Thu Jun 28, 2007 5:11 am Post subject:

lanceevan1 · Joined: 26 Jun 2007 Posts: 21

Sad to say, but international schools (especially the ones in HK) do recruit from the Fairs at either Search Associates, OR International School Services. It is not enough to just walk in with a PGCE or State Teaching Credidential. Check their recruitment links, they will list the Fairs that they sponser.

Good Luck

11:59 · Posted: Thu Jun 28, 2007 6:41 am Post subject:

Sad to say, but I never said that International Schools do not employ recruitment agencies. Rather, I said that top schools do not employ the services of recruitment agencies.

Since you seem to know so much about International Schools, Hong Kong, and International Schools in Hong Kong, why pray tell are you asking so many questions on this forum about them? I have taught at International Schools and an International School in Hong Kong (IBD) and most of what you are saying is highly inaccurate, and much of it is a tad na�ve.

Pieface · Joined: 18 Jun 2004 Posts: 42

$40000-$50000 is more than enough to have a good standard of living here. As has been stated, rents are very high in the Central area. Are you bringing over your family? If so, then you will obviously need a larger place to live and it may be wise to rent somewhere on the island that isn't Central! Most places on the blue line between Sheung Wan and Sai Wan Ho should be convenient enough for you. The further you are from Central, the cheaper the rent. I recommend you check this site out for info on transport in Hong Kong:

http://www.search.com/reference/Transport_in_Hong_Kong

This one should give you an idea of rental costs:

http://www.gohome.com.hk/english/home.asp?

I used to live in Tsuen Wan (last stop on the red line) which is classed as being in the New Territories, and the transport was excellent. Minibuses, MTR and KCR can get you to the Island in 40-45 minutes (sometimes even less) If you take a taxi you can be there in 20 minutes but it costs around HK$160. (about US$20)

On a final note, more people seem to like living in Hong Kong than not (based on my experience!) but even if you find it's not for you at least you can say you gave it a shot! By the way, to my knowledge I don't think such a blacklist exists. More likely you would simply not be considered by that particular agency or school in the future!

Hope that helps! Good luck and enjoy the experience Very Happy

11:59 · Posted: Thu Jun 28, 2007 7:49 am Post subject:

lambada · Joined: 24 Oct 2006 Posts: 50

Good to see you are back on form 11:59. It was kind of quiet on the Western Front. Still we can pot roast a certain Head of English at HKIEd if we get bored.

lanceevan1 · Joined: 26 Jun 2007 Posts: 21

Wonderful. I cant spell. Does that mean I can not teach? Please fill me in...

jwbhomer · Joined: 14 Dec 2003 Posts: 876 Location: CANADA

It means you shouldn't teach English.
And anyone who hasn't done enough research to know even the basic geography of the place he's thinking of going really should think again.