Job Discussion Forums

[bradwelljackson]

So then, is it true that the English teaching market in Beijing has reached saturation point? If so, what provincial town can you recommend close to Beijing where there are still plenty of jobs?

[james s]

...

[cj750s]

I have had recently, three employers call and ask for applicants...

[therock]

Beijing is surrounded by Hebei province. Try cities like Langfang, Shijiazhuang, Baoding, Tangshan, Qinhuangdao or Handan. These cities are not the best places to actually live, but they fulfill your requirement of being close to Beijing. They are all located in Hebei province and are 1 to 3 hours from Beijing.

[SnoopBot]

There are still a few job positions left in Beijing right now.

However, the good ones might all be filled.

You can still find a medium run-of-the-mill position (or worse)

Beijing ESL market is saturated right now, many are undercutting salaries for a place to stay during the Olympics using teaching as an excuses to get a 1 year visa for the big party.

Also the missionaries are increasing their involvement within the teaching scene, with free or reduced teaching wages due to the church paying the stipend teaching wages.

The average church stipend is now 1000 USD @ +7500 RMB a month. So these missionaries are accepting 2000 RMB or less salary levels. (Or for free)

Some university programs are pushing "Teaching Abroad" as an introduction to Chinese culture before you enter the work force, or continue into Law School. MBA Politics ect.

Salaries are dropping , hours are increasing and qualifications are more stringent these days.


Networking is the big key right now to get your foot into the door.

[william wallace]

...but Snoop you left out the BIGGEST group of under-cutters: Students; they're the ones learning Chinese to get into that quintillion dollar market. Less of a threat, but still a threat- Retirees, happy to just be useful and away from the rocking chair.

[SnoopBot]

[william wallace]

A bit of the Thai phenomenon is happening in good old BJ. I've met many young folks, and they are wide-eyed and optimistic; but there are some that...well they're not good employees-less so, but same for the retirees. BJ now has lots of drugs and rowdiness,but that's to be expected with so many young folks.I was amazed when told about the array of drugs available here.There was none of that when I first arrived - Just the standard hashish and opium in the Xinjiang villages that used to exist in BJ.

I was amazed at this student I had in 1996 whose arms were completely scarred with needle track marks.So, I guess there has always been a bit of a drug problem here.

[HunanForeignGuy]

SnoopBot,

Thanks for your really on-the-mark comments which confirm everything that I have been seeing and am being told about BJ.

After the games things will quiet down a bit and the hippie trash will wander away to somewhere else but for sure salaries will remain depressed because of the oversupply factor.

As for the missionaries, yes, good God, I agree with you. Here in GZ there has been a very quiet and concerted effort to expunge them -- I know of at least four-to-six of the Protestant do-goodies type that were asked not to return and encouraged to find greener pastures elsewhere.

All the best,


HFG

[SnoopBot]

[SnoopBot]

[bradwelljackson]

Thank you all for your input; it has been helpful. Since it seems that the market is, in fact, glutted in Beijing, could any of you recommend any of the outlying provincial areas where there might be more jobs?

Thank you,

Brad

[Ahchoo]

[william wallace]

Yeah Snoop, it is a shame, and not to be a prude (that's one thing I've never been called).But before it all came about, the old Socialists were telling me that they "wanted the best of the West and leave the rest"- I kind of believed them at first, but after a couple of years it occurred to me; why wouldn't the West do that as well Duh ?

And the African hustlers ....hmmm ? Surely there is more to hustle that scams and illegal stuff

[SnoopBot]