Job Discussion Forums

[azigarmi]

Hey everyone. I'm new to the forum and I was wondering if you all could give me some advice. I would appreciate any and all tips you have, especially if you know from experience.

I'm looking to teach in Shanghai and I've been corresponding with a couple of schools.

The first is Cheery English. From what I know, it's a preschool (e.g. perhaps a day-care-like facility). They pay 8000-15000RMB depending on experience. They offer health insurance, free Mandarin classes, visa assistance, one month unpaid winter vacation, and a contract completion bonus. I'm not sure yet if they offer housing. The woman I've been speaking to is going to call me sometime in the next two days.

The second school is Shane. I've seen some pretty bad stuff about it on the forum, which makes me worried. Here's what they've told me:

- pay starts at 8,250RMB for up to 20 hours a week, after that you get overtime and that is paid every three months
- 1,300 towards your medical insurance
- 500 a month performance bonus that is paid at the end of your contract
- 6000 end of contract bonus
- 4200 reimbursement towards your airfare
- medical and foreign experts visa paid by the company
- travel to and from schools is either provided or reimbursed (anything over 5klms between schools is also credited as an extra 30 min to your teaching time)
- 22 days paid leave, this includes Chinese holidays
- you work a 5 day week with two consecutive days off but not necessarily weekends, e.g. Fri Sat, Sat Sun, or Sun Mon.

So, that's what I've got so far. Any ideas? Any other places I should look?

[azigarmi]

I know this is dorky to post a reply on my own topic, but I forgot to mention one thing about Shane. It sounds like from the contract that they could make me move to any Shane school in all of China! Sounds fishy to me...

[Teatime of Soul]

Who pays for your accommodations and what type?

That's an important issue. After all, you'll be living in them.

8000 to 15000 is a rather large spread. It makes a lot of difference as to which end you are nearest.

Perhaps you could post a little more and get some more helpful advice.

Thanks.