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jg
Joined: 26 Mar 2003
Posts: 1263
Location: Ralph Lauren Pueblo
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 Posted: Wed Oct 15, 2008 9:47 pm Post subject: How is the Chinese job market? |
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Just out of curiosity... things here in the states aren't very promising. I am in Florida, where most of the largest school districts have severely curtailed hiring, and some even have hiring freezes. California went through a similar tightening last year. I usually only teach ESOL, but I will be adding a k-6 desigination just so I can try for some of the few jobs that seem to be left: teaching the wee ones.
I am even thinking of going back to China for awhile, since the holidays will start soon and the hiring will probably slow down even further until after the holidays. I've been away from the Meddle Kingdom (not a mispelling) for nearly 3 years now, but the idea of China and cheap living seems more attractive than the current situation in South Florida...
So what is it like there? A glut of foreigners, even more than normal? Can an experienced Chinavet still find decent opportunities? Also, to be honest, I miss Chinese food. Even if it is full of toxins. |
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Anda
Joined: 16 Jan 2003
Posts: 2199
Location: Jiangsu Province
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| Posted: Wed Oct 15, 2008 11:23 pm Post subject: Um |
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| The big money has more or less gone. There are a few jobs around the 18,000 mark in places like Shanghai left but that is about it. Average jobs are still plenty and everywhere. Cost of living has probably nearly doubled since you were here but life is still okay. |
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7969
Joined: 26 Mar 2003
Posts: 5782
Location: Coastal Guangdong
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| Posted: Wed Oct 15, 2008 11:37 pm Post subject: |
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jg, take the previous calamitous post and blanket statements, with a grain of salt.
my living expenses have not doubled, some food items (and thats the main cost for most of us in china) cost more (certainly not double) but they can easily be avoided and replaced with other things if you choose.
other costs that i incur regularly such as transport, the odd beer etc, have seen no increase whatsoever in the past two years.
as for jobs, there are plenty. just look around, and if you have any connections from the past, contact them.
Last edited by 7969 on Thu Oct 16, 2008 1:33 am; edited 1 time in total |
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therock
Joined: 31 Jul 2005
Posts: 1266
Location: China
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| Posted: Wed Oct 15, 2008 11:45 pm Post subject: |
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The market is still the same. With the visa restrictions and the crappy salaries on offer you can pretty much still pick and choose. There will always be a job earning 4000 for any monkey willing to accept. Maybe they can start paying us in bananas instead of money. 
Last edited by therock on Thu Oct 16, 2008 6:08 am; edited 1 time in total |
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North China Laowei
Joined: 08 Apr 2008
Posts: 419
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| Posted: Thu Oct 16, 2008 2:27 am Post subject: See Below |
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| 7969 wrote: |
jg, take the previous calamitous post and blanket statements, with a grain of salt.
my living expenses have not doubled, some food items (and thats the main cost for most of us in china) cost more (certainly not double) but they can easily be avoided and replaced with other things if you choose.
other costs that i incur regularly such as transport, the odd beer etc, have seen no increase whatsoever in the past two years.
as for jobs, there are plenty. just look around, and if you have any connections from the past, contact them. |
I fully concur with 7969 on this issue.
First, the job market remains "tight" but "tight" in terms for employers, not for employees. My year-long contract just expired and the school wanted to renew. They gave me a truly horrible contract, at least the initial offer.
I took their offer, went to a see labor lawyer Chinese friend in Pudong District and had her rewrite the contract. She took their six page contract and turned it into a seventeen page contract. Totally rewritten and most of it in my favor.
I will have full medical insurance and coverage, bought by the school. I will be paid be every month of the year (this is a government key school), not just for the usual ten months. Airfare will be paid in increments over the course of the contract. Travel allowance the same. The very standard all utilities, etc., paid. A car to go shopping once a week on Saturdays or Sundays. A dedicated classroom with my name on the door. Etc., etc. Termination rights far above the standard, etc., etc.
And all of the two other schools that I had scouted out and to whom I had said no also came back with sweetened offers sweetened.
So 7969 is quite right. But you will need the two-years experience (which you have) and your good background (which you have). And negotiate hard. There is a shortage of stable, reliable teachers and the market is there if you are such a teacher.
It doesn't mean that they are not hiring and firing FT's who don't fit the bill -- they are and I have seen it. But if you can pass the rather basic muster, then you will have no problem. |
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jg
Joined: 26 Mar 2003
Posts: 1263
Location: Ralph Lauren Pueblo
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| Posted: Thu Oct 16, 2008 1:51 pm Post subject: |
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Thanks for the replies, they are very encouraging for the most part. The situation isn't code red yet, but when it looks like it's headed that way, at least I know I'll have options.
ESOL here in the states may have already neared it's peak as a career field, from 5 years ago until now I'd say that the situation hasn't gotten much better and overseas remains a pretty viable option. Options for teaching foreign languages still seem strong though, and I've even seen several Chinese offerings. So, for those of you with a decent command of Chinese, I'd say your star is rising. |
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motown
Joined: 07 Jun 2008
Posts: 68
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| Posted: Wed Oct 29, 2008 10:57 pm Post subject: Looking into china as of Jan 2009 |
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I'm looking at a position starting in Jan 2009 and it would be a one year contract.
One question that comes to mind is what do I require if I complete the contract and then want to move to another school in China for 2010?
Do you still have to return to your home country or to another nearby country first before your paperwork is completed?
Do you need a specific document from the current school to confirm that your contract is up?
It would seem silly to have to return to Canada again to start the process over.
Any advice or thoughts are appreciated. |
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Eyrick3
Joined: 29 Mar 2008
Posts: 161
Location: Beijing, China
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| Posted: Thu Oct 30, 2008 12:18 am Post subject: |
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| Quote: |
| Do you still have to return to your home country or to another nearby country first before your paperwork is completed? |
As long as you have another school willing to arrange for a work visa for you, there's no reason for you to leave.
You will, however, need to ensure that your visas overlap. In other words, you can't issue a new visa on top of an expired one. You'll need to have the new visa issued before the old one expires. Therefore, you'd need to have a new job lined up, and visa arrangements agreed upon, before your contract ends at your other school.
| Quote: |
| Do you need a specific document from the current school to confirm that your contract is up? |
Not unless there's a clause in your contract that states you can't work anywhere else in the country for x amount of time after working with them. And, even then, there's no way for anyone to enforce that unless they've got friends in the government. |
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motown
Joined: 07 Jun 2008
Posts: 68
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| Posted: Thu Oct 30, 2008 5:00 pm Post subject: |
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| Eyrick3 wrote: |
| Quote: |
| Do you still have to return to your home country or to another nearby country first before your paperwork is completed? |
As long as you have another school willing to arrange for a work visa for you, there's no reason for you to leave.
You will, however, need to ensure that your visas overlap. In other words, you can't issue a new visa on top of an expired one. You'll need to have the new visa issued before the old one expires. Therefore, you'd need to have a new job lined up, and visa arrangements agreed upon, before your contract ends at your other school.
| Quote: |
| Do you need a specific document from the current school to confirm that your contract is up? |
Not unless there's a clause in your contract that states you can't work anywhere else in the country for x amount of time after working with them. And, even then, there's no way for anyone to enforce that unless they've got friends in the government. |
Thanks for the response.
I presume the new Visa would cover any gap period between the two jobs as well as the subsequent work year.
This forum has proven to be very helpful. |
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Eyrick3
Joined: 29 Mar 2008
Posts: 161
Location: Beijing, China
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| Posted: Fri Oct 31, 2008 2:43 am Post subject: |
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| Thanks for the response. |
Your welcome and good luck! |
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william wallace
Joined: 14 May 2003
Posts: 2869
Location: in between
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| Posted: Sun Nov 02, 2008 2:25 am Post subject: |
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Thanks JohnC, I hate being the only one being the barer of sobering news.
Cheers,
WW |
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englishgibson
Joined: 09 Mar 2005
Posts: 4345
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| Posted: Sun Nov 02, 2008 10:58 am Post subject: |
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ohh william, you're not the only one. there are few others that've got a raise out of the 5,000 year old barrel
by the way, share your new gig experience on boards if you're allowed and've no confidenciality clause in .. no sarcasm meant there
cheers and beers to the red mao we get out of our bloody work here |
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bradley
Joined: 28 Mar 2005
Posts: 235
Location: China
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| Posted: Sat Nov 15, 2008 9:40 am Post subject: |
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| The job market is good in Shenzhen |
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sharpe88
Joined: 21 Oct 2008
Posts: 226
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| Posted: Tue Nov 18, 2008 5:25 am Post subject: |
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Most jobs paying less than 15 years ago ? That's news to me.
Many schools still claim to offer Z visa and airfare but as always it can be a scam or least a hassle to actually get them.
| JohnC wrote: |
Advice:
Most jobs are paying less than they did 15 years ago.
And previously every school offered a Z visa and perks (airfare.)
The rise of the internet has created a huge new 'net' to catch people....
Beware. |
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