Job Discussion Forums

[Tasmanian Devil]

How do I go about arranging accommodation in China? Do you have to have an employer? How much dosh do you have to put down up front? How long are the contracts? What's normally included? Oven? Gas? Electric? Water? Do you always get a gym in the club house? How do you arrange accommodation without speaking any Chinese? I want to come to China, take an apartment, and 'scout out' the job market before committing myself to one particular employer. Will it look better for me to already have an address when I apply for a job? Do you get taken around to different places by a rep? Do they speak English?

Thanks -

[arioch36]

gym in the club house. Now I know this guy must be trolling

[cj750nomad]

agents are thicker than thieves in Beijing and work out of offices with moving signboards of housing and prices.. but top end... white shirted black haired beauties hold sign board with computer generated photos of apartments for u to chose on the middle ground and occasionally you see a sign posted in small shops like "seamstrest" which offer to let you know of an opening for a little as two Mao bills.
Agents cost and usually u end up with a payment of 3 months to 6 months even a year in advace, but with a little looking you can find month to month leases with lower security cost and neighbors who will give you a real chinese living experience.

[Tasmanian Devil]

MOD EDIT What's wrong with expecting a gym in the clubhouse?) I want to find a nice place in a nice new residential development - ideally a split level apartment, with balcony, a large fully-fitted western style kitchen and a bathroom with bath and shower. As a foreign expert in the fastest growing economy in the world is that really asking too much? I don't mind travelling on decent public transport so I don't mind if I am far away from work, sometimes it's better to be far from work. A good view would be nice too, a nice long view. How much would such a place in Shaghai cost? The international schools I've looked at will pay around 25,000 rmb a month so I'll have some money to throw around.

[Mister Al]

TD, generally speaking international schools only offer jobs to teachers with full professional qualifications ie; a PGCE from the UK, so hope you have that or an equivalent. TEFL/TESOL etc would not be good enough, I don't think. You could come here on a tourist visa and try to find a job but it's not always easy to get apartments for short leases. In Shanghai you could try......I've deleted this as you are a knobhead.

[Mr. Kalgukshi]

Continued personal attacks will result in the thread being locked and some members receiving a temporary or permanent vacation.

[flutterbayou]

There are some international schools in Shanghai which require face to face interviews, so visiting to scout out the best jobs is an option. The jobs that pay well require K-12 certification, an MA, and often, an additional academic background in maths, sciences, or IT. In addition to the credentials, those who teach English are mostly English or Journalism graduates who have a background in literacy and literature.

But in order to rent an apartment, you must register your employment and home address (with residence permit) at the police station. Need we say more?

That fact alone should warn you not to waste bucks looking for a place before landing a job.

In Shanghai live plenty of Ex-Pats who stay in cushy condos with lush amenities, but these folks are earning 6 figure American USD and have personal chauffers, etc. They are not earning 25,000 RMB per month.

There are plenty of gyms around, so the average Joe will catch one by taxi or subway. But since we are talking about fitness, why not walk?

I'd suggest lining up interviews ahead of time, making a brief trip to get around and see what you think of the city before making costly mistakes.

Final note: the last rental agent I worked with also needed to see my residence permit before I signed the lease.

[Jordean]

25 K RMB/mo. sounds pretty cushy to me! I could afford a real ironing board if I were pulling in that money!

[Tasmanian Devil]

FYI, Mister Al, I don�t need a PGCE as I have a BEd. As it happens though, I do have also have a MEd and an MATEFL, so will that help you keep it zipped while the adults converse?

Thank you, flutterbayou, for your input. Yes, I have heard and have been told by the schools themselves that such interviews will often be required. That is exactly why I want to scout around for a while and find a decent employer. I�m coming from 8 years at an international school in Saudi and so can afford to wait for a decent offer, and take a break while looking/waiting. Two or three years is no problem; I'll still have around 30,000 rmb a month from my savings. And there�s plenty I want to do and see in China in the meantime. The Great Wall, the terracotta warriors in Xi'an, Hong Kong, Macau, Singapore, and all the other stuff.

What�s stopping me becoming self-employed in China, perhaps as a educational consultant, editor, or freelance journalist? Can you set up a business with a PO Box address? What do you need to be able to employ yourself in China? Can I stay there on a tourist visa and look for a job?

[eslstudies]

[cj750nomad]

[cj750nomad]

[mike w]

In general, BEd and MEd will not be sufficient for a quality international school in China - certainly not one that is going to pay 25,000RMB.

It would be suffice for some schools who masquerade as international schools, often Korean based.

PS. It may help your case if you stopped insulting people who are trying to help. China is not like Saudi, you have to deal with a whole raft of different cultural attitudes, especially to foreigners, and especially to those who pose as 'real' teachers. Some of the people who are offering you advice have been in China much longer than you have been in Saudi - listen to their advice, it is based on first-hand experience.

As regards the type of accommodation, you would be better to set your sights a little lower. In fact with some international schools, it is a requirement that you stay in the apartment provided by them.

[Tasmanian Devil]

[mike w]