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The Great Wall of Whiner
Joined: 29 Jan 2003
Posts: 4946
Location: Blabbing
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 Posted: Tue Feb 02, 2010 12:53 pm Post subject: Important information to ALL teachers: Jobs are NEGOTIABLE! |
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That's right!
I was offered a job tonight but the pay was too low for what I was looking for (they offered 8000 RMB + accommodation). I currently make a lot more than that, so I thought there wouldn't be any harm in asking.
Here is the full story:
I seldom use recruiters. I don't really trust them because of course they play both sides of the fence with the ultimate goal of signing the foreigner up to "any old school" just so long as they get the cash from the school for the "finders fee" in getting a foreigner to their school.
Well I decided to give one a shot, and she came back with a few offers but the pay was on the low side (I consider anything under 10k a month "low").
So I told her "This job here, it's perfect for me! But the pay is too low. I'd take it if you could get the salary bumped up a little.
I even told her that I'd give HER a bonus. The higher she got the salary, the higher the bonus would be.
And guess what?
It paid off!
So I am here to tell you all that, just like anything else in China--salaries ARE negotiable!
So the next time you are looking for a job and using a recruiter, do just what I did and you won't regret it.
Wooo~~~
I feel so good now! |
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The Ever-changing Cleric
Joined: 19 Feb 2009
Posts: 1523
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| Posted: Tue Feb 02, 2010 1:13 pm Post subject: |
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this is a shocking development 
i'm surprised an old china hand like you used a recruiter, given the advice you passed on in another thread:
| The Great Wall of Whiner wrote: |
Remember, recruiters have only one person in mind:
The recruiter.
They will sell snow to an eskimo if it means bing bing for them.
Never get that wrong. |
anyway, i'm glad to hear you had success with one of them  |
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MDDude
Joined: 15 Apr 2008
Posts: 43
Location: Maryland, United States
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| Posted: Tue Feb 02, 2010 6:16 pm Post subject: |
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| The Ever-changing Cleric wrote: |
this is a shocking development
i'm surprised an old china hand like you used a recruiter, given the advice you passed on in another thread:
| The Great Wall of Whiner wrote: |
Remember, recruiters have only one person in mind:
The recruiter.
They will sell snow to an eskimo if it means bing bing for them.
Never get that wrong. |
anyway, i'm glad to hear you had success with one of them |
Why in the world is everyone so bothered by the "Recruiter only has themselves in mind" quote? In every business dealing in the world, both parties are trying to do what is best for them. Guess what? People can still work together even when trying to maximize their own gain. |
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SnoopBot
Joined: 21 Jun 2007
Posts: 740
Location: USA
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| Posted: Tue Feb 02, 2010 7:46 pm Post subject: Re: Important information to ALL teachers: Jobs are NEGOTIAB |
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| The Great Wall of Whiner wrote: |
That's right!
I was offered a job tonight but the pay was too low for what I was looking for (they offered 8000 RMB + accommodation). I currently make a lot more than that, so I thought there wouldn't be any harm in asking.
Here is the full story:
I seldom use recruiters. I don't really trust them because of course they play both sides of the fence with the ultimate goal of signing the foreigner up to "any old school" just so long as they get the cash from the school for the "finders fee" in getting a foreigner to their school.
Well I decided to give one a shot, and she came back with a few offers but the pay was on the low side (I consider anything under 10k a month "low").
So I told her "This job here, it's perfect for me! But the pay is too low. I'd take it if you could get the salary bumped up a little.
I even told her that I'd give HER a bonus. The higher she got the salary, the higher the bonus would be.
And guess what?
It paid off!
So I am here to tell you all that, just like anything else in China--salaries ARE negotiable!
So the next time you are looking for a job and using a recruiter, do just what I did and you won't regret it.
Wooo~~~
I feel so good now! |
Wow actually some good news, I guess using the "greasing of the Chinese palm theory" actually works, the recruiter got a little extra too.
A win-win situation here. |
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rogerwallace
Joined: 24 Nov 2004
Posts: 66
Location: California
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| Posted: Tue Feb 02, 2010 10:18 pm Post subject: yes, negotiate like crazy |
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one can always say no thankx to a job But once you sign a contract, its harder than hell to change it in China. I am doing the negociate thing right now w/ a university(they don't want to pay for airfare from the US of A and don't want to pay anything during summer months but don't want me to work on the "outside either".
I said no way, give me a better offer(work outside and airfare). At 10,000 rmb its ok but with out the rest...not good. I can substitute teach at home for $100 per day until I get a good contract. |
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The Great Wall of Whiner
Joined: 29 Jan 2003
Posts: 4946
Location: Blabbing
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| Posted: Wed Feb 03, 2010 2:34 am Post subject: |
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| The Ever-changing Cleric wrote: |
this is a shocking development
i'm surprised an old china hand like you used a recruiter, given the advice you passed on in another thread:
| The Great Wall of Whiner wrote: |
Remember, recruiters have only one person in mind:
The recruiter.
They will sell snow to an eskimo if it means bing bing for them.
Never get that wrong. |
anyway, i'm glad to hear you had success with one of them |
I'm surprised I used one, too. Just thought there'd be no harm in trying it out, using certain Chinese techniques and characteristics (negotiating). |
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kukiv
Joined: 13 Dec 2009
Posts: 328
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| Posted: Wed Feb 03, 2010 3:10 am Post subject: |
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| Quote: |
| I can substitute teach at home for $100 per day until I get a good contract. |
What language do you teach in the states? |
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The Ever-changing Cleric
Joined: 19 Feb 2009
Posts: 1523
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| Posted: Wed Feb 03, 2010 4:15 am Post subject: Re: yes, negotiate like crazy |
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| rogerwallace wrote: |
| one can always say no thankx to a job But once you sign a contract, its harder than hell to change it in China. |
it can be hard, but if you have a good reason and make your case properly it can be done. i negotiated a pay raise three months into my first contract at my current place of employment.
| rogerwallace wrote: |
| I am doing the negociate thing right now w/ a university(they don't want to pay for airfare from the US of A and don't want to pay anything during summer months but don't want me to work on the "outside either". I said no way, give me a better offer(work outside and airfare). |
you could be waiting a long time. MOST contract appendices don't allow outside work, but most teachers do it anyway and most schools don't care.
the appendix in my current contract (and all FT contracts at our school) is worded in such a way that outside work is allowed but the teacher assumes any responsibility for all activities related to that outside work. we didn't ask for that change, the school did it themselves. you could ask any school you're interested in to put a similar clause in the contract they offer.
all of the above will be more difficult to manage with a recruiter in the picture since the middleman has the potential to cloud things more. |
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rogerwallace
Joined: 24 Nov 2004
Posts: 66
Location: California
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| Posted: Wed Feb 03, 2010 6:19 am Post subject: agents..been there too |
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As a substitute teacher(k-12) it always different but always kids. This present contract -well, they don't want to pay me anything during the summer and no airfare costs. So as you can tell, I want more.
I have used an agent once... in Daqing, it was a bummer to say the least. I have long time chinese friend in Tianjin helping me out with this one.
ESL in many states is just to corral all the latino kids-no esl going on...sad state of affairs indeed. |
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