Job Discussion Forums

[Teachurrrr]

Hello. I have been lurking on this board since January.

I am American, age 41, and have 8 years ESL experience in Korea and the Philippines.

Okay, I have been applying for jobs in China from outside the country for 3 months. It has been absolutely useless (recruiters and schools???).

Some people here have posted that recruiters are useless. I have found that to be the case.
Some people here have posted that just try to job websites. I have done that, and they are all recruiters or EF.

Okay, what are some practical options if not using recruiters?

Some people have posted that one should arrive in China then apply.

I am currently in Korea (could leave this Friday). Let's say I fly to Hong Kong, stay at the Wang Fat Hotel in Wanchai, apply for the Chinese Tourist Visa, then go to Shenzhen (my target area is the Guangdong Province), and check in to a hostel. WHAT NEXT?

SPECIFICALLY, how does one apply at this point? This is the main question in which I need advice from some of the experienced teachers in China who post here!

After I am in China, are recruiters useful?
After I am in China, do schools actually want interviews and offer contracts?
Should I look through English newspaper classified ads?
Should I walk door to door (school to school) in Shenzhen?
How does it work step by step after being in China? Some case examples would be much appreciated.

Cheers.

Teachurrrr

[Mister Al]

Leg work. Simply go to the companies that you are interested in or even schools/ universities with a big smile and a good resume and ask if they would be interested in hiring someone like you. Your problem might be lack of a degree (if you don't have one) but not insurmountable, though some provinces are being strict about qualifications, maybe Guangdong, I don't know. You might be offered work but not under the legal Z visa/Residency Permit route and it will be up to you whether to chance that or not.

[mavis enderby]

Schools , colleges, and universities will be hiring from about now on for starting September. You can google "(name of sizeable city/prefecture sized)
Normal University College" and see what comes up and get the e'mail n phone number. You should be able to pick a nice spot if you get working quick. I use Google UK or you can use Google Hong Kong.

The agencies will just bugger you about.

I've found WEB English Schools okay. They are connected to each other and if you ask at one if there is a vacancy in another city they should be
able to put you onto it.

[Teatime of Soul]

Be aware that you are flying in for a job interview, not a job, insofar as many employers will view it.

They will be all smiles and handshakes your first few weeks. And when you inquire about your Z visa, (unless you plan to work illegally) you'll get more smiles, and told "Don't worry."

And when your last day of valid visa comes, (during which you'll be teaching class) don't be surprised to see the boss smiling and handshaking with your younger, cheaper replacement.

Just after, with crocodile tears, he explains how things got "complicated" and he can't hire you. Meanwhile, he hopes you enjoy your remaining legal hours in China. Unfortunately, he has a pressing appointment at the KTV, so please see his secretary for directions to the bus station.

As long as that is an acceptable risk, go for it.

[RonHex]

should be pretty easy for you to find a job. even tho u have experience u will prolly start at the bottom and spend a year or two making connections before moving up. this is the best time to start looking for a job but keep in mind you may not get ur first paycheck until october. take a look at a few expat forums for shenzhen, do the leg work and go to schools, hangout at expat pubs and talk to some ppl.

[Teachurrrr]

Thank you for your replies.

Mister Al, leg work is obvious, but how can one go about it other than going door to door in Shenzhen for example. How would I find companies other than pound the pavement or hang out in expat bars to get the "low down."

By the way, I have the degree (taught in Korea for years). I figured I could get a tourist visa in Hong Kong, enter China, visit schools with my resume and smiling face, eventually find a few jobs, get some offers, then do a visa run to Hong Kong for the Z, then finish the process upon return. If the school is dodgy and doesn't want to do the work visa up front, I would give them a pass. There have to be some schools (language mills or otherwise) who would process a work visa.

Mavis enderby, thanks for the specifics. Good ideas about how to bypass recruiters and contact the uni's directly. Honestly, I would rather not wait for September for a uni and just take a good language mill job (I know ... contradiction in terms) in May, unless I was just teaching privately for a couple of months to pass the time until a uni position started. Both are options. I contacted a Web school to see what happens.

Teatime of Soul, thanks for the "heads up" about the "smiles." I don't think I would wait until the last day of my visa validity to work in some language mill with the promise of a work visa. If I am working part-time privately, it goes with the territory. If we sign a contract for a full-time position, I would give them X numbers of days to process the visa and not teach until they give me the paper to take to Hong Kong. If they can't do it "above board" and give excuses, then walk away and find a school that will. I have found that timetables with employers work if you stand you ground and follow-thru with a consequence.

RonHex, thanks for your comments too. I wonder if I would start at the bottom, or end up with 8000 RMB + apt plus some extra work later. Or is 8000 RMB + apt considered the bottom? As you said, it takes some time to get vested in the area for extra work to come around. CURIOUS, why would I not get my first paycheck until October? Are your referring to accpeting a uni position that starts in September? I looked at Shenzhen Party and the other one. Good info on apartments, but the jobs are once again recruiters or EF. It does list some private work though. It sounds like one must hit the pavement, go door to door, and get informed at the local expat bar.

As I asked for in the original post, can anyone offer their experiences finding a job when they first came to China? Did you get hired from overseas or did you just show up, hit the pavement, find something, then after a while, just move on to something better as the local picture became clearer? I do appreciate your responses. It would also be great to hear from some veterans like Cleric and Great Wall of Whiner. Thank you.

Cheers. Teachurrrrr!

[Teachurrrr]

By the way, do any Guangdong veterans have any advice (negative or positive) about coming to work in Shenzhen or Guangzhou, and what the best way would be to do it? Thanks again.

Teachurrrr

[RonHex]

8000+apt at a uni in SZ is pretty good (assuming its low hours) if ur looking at a training center or kinder teaching 25+ hours then it would be the bottom of the barrel.

I came to China on a tourist visa to work a 2 week summer camp (signed the contract while in Canada.) I was lucky enough to meet a couple good ppl at the camp... they found me a job and even let me crash at their house for the first month.

another thing you could try... seach for ppl living in SZ on skype.. there are a ton of chinese english teachers that use it. just dont send any bank info