Job Discussion Forums

[maxh1985]

Hi everyone, Ive been searching through the job listings on here as this is pretty much the most famous esl job site. However im getting a bit concerned about what kind of job ill be able to get when i first start teaching. I am from the UK and have a degree, i am also in the process of completing my 120 online course (this is the only certification option for me because of my current job). I am also pretty much set on china, from what i gather this would be a good country to start in. Also it is a country i have always wanted to explore.

However, it seems the majority of china job ads on here require at least one years teaching experience, of which i have none. Am i going to struggle to find a semi decent job in a semi decent school with no teaching experience? I know its the same as anyother career pathway, as in you have to start somewhere and work your way up, i just wondered if anyone here knows from experience what kind of prospects i have from where i stand now?

ItoI which is the company im getting certified through offer a job placement service upon completing the course, does anyone think this might be a better option?

Many thanks for your time

[nickpellatt]

With an unrelated degree, a qualification that is below industry standards, and no experience...you are unlikely to land a plum job, and could possibly land a terrible one. Thats not to say you have no chance, but you have to be realistic.

This is where I work http://www.omeida.org/

They are looking for teachers urgently...in honesty, I think you would normally be overlooked, but if you are looking for something soonish...then they may give you a chance. It isnt the highest salary around, but I quite like it here, the hours are good, classes sizes are small...and we teach adults in a nice part of China where the living is easy. Things could be a lot worse.

[Trinley]

I expect the job you find will be comfortably in between 'plum' and 'terrible'. Unless China has gotten way more selective since I started teaching in 2006, I would think you'd have your choice of jobs (not without limitation, though), since you have a degree and you're doing a TEFL course. When I started, I had an associate's degree (2 year degree), a TEFL certificate from an in-class program, and just a couple months of volunteer teaching experience on top of my waitressing expertise. I was offered work from every school I applied to. I had a coworker with no degree at all but an online TEFL certificate, and no experience, and she got work in a university. This was in Nanjing. You may have more difficulty if you're going for Shanghai or Beijing.

I used this website to find my first job.
http://englishjobmaze.com/
The first job under 'current jobs' is a conversational teacher in a university, no experience required.

Edit: Do you already have a city or province picked out, or are you open to going anywhere?

[maxh1985]

Thanks for the replies, thats pretty much what i was expecting, i know my prospects arent that amazing yet. But you hear all the time about people starting out with nothing to their name and still getting work, albeit not great work, but work all the same. Hopefully ill end up not too close to 'terrible' on the job scale to start off with!

thanks for the link nick, looks like a great place but unfortunately i wont be ready to go out to china until about sep/oct when ive saved enough money to back myself up. cheers for the heads up though, i guess theres definately an element of being in the right place at the right time aswel with finding work, theres probably thousands of peple that have landed seriously sweet esl jobs with no qualifications.

thanks for the link trinley, will check it out. Have no idea where abouts in china id like to be yet, preferably not too remote, but not too far away from the major cities where all the cool stuff is. My geographical knowledge of china isnt that great yet!

[KayuJati]

[judoka]

Wow. I can't believe the monthly salary at that school is equivalent to $500 USD. How the hell can you pay back student loans, help family back home or raise a child on that kind of money, or travel on breaks? Foreigners need to not take those kinds of jobs.

[johntpartee]

[KayuJati]

[LanGuTou]

One piece of advice that I would give to any newbie:

No matter how good you think you are, do not put salary as the number one objective when seeking employment in China. Look for a school that has a reasonable past record of being fair with the FT's. Chinese employers like to dish the dirt. It is ingrained within the society. It doesn't just apply to foreign nationals. Chinese nationals also have to put up with all kinds of excrement that we are not used to in the west.

After spending a year or two in China, you will probably become more savvy and streetwise. You can then play the negotiation and salary game. To begin with, a university paying a salary of 4000-4500 rmb per month may, in many circumstances, will be better than a mill offering 8000 rmb+.

That said, at the other extreme, do not become a piece of cheap meat for those universities that think it acceptable to pay salaries in the range of 3000 - 3500 rmb. As a rough guide, an ESL position in a Chinese university should pay around 60 - 65 rmb per teaching hour, accommodation and return air fare as a starting minimum.

[nickpellatt]

Salary is the same regardless of nationality. Native speakers from the US, Australia and Canada are the norm though.

Not everyone has student loans back home, family to support back home, or long term China plans. Of course, if you do have those, it would be pretty hard managing on the Yangshuo salary. Before I came here I did have a chance to work in BJ in a job that paid 10,000+ per month. But I dont want to work in a big city, and BJ doesnt interest me.

Unfortunately, if you want to work in some places, you have to accept the salaries that the area pays. Yangshuo pay is amongst the lowest in China I think, but I knew that long before I came here and was still happy to accept it. There are a great number of private language colleges here, Omeida pay the best salary as they are the longest established.

Generally, I have no hesitation is recommending them. At the time of writing I take two classes of 7 students a day...This week I have a schedule that means I finish at 12.00pm four days out of five. All students are fairly well motivated adults. Socially, the job is good as there are regular class dinners to enjoy with students (they are optional too) and a social night once a week with free beer and snacks. Every saturday we have optional trips out and about too, so if you are arriving here on your own, its very easy to make friends and get out and about.

This is my third job in China, and my 5th ESL job overall...the teaching is easily the best and most enjoyable here and thats my prime motivation. I enjoy a good lifestyle here, and enjoy the scenery, eat out in restaurants each night (not noodle bars) and can still save a little each month to return home with.

I have the option of taking more classes for more money ... frankly, I dont need to. Sure if you have family, a local wife, or massive debts back home it might not be for you.....but if you want a break from a big city, dont want classes of 50+ students that you can do little with...its a pretty good gig. Living is easy here due to the large volume of English speakers too...much easier than Hainan where I was teaching before.

No hidden agendas here with me, and none with my employer either. Ive never been paid late, had any shocks or surprises, and everything is pretty straight up.

[nickpellatt]

[maxh1985]

hi everyone, many thanks for all the replies. However we seem to be straying from my original question which was the kinds of jobs/salaries in china i could get with a degree/online TEFL cert and no experience. As shocked as everyone seems by the $500 salary, in my own circumstances i wouldnt really be expecting much more than that to begin with. But like someone was saying before, with the cheap living costs and free accomodation, im sure its still possible to save up over a period of time.

But once again, can anyone give me some useful advice about what kind of job i might be able to get in china with these qualifications? or should i be searching within or avoiding certain areas of the country,

thanks again

[Kiels]

Have a look at Aston English. Centres all over the country. Pay is ok. Good for first teacher, you would be qualified with your degree and TEFL> they give you some training, curriculum is set out and good experience working with varying ages of children. I would recommend applying for Jinan or Dalian, two of the better run schools (they are a franchise) - They also will be looking for teachers beginning in Sept. They employ 4 times a year and you can choose whether you want 15 hour, 20 hour or 25 hour contract and similarly a 6 month, 12 month or 13.5 month contract. Rates of pay obviously depedent upon this. Google them. I worked for them as my first job in China, couldn't complain. Good luck x

[maxh1985]

thanks kiels, i have been checking this out and looks pretty good, did you work in the jinan and dalian schools? do they have a few foreign teachers working in the same centre at one time? and are you sharing accomodation with the other teachers? looks like good fun!

[Kiels]

Hey

Yes I worked in Jinan. I loved it. Good schools, nice curriculum, well run. The city itself is large and vibrant. Plenty to do. Aston have 3 schools in Jinan itself, all of them relatively large. You'd be working with about 10-15 other teachers in the school. Curriculum textbooks and teacher guides for each level you teach. Additional Chinese Teacher in all of your classes to help with translation and aid. One of the schools in Jinan is smaller if I can recall correctly, perhaps only 5 teachers but they give you options when you arrive. Training given for 2 days I think to help adjust and understand what is expected from you. Accomodation all in blocks with other teachers so opportunities for socialising are great. Dalian has about 7 schools I think (city Aston began in), was voted 'most liveable' city I believe a few years ago. On the coast - look on youtube for Aston Dalian and Aston Jinan videos. They can give you a good idea of what to expect. I'd really recommend it. It was great fun and a good first experience in a foriegn culture. You're more than qualified. I'd recommend getting in touch with a few of the members of staff on their contact oage on Astons website. You can also talk to them on Skype to ask any questions you have.

Hope that helps x