Job Discussion Forums

Bramlow · Joined: 14 Jan 2010 Posts: 14

Hey chaps,

I started a thread recently about the search for 6-month placements. The response, and my own research, has indicated that these are not impossible to secure, but not easy to get either.

My main priority is not to teach as such. I'd like to do that, but it's not my primary motivation. Primarily, I want to improve my spoken Chinese by getting to spend more time in the country.

So if teaching doesn't come good: what options are there? Is it possible to get a job in any old place as a foreigner, or is it (as I assume) an uphill struggle to do this in China? My friends who've travelled around the world often got jobs in bars or restaurants for 6 months without too much hassle, and yet I rarely hear of this happening in China. Are there any options, or is it teaching or de nada?

Zero · Joined: 08 Sep 2004 Posts: 1402

No options of the type you mention. You can enroll in a Chinese school and probably teach students privately in your spare time. You could maybe go on a tourist visa and teach privates, as well. Probably better just go for a year. Six months probably isn't enough to improve your Chinese that much, anyway.

Bramlow · Joined: 14 Jan 2010 Posts: 14

Zero · Joined: 08 Sep 2004 Posts: 1402

Your plan reminds me of just flinging yourself out into the ether. I think you need focus. Do you have any extra cash to work with? All your energy could easily go into setting up housing, finding a job, doing the job, worrying about the risk of not finding a job, etc. Then you won't learn much Chinese. You could spend quite a bit of money this way, too. If at all possible, I would sign up with a private Chinese school, like the Taiwan Language Institute, and let them arrange your housing or at least help you find a place. I would study there, and try to find part-time work in a training center when you aren't teaching in order to defray the costs.

Bramlow · Joined: 14 Jan 2010 Posts: 14

I agree it sounds like a confusing situation, although I'd hope it wouldn't come to that. Best case scenario would be to find some sort of contract to work within the next 6 months (for starting 2011, that is).

I like your idea, however. As it happens, I do have a job offer working for a social networking site, which allows me to do the work from almost anywhere with an internet connection. It can be done in as low as 20 hours a week, flexible hours, and would pay about $2250 a month. Providing I can do this slightly cheekily on a tourist visa (it's not a Chinese-based company), and have accommodation with a net connection, it may be possible to do this while studying in one of the schools...in theory. Only thing is it would mean a little less time every week interacting with the Zhongguo-ren.

LanGuTou · Joined: 23 Mar 2009 Posts: 621 Location: Shandong

It is very difficult as a foreign national to find employment in China that is not teaching related. The reason for that is that the Labor Bureau (who administer work permits) have a policy whereby unless the vacancy cannot be filled by a Chinese national, no invitation letter can be issued.

The onus is on the employer to demonstrate that they have a genuine need to offer the position to a foreign national. Obviously, that narrows things down to highly specific job knowledge or skills. None of which can be applied to bar work or serving food in restaurants.

Your best bet may be to enrol at a university offering Mandarin tuition. They will be able to get you an invitation letter for a 'X' visa (study visa). Then restrict yourself to doing private teaching on the quiet.

struelle · Joined: 16 May 2003 Posts: 2372 Location: Shanghai

Based on what the taxi drivers say, everyone who comes here for work is an English teacher. This can be frustrating to no end when they ask what my job is, and they immediately assume it is teaching English. Not quite, as I teach mathematics at an international school. They do a double take. Really? You teach foreign students? Nope, Chinese. But how is that possible? And so the explanation begins.

Actually, there is other work to be found besides teaching English. I have a buddy back in Wuhan who is looking for car mechanics to work on luxury vehicles. He asked me, "Do you know any foreign staff who want to work for us and tune up Mercedes Benz and BMW cars?"

I said, "Let me ask some of my friends back home in Canada."

He said, "Actually we want to hire people who already live in China as we then don't have to pay the same salary as what they would make back in your country --- which I'm sure is more than what we could offer for this kind of work."

So just a heads up. If you do find such work, they'll pay you local wages, or perhaps a smidgeon more than that.

MisterButtkins · Joined: 03 Oct 2009 Posts: 1221

[quote="Bramlow"]