Job Discussion Forums

distantrealm · Joined: 13 May 2010 Posts: 13

Hello I have received an offer for a job in Shanxi but never had an interview is this common? I don't want to say no to a job but it does sound a bit unusual to me personally. Any thoughts anyone.

happigur1 · Joined: 25 Jul 2009 Posts: 228 Location: USA

as long as you have a white face, you're good to go.

Guerciotti · Posted: Mon Jul 19, 2010 7:10 am Post subject:

rogerwilco · Joined: 10 Jun 2010 Posts: 1549

smutbagdisco · Joined: 18 Dec 2007 Posts: 28

search and find out as much as you can about the school, the city, the lifestyle. I would be cautious about a school blindly recruiting. There probably are some good reasons for it.

distantrealm · Joined: 13 May 2010 Posts: 13

Wise words rogerwilco and smutbag. I think at an absolute minimum a lot more information is required for my own peace of mind.

Teatime of Soul · Joined: 12 Apr 2007 Posts: 905

Ask for the email addresses of current/former teacher and ask questions of them.

cormac · Joined: 04 Nov 2008 Posts: 768 Location: Xi'an (XTU)

Gilka · Joined: 22 Jun 2010 Posts: 54

I once had a recruiter insist I sign the contract before they would give me ANY information about the school, even the name. I guess they didn't have a strong relationship with the school and wanted to make sure the potential FT felt that they couldn't back out of the deal.

An interview shouldn't be a dealbreaker for the school, most require it - more to check your accent than to find out about your teaching methods.

I want to ditto what rogerwilco said about contracts being basically meaningless, especially if they don't have your name (and, hopefully, higher pay than they first offered) on them. They send them to everyone, just to introduce the working arrangement and see if you have any questions.

When they ask for all the stuff to start processing the Z-visa, that is serious.

distantrealm · Joined: 13 May 2010 Posts: 13

Is a z visa the same as a business visa? Probably a dumb question

johntpartee · Joined: 02 Mar 2010 Posts: 3258

No. F visa is a business visa. They want you to work on an F visa? It requires some "truth bending". Careful.

mike w · Posted: Tue Jul 20, 2010 10:26 am Post subject:

If they can't provide the correct documentation for you to obtain a Z visa, then pass on it. It quite possibly means that the school is not licensed to hire foreigners, or they can use it as a quick way to get rid of you if they so desire after you arrive. Working on an F visa is illegal.

Teatime of Soul · Joined: 12 Apr 2007 Posts: 905

You can read up on the "Z visa debate" here:
http://middlekingdomlife.com/guide/china-english-teacher-visas.htm

In today's environment, I personally would not risk it.

distantrealm · Joined: 13 May 2010 Posts: 13

That was a very interesting read about the visa debate. It is very easy to be confused with the myriad of visas and with certain recruiters who can be liberal with the requirements.

mat chen · Joined: 01 Nov 2009 Posts: 494 Location: xiangtan hunan

Sure they tell departing teachers that if they want to get paid they must put in a good word with the recruits. Happened to me in Henan.
The other scam is to tell you they will settle everything at the end. I have had this happen at every school. The other scam is to have the police send you home after you finish the contract. You get sent home without being paid. The other scam is to change the name of the school every year. Most contracts are 10 months so they get rid of everyone before the new teachers arrive.
But there is one consolation in that you are just like all the workers in China. Disposible and easy to get rid of. You will be labelled a trouble maker.
The big scam here at the moment is in preparing students to study abroad. Now if you are smart stay at home and teach them when they get there. You will be paid and you get to see them get sent home because they can't study on their own.