Job Discussion Forums

SandyG20 · Joined: 12 Sep 2007 Posts: 208

Carmac - the USA is under the worst recession I have ever seen - people with Master degrees can't get a job working in fast food places.
Because there are no jobs! Major unemployment! The various states are going broke paying unemployment to people and having to borrow from the federal govt. So I do hear what you are saying.

I googled a bit tonight on flights from 4 nearest airports to my offered location - a 2 connection flight (I think 2 connections is plenty for the distance I am going) one way is over a thousand dollars and that might not include some tacked on fees or baggage fees or whatever. I will keep looking and doing some research. I am not sure how the rules exactly work on how much before a contract we can arrive in China - so that might make for cheaper airfare. Despite this I am considering it - very competitive market out there.

To the original poster - you can see there are other people thinking the same thoughts as you.

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

Sandy, if costs are a factor then you should consider Korea... Since many places will pay partial or full costs of getting you over there..

Flights from Ireland to China generally cost over a 1000 euro so believe me I understand the pain..

A'Moo · Posted: Sun Jul 25, 2010 1:39 pm Post subject:

johntpartee · Joined: 02 Mar 2010 Posts: 3258

A'Moo · Posted: Sun Jul 25, 2010 2:04 pm Post subject:

dean_a_jones · Joined: 03 Jul 2009 Posts: 1151 Location: Wuhan, China

It is all a matter of personal spending habits, to be honest. I live in Wuhan, and spend between 2,000 and 2,500/month. My apartment is paid for, but the bills are not. I generally eat out 4/5 nights a week for dinner, at regular, cheaper chinese places. I smoke a pack a day and drink plenty of beer, but almost always at home with friends rather than in bars. I don't like shopping, so rarely buy new things (except books, I buy maybe 3 or so a month, from shops or amazon.cn). I don't go clubbing, and don't eat any western food, besides toast sometimes in the morning. When I go out, I usually walk or take the bus, I don't often take taxis.

So you can live cheaply here, and save plenty of cash as well, but it really does depend on your lifestyle. Things are cheap here, but often what foreign teachers and the like want are considered luxury items, and will cost you accordingly. If you can't live without clubs and bars, that will also cost you, it is quite expensive here, decent beer in a bar costing as much or even more than in London, which is a bit shocking.

On international flights: I got from London to China for less than 400GBP on Cathay Pacific, who were quite good (one way, of course). Any decent school will pay for your flight in and out. The better ones will fly you back every summer if you stick around, and also still pay you your summer months salary.

The Great Wall of Whiner · Joined: 29 Jan 2003 Posts: 4946 Location: Blabbing

EFLpursuits · Joined: 14 Jul 2010 Posts: 38

To the OP:

It might have been enough money 20 years ago.

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

This is the problem in China. People come with little knowledge about the value of money. Five years ago you could buy a hamberger at Macdonalds in China for about 10 rmb. Now that big Mac would be three or four dollars in the US, or 21 rmb with the conversion. But things have changed in the US. I hear food is cheaper and the cost of living has gone down. In China the cost of food has skyrocketed everywhere.
So I just read a job offer here saying they were paying 4,500 a month and this was a volunteer salary.
Don't buy this about getting a chance to experience China. You will be working hard. Ten years ago I saw adds for teachers offering 10,000 rmb. I was working in South Korea and wanted to come here. The same job is paying half. If you want the good salary you work preparing students to take exams for entering foreign universities abroad. You will earn your money because the students you will teach are used to having everything done for them. You will have to come to class with pens and papers for them. They will want their hands held. They will do nothing on their own. And you will take the blaim for their failures.

SandyG20 · Joined: 12 Sep 2007 Posts: 208

I live in the USA right now - food prices are very high, gas prices high, rent prices high, no jobs - nothing is cheap here. Massive unemployment in all segments of jobs from all types of career areas - doesn't matter what your education or training or experience level is.

Gilka · Joined: 22 Jun 2010 Posts: 54

Blingcosa · Joined: 17 May 2008 Posts: 146 Location: Guangdong

Please don't take such low paying jobs. It undercuts all of us. If you accept a low paying job, we will be expected to work for that next year.

Take a look at the big picture. You have real value. Why are you asking if you could live on such pitiful pay, when there are clearly much better jobs going for people with the minimal quals and an alcohol habit.

My school pays 12,000/mth plus bonuses in the big cities and 10k plus free acom in second tiers. Use your energy to find some decent pay, rather than working out how to live on the crappest wage.

rogerwilco · Joined: 10 Jun 2010 Posts: 1549

I'm in a third tier city, starting my second year with the same school, and my salary was just increased to 10,000 RMB and free apartment for 12 classes a week and no office hours.
I agree with Bling, it is better for all of us if the very low salary offers are ignored.

A'Moo · Posted: Thu Jul 29, 2010 2:41 am Post subject:

Agree with the above sentiments, but the only ones I see working for less than 5000/mo(at language schools) are ex-cons/perverts etc. Even the newbies, provided they have a modicum of responsibility, if they start out at less than 5000, one of two things happens after two months-they are given a raise or they leave, either for greener pastures or home.