Job Discussion Forums

[Spinksy]

Hi there,

I would be really grateful if someone could give me a nice big stack of advice, as I'm really a bit of a novice to all of this.

I am hoping to go out to Beijing at the start of 2011, with my girlfriend, for at least 6 months - where I will be teaching English as a Foreign Language, and she will be looking for a non-Tefl internship/job.

I am starting a 4 week CELTA course on Monday, and have a BA in History (first), as well as some brief experience teaching history to primary school kids and also a Nightline (Samaritans-like) training course to fellow students last year. So I will be reasonably well-qualified, but lightly experienced.

How likely am I to be able to find a job in Beijing starting between January and March? When would be the best time to start, and where should I be looking? Ideally, somewhere with a shorter contract (6 months) would be best, but is this unrealistic? Is there any reputable companies offering shorter-term contracts, without the costs of i-to-i and the like? Should I contact schools directly or are there any good agencies to go through for a beginner, wanting specifically to be in Beijing? Do I need to widen my options?

My girlfriend is also coming out with me, although she is not looking to go down the TEFL teaching route. She has a BA in History & Chinese Studies, and is ideally looking for any kind of internship or paid job, in finance if professional or any other paid. What would be the best options open for an English girl in Beijing? Hotels, internships? Do you know any good starting points for her?

Any help would be absolutely brilliant!

To sum up:
Celta Course (in process)
BA History (first)
Want to be in Beijing
Limited experience (non-Tefl)
Between Jan-March start-date
Preferably short-ish term (6 months ideal)

Many many thanks to whoever is kind enough to respond!

John

[nickpellatt]

I would contact the big chain school people. EF, Wall Street and any of the others you see advertising on sites like this or TEFL.com. They should be able to advise you on current visa regulations that would apply in Beijing. Im assuming you recently graduated with your BA? You may find that two years working experience post-degree may be required for a legal working visa. Although there are often work arounds, options to work on F visa, and employers who can swing things, this is less likely in Beijing IMO. Your best bet is to get in touch with employers in the area and find out. You only want a short contract, so I cant imagine many employers wanting to go to the trouble of pulling strings to get you a visa ... but best to speak to them to find out.

I think you GF should be speaking to companies in your home country seeking an internship. Cant imagine it would be easy to find one when in China. She needs to speak to a company at home, that can offer an internship in their Beijing office IMO.

[Spinksy]

Ok, bit of an update on this one.

We'd both be doing TEFL.

I only graduated in June 2010, does this scupper any plans I have? I'm very confused by this 2 year work experience thing.

Many thanks

John

[seamallowance]

For Beijing, I dunno.

But for what it's worth, I have neither a BA or a TEFL.

I am doing just fine. Of course, I am out in the sticks, not Beijing.

[Spinksy]

Cheers seamallowance - have you been out for a long time?

Do you have a Z visa and residency permit? How did you get these?

I'm just worried that I don't have 2 years work experience since graduating, and this will prevent me from (legally) being able to find a teaching job in China. Is this the case?

Many thanks

John

[nickpellatt]

Contact employers. See what they say, that really is the best way to find out because everything else is just opinion. Some of that opinion isnt based on fact or personal experience either.

I havent worked in Beijing, but in smaller places (perhaps like seamallowance) and in those places there are always work arounds and things can get done. China doesnt have a set of laws that are absolute, and they are applied differently everywhere. My experience in a small place may bear no resemblence to what may happen in Beijing, hence needing to speak to employers in the area you want to work.

My feeling is you may struggle, (just a guess really though) and you should consider searching in other places, cities, towns too. Beijing (being the capital city) may have stricter requirement for legal employment, and could be more likely to be subject to spot checks. In some places, a white face and a pulse is enough to get a job, and the authorities may not care about your legal status as long as you arent causing trouble. Beijing may not be like this, and as competition may be fiercer there (lots of people are attracted to big cities, and BJ may be the only place they recognise initially) there could be more i's to dot and t's to cross.

Apply for a few jobs, contact a few employers, see what feedback you get from people who are actually able to hire, rather than people who just have opinions (kinda like me )