Job Discussion Forums

beege · Joined: 04 Oct 2010 Posts: 9

Can anyone tell me if China has specific hiring preferences in regards to age and ethnic background? I used to be an Academic Supervisor in Korea and it used to be my job to hire foreign teachers. It was made clear to avoid Korean-Americans or African Americans. Yes, this mentality is very sad. I'm thinking about working in China and I want to know if this country has the same prejudices that Korea or Japan may have.

Mister Al · Joined: 28 Jun 2004 Posts: 840 Location: In there

For most employers the main criterion are

"White face and willing to accept as low a salary as we can get away with"

dharma86 · Joined: 05 May 2009 Posts: 187 Location: Southside baby!

It could depend on the school in question's first hand experience of that particular ethniticy.

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

These are my boss's preferences:

1. White (the whiter the better)
2. Between 30-40 years old
3. Teaching experience
4. Native English speaker
5. From Canada or America (excluding Americans with a southern drawl)
6. University Degree
7. TESOL, TEFL, etc. certificate
8. Male
9. Not too 'fat'

These are my part-time job's preferences:

1. White
2. Energetic and happy
3. Younger the better
4. Native English speaker
5. University Degree

These are my former employee's preferences:

1. White
2. From a a native English-speaking country
3. No heavy accent
4. University and TESOL/TEFL degree

Don't attack the messenger, these are not MY preferences.

beege · Joined: 04 Oct 2010 Posts: 9

hi great wall,
it's all good. thanks for the info. by the way, what about those who have a master's in tesl? any preferences there or would they still prefer young and white?

askiptochina · Joined: 26 Feb 2010 Posts: 488 Location: Beijing

"former employee's"? You mean employer?

SnoopBot · Joined: 21 Jun 2007 Posts: 740 Location: USA

west2east · Joined: 03 May 2009 Posts: 120 Location: China

igorG · Joined: 10 Aug 2010 Posts: 1473 Location: asia

mrwslee003 · Joined: 14 Nov 2009 Posts: 190

I would say that is the general picture, but it must be pointed out that there are many black and brown and other colors of the rainbow people
teaching in China as well.

Yet, I hate to see that most of the Fts are non-whites. Now don't go for the ropes and get all hot under the collar. Because most English speaking
people are white or of that texture. And it would look like China is racist if most of the Fts are black or brown. Just like most, if not all, of slave masters were white.

From the employers' point of view: they are more certain of getting an
English speaker. The less they know Chinese, the better they are to be
manipulated, no? Control? They like that. Of course, there is a status
element in the equation. It's in vogue to employ a "white" Ft. None of these is done with "malice", by the way.

History has employed so many blacks and browns, now you employ the other colour. Again, no offense. So don't take it as an insult!

Now, I feel the employers should know that while most of Fts should be
"white", employing some blacks and browns should give your students a different experience. It also gives a message to your students that it is possible for them to do the same. It opens the horizon for them that the
sky is the limit. After all, that is the ultimate goal of the services of the Fts, right?

Cheers!

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