Job Discussion Forums

[mrthingy]

Hi,

I'm thinking of coming to China, specificly Beijing, to do some TELF work. I've seen a number of times that it is best to go to China and find something rather than find a job while still at home (UK in my case). How hard is it to find something and how long do you think I would be looking if I did go over to China with nothing lined up. Also would the visa issue be?


Just to make it a bit easier for you to answer I have a degree, no TELF qualifications and no experience.

[Puffy]

Let it ride, dude.

Come over. See what happens. Bring enough money to last 3 months. Go home if nothing has turned up 3 months later.

Personally, I recommend the university route = wait 5 months and arrange a job that begins in September.

Either way, Good Luck and please bring me some fortune cookies!

[lee_barttwater]

Why on earth would you leave the comfort and safety of your home country, move to a new continent - to a place with no job, no secured housing, no income, etc.?

Also, for the record, it is ILLEGAL to enter China (as is also the case with MOST countries) for the purposes other than your issued visa. Why is it so difficult for people to understand this fact?

[The Ever-changing Cleric]

[LanGuTou]

You will most probably find that securing legitimate employment in Beijing without the teaching certificate and stipulated two years experience almost impossible. There may be one or two employers in the city with the necessary connections to obtain the 'Z' visa application letter.

You would have a higher chance if you are prepared to go to smaller, provincial cities where the interpretation of the law may be "more flexible".

How long will it take you to find suitable employment?

That is also impossible to answer. It depends on such intangible commodities as luck and how much effort or preparation you put into your job search. It may take less than one day. It could take weeks or months.

The visa situation is that you can obtain a standard tourist (L) visa to enter China with view to securing a position but you should change to working (Z) visa BEFORE you start to teach. The school should give you an invitation letter that you must take to a non PRC Mainland based Chinese consulate.

Very specifically, this should be your own country (UK) but the process can be completed in Hong Kong or Macau. However, the invitation letter should be printed with the consulate you choose to obtain the 'Z' visa from. If your invitation letter states UK and you go to Hong Kong, you are likely to be faced with greater difficulty. Ensure that the school knows the location you have chosen for your visa run.

[Laurence]

I do think doing an 'in country' job search is the ideal way to set yourself up.

It's pretty expensive though.

Consider the more significant factors in your budget:

- two months' daily living money to last you until you secure a job (Beijing isn't that cheap, but it does have youth hostels and street food, if you don't mind slumming it)
- deposit + advance rent for an apartment
- visa run funds (return ticket from BJ to HK will cost about US$750)
- return ticket back home, just in case anything goes wrong.


US$2.5k should just about cover all that.
You might break even within a year, but remember that relocating to a foreign country tends to throw up many unexpected expenses.


The alternative of course is to accept a position from abroad, 'blind', and then if you want to stay, get a better job after your first year. That would mean that you don't have to fork out for setting up accommodation or a visa run, substantially cutting down costs. The risk, however, is that you initially have less control over your circumstances and end up grinding out a year in less than perfect conditions.

That's how I did it though - I came with like 500 dollars in my back pocket and weathered twelve months in a very average language mill.

[Legeril]

[Teatime of Soul]

Where will you live?

In my city, any foreigner arriving needs to register within 24 hours with local police, with a stiff fine and/or deportation for failure to comply.

Further, foreigners must account for every day in China where they stayed prior to the time they register, and the only acceptable lodging is an approved for foreigner$ hotel$.

But hey, if you are flush with cash, and willing to take the risks in order to perhaps get a few hundred more RMB per month, have at it.

[mrthingy]

So, what I'm going to take from this is that in China I'd find a better job, but there's a whole lot of other things involved with finding a job in China that makes it not so worth it.

To be honest I was always leaning towards finding something before heading off. The thought of landing in China and going round handing out CVs is slightly unnerving.

Thanks for all the replies.

[TeresaLopez]

[rtm]

[Zero]

Yeah, 'round where I'm from, one might well say, "Do you want me to come over and fix your leaky roof this evening?" Where's the harm in that?

[Teatime of Soul]

[spicykimchi]

[Menino80]