Job Discussion Forums

[Johnny_Utah]

Im interested in hearing from those of you who managed to move on and get a non-teaching job in China, or something dealing with China after teaching. Teaching is great and all, but as well all know, there just isnt job growth in this market. Im feeling like I would like to move on in a year or so.

I like to think I have made good use of my time here, I can read a Chinese news paper and understand most of it, I can talk about & understand most subjects in Chinese without much trouble, but is teaching really the career killer that many people make it out to be ? It does not seem to be easy to get into a real job here, if you were not already working for a company that decided to send you here. Many of the jobs advertised I see are for engineers, programmers, people with real skills..I am just a lowly poli-sci major that taught my self Chinese, my best bet for moving on would be polishing a seat with my butt back in D.C. , which is an option, but I like living in China.

I keep in touch with some of my old professors, the consensus amongst them seemed to be no it's not a career killer ( but these are life long teachers..) There was no solid advice on transitioning out of teaching. So what are your thoughts & experiences people ?

[Tigerstyleone]

You can always sell cars back home.

[Johnny_Utah]

That's constructive advice.

[Tigerstyleone]

If you're really fluent in Chinese then you could work in Procurement sourcing from China. You don't need any skills except negotiation, and since you've lived in China you understand the culture.

Many Fortune 500 companines would like to hire you to source or manage their Chinese supply chain.

[Laurence]

Sit the HSK exam and make your mandarin skills into a tangible asset.

[JamesD]

I know quite a few people who have made the transition to the private (non ESL) sector. Here is what they all have in common.

They networked to get their jobs.
They speak Chinese. Some are fully fluent, some are so-so, many are still at the survival level; but they can communicate in an office setting.
They networked to get their jobs.
They all have needed skills; mainly managing large teams or business experience that companies here need.
They make it clear they follow the rules regarding visas and RPs. They don't consider working on F or L visas. If a company cannot get them a legit work visa they say, "No, thank you."
They don't consider being a foreigner and/or a native speaker an automatic advantage. You have to be able to sell yourself just like the local with an MBA and 5 years of experience.
They networked to get their jobs.
They didn't waste time (theirs or the company's) by applying for positions that were unsuitable. Accountants don't apply for sales positions.

Face it, you walk into any company in the US and say, "Of course you need to hire me. I don't have any experience or special skills you need BUT I speak Chinese!"
Good luck.

Walk into a Chinese office and say, "Of course you need to hire me. I don't have any experience or special skills you need BUT I speak English!" Response: "Hey, so do 90% of my local employees!" (see above)

However, always depends on what you have to offer. It can be done and is more common than you think. The more people you meet the better your chances. Are you a mature well-educated male who can you speak intelligently about factory construction with European clients? I know a company that will hire you next week.
Are there ANY foreign companies in your area? Drop in on any open business events and exchange cards. Got a foreign CofC? Any expat groups?
It's all luck and timing.

[Johnny_Utah]

[Non Sequitur]

There is another thread on this but the search function isn't operating for me this evening.
'Moving from teacher to entrepreneur' I think is its title.
There is an expat job fair in Beijing around December I recall. At Swisshotel?
Lots of provincial government education people but a smattering of Chinese companies looking to give their export image and performance a bit of a boost with a foreigner on staff.
Others may recall more detail.

[mike w]

I think the Beijing job fair is around September time - not sure.

There are several websites that specialise in non-teaching jobs.

I found my current job on http://www.foreignhr.com/ over five years ago.

[Mr. Kalgukshi]

Several inappropriate postings have been deleted for addressing the messenger rather than the message as well as unacceptable language for this board. Future deletions will be accompanied by bans for those responsible for authoring the deleted postings.

I kid you not.

Thank you to those members reporting such inappropriate behavior to the Mod Team by Report Post and PM and please continue to do so in the future.

[time to teach]

[Johnny_Utah]

I went to the job fair at the swiss hotel last year, it was mostly your run of the mill teaching jobs.

[Zero]

[Zero]

Chinese proficiency, in itself, is not the key to high-paying jobs in China.

Note, the highest-paid foreigners in China do not speak any Chinese at all. They are senior managers sent by their companies on expat packages.

Chinese skills alone will qualify you for some jobs you couldn't get otherwise. They tend to be in sales/business development or in editing/translating. They typically pay no more than teaching, and often less.

Language skills combined with another skill, like computer programming or engineering, can qualify you for certain jobs. It's a weird space where you may be competing with local candidates and overseas Chinese and other foreigners. The pay tends to be equivalent to teaching or moderately better, but still nothing to write home about. There isn't a lot of growth potential if it's a Chinese employer, because they're never going to let you manage anything significant. There could be growth if it's a foreign company, but it can also be a no-man's land where you are far removed from the managers who really matter, back at home base.

In the end, a lot of people decide that teaching wasn't so bad after all. You can learn to market yourself and stick with decent jobs combined with private students and end up making good money. No shortage of work.

If you want to so something else in China, train in something else. Get in with a company in your home country, work a few years and come back as an expat, with your Chinese skills giving you a leg up. Research fields that are in demand. Business and technical fields should serve you well. Supply chain management is a good example.

Another good option: Become an international-school teacher. Go home and earn a teaching certificate and get a couple of years of experience. Choose the subject of your liking. You'll be able to earn lots of money and enjoy excellent benefits in China.

Finally, you could develop an income source not tied to a place. A freelance editor, translator or graphic designer would be an example. Take a low-hours university job in China so you can maintain a visa and have one steady stream of income, and spend the rest of your time working online, earning your real money. Your clients can be in China, your home country or anywhere else in the world.

Good luck.

[Johnny_Utah]