Job Discussion Forums

[Tom Riggle]

I saw this on a site seeking teachers in China:

"due to Chinese work visa requirements, we can only employ candidates aged between 24 and 55 years"
Source: http://www.eslcafe.com/jobs/china/index.cgi?read=23755Is this true all across the board in China. Or are they just saying this for their own reasons?

Is this 58-something teacher wasting his time even thinking of working in China?

Edit:
I am so glad that old posts can be added to, even a day later.

For the record: I do have a BA degree (Bible). But I don't have any teaching certification, that not being required of teachers in private schools in Texas.

[dean_a_jones]

I think you will find it can be a problem for certain provinces if you are over 55 or 60. There is plenty of talk on here about people who are either older and still working (some into their late 60s) or people with colleagues who are of that age. I have certainly had a few colleagues in my time here that have been 60+.

I realise the search function does not always work on this site, but search 'age' in the China forum and I am sure you will get some specifics on this. Here is one link I found that might be of use:

http://forums.eslcafe.com/job/viewtopic.php?t=90046

[Tom Riggle]

[Non Sequitur]

I worked to age 68 and my school would have rehired me (I think) for another year.
A colleague at another uni worked until he was 70, but despite continuous service of around 8 years they couldn't rehire him.
My advice get applying and get a few lifestyle pics in your application file. Show yourself as active and engaged in life.

[kev7161]

I think many areas are evolving into somewhat "following the rules" more and more. If you don't have a degree or some sort of certificate and if you don't have at least 2 years teaching experience and you aren't of a certain age and you don't come from a designated English-speaking country it seems to me that newcomers are finding it harder and harder to find a job in a responsible, reputable school. Which is not to say one can't find a job anywhere in China, but those kinds of schools may be bit more shady than others.

These thoughts are not hard facts and everyone is going to have their own story to tell about how they and the school they work with have skirted the rules. However, just by reading threads here over the last several months and even the last couple of years, it seems we get a lot more of these kinds of questions here at Dave's: Am I too old? Am I too young? Can I work without a degree or experience? I'm from (fill in the blank country), but I've studied English. Can I come to China and teach?

And really, none of us "experts" here can tell you an absolute answer. We all know the rules (or think we do anyway) and, in China, rules are definitely meant to be broken!

[Non Sequitur]

I think Kev is right.
There will be variations, but the overall 'direction of travel' is towards more restrictions.
That said it will be a balancing act for them. Is the paperwork so important that they'll let positions go vacant to achieve this?
The other dynamic is salary levels. To get a greater number of credentialed people they may look at higher salary levels.

[xjgirl]

apply at the start of september to any adverts where u see ASAP
then your age wont be a problem

[Tom Riggle]

[Zero]

My impression is that age 60 is where it gets tough. At that point, people already employed by a given school might (or might not) be kept on for further contracts. But if you don't already work for the school, it's hard to get in. If you really want to work in China and are OK with some risk of being sent home eventually, I'd try to get a job ASAP at an employer known to have other employees over 60. That is, get in under the deadline. And then stay put. Research carefully on Dave's for school that employ people over 60 and that are tolerable to work for.