Job Discussion Forums

tyroleanhat · Joined: 21 Oct 2013 Posts: 209 Location: Austria / China

I am aware this is a forum for English teachers, but i don't know who else to ask, and I think somebody here could have experience with the following scenario.
University in Chengdu, very convenient at a new metro-station, pretty nice overall.
They asked me about my salary expectations. I told them I am hoping for a similar salary as in my last job, quoting a nice salary (a bit higher than the usual English-teacher's salary at unis). Naive me is supposing they know that I am talking after-tax, apartment included etc...
They said - sure. BUT salary is taxed at 30 % (which can't be legit, I looked up the taxation for foreigners in China, the offered salary would officially have 10 % tax after the threshold reduction) and also I have to pay the apartment they're offering. (which was also shocking to learn).
I thought to myself, no thanks, I am not falling for their tactics and I will resort to my other job offer which is still a nice one. (but in a less preferred city)
Told them my concerns first, and they answered there is another possibility:
A rather high YEARLY salary with a 1-year contract ( even if I calculate rent and taxes in, it's still high),
OR - a 3-year contract, with an even higher yearly salary (think international school). How high this salary will eventually be, depends on my "task performance" (I am still waiting for their answer what exactly that means and what those tasks would be)

I am not quite sure what to make of it. I find their jump from the lower monthly salary to this really high yearly salary a bit odd.
And why would they buy me for three years all of a sudden?

Does this sound familiar, or is this fishy? With them I wanted to be a bit more trustful than usual, because I got recommended by a colleague of my former school, so there is a connection involved. Also I thought big Universities don't usually really have malicious intentions, correct me if I am wrong.

Any comments or insights are highly appreciated.

LarssonCrew · Joined: 06 Jun 2009 Posts: 1308

A uni not offering free accommodation? What is China coming to, and the 30% is basically a backhander for someone. I was looking at salaries around 22,000 and only at that level was it anything like 25%.

Non Sequitur · Joined: 23 May 2010 Posts: 4724 Location: China

Apart from the cost factor relating to own accommodation, the logistics should also be kept in mind.
If your contract is 20 hours max then inevitably you will have split shifts. That could be a class 8 to 10 and then another 2 to 4.
If you don't have accommodation onsite, is your own place close enough to go back to?

Laurence · Joined: 26 Apr 2005 Posts: 401

OhBudPowellWhereArtThou · Joined: 02 Jun 2015 Posts: 1168 Location: Since 2003

What is a "High-end Foreign Expert"? A published professor with two advanced degrees and almost twenty years of teaching experience?

Are we talking about salary or credentials?

tyroleanhat · Joined: 21 Oct 2013 Posts: 209 Location: Austria / China

LarssonCrew · Joined: 06 Jun 2009 Posts: 1308

1500 for a nice place? No. I think for a nice place, i.e. not afarmer 6 floor walk up you'll be looking at 3000.

wangdaning · Joined: 22 Jan 2008 Posts: 3154

LarssonCrew · Joined: 06 Jun 2009 Posts: 1308

By farmer buildings I mean the inhabitants. Older people who are typical farmer Chinese.

tyroleanhat · Joined: 21 Oct 2013 Posts: 209 Location: Austria / China

LarssonCrew · Joined: 06 Jun 2009 Posts: 1308

Nice Chinese dude. That says 1600 per person, So each house is 3200, exactly what I said.

Also they are not central and in the middle of nowhere. Are they nice apartments? Most of the bedrooms look tiny.

(ge ren) in brackets means per room. So you want the whole thing you gotta pay. It may be that they expect 2 people per room but I'd assume it's 3200 per apartment.

Each apartment 3200 is even more than I said.

Also that district:

'Forty-two percent of the district is located in the poor, mountainous parts of Sichuan province.'

That district is outside the 3rd and 4th ringroad, how far from the centre do you want to live?

tyroleanhat · Joined: 21 Oct 2013 Posts: 209 Location: Austria / China

7969 · Joined: 26 Mar 2003 Posts: 5782 Location: Coastal Guangdong

LarssonCrew · Joined: 06 Jun 2009 Posts: 1308

Ah. Then I'm wrong. {I always thought it was just short form for 'mei ge ren'.

Anywho, in that case 1600 isn't bad, but it really does depend a)how close to the subway station (it may still need a bus ride to get there) and b) how far out it is. Is iOne of those advertised places has a river view which on the map looks like it's really far out.

wangdaning · Joined: 22 Jan 2008 Posts: 3154

Have you ever been to Chengdu?

I am sorry but not all old people are farmers. You can put people down all you want but calling someone a peasant is not a good way to conduct yourself. I have been here a while, and most certainly there are people who are really annoying, but I can't group people like that. I have found, personally, that it is people who have had money that really get on my nerves. If you ask them to stop doing something they look at you with contempt. Most likely the farmer would apologize and stop.