Job Discussion Forums

RiverMystic · Joined: 13 Jan 2009 Posts: 1986

One job I recently considered (but declined) had a three month probationary period. The actual last job I did had a two month probationary period, at about 75% pay. Prior to this I had never even heard of a probationary period, with the exception of Omeda school in Yangshou, which paid about 3000 a month for long hours, about 1000 a month during holidays, and the contract said they could kick you out of your room anytime if it was needed by the students. Declined that one too, BTW. Evil or Very Mad

Wolfsong · Joined: 16 Jul 2016 Posts: 76

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

weigookin74 · Joined: 30 Mar 2010 Posts: 265

Unlike Korea, where you work for the government in public schools, in China, it's often private companies that hire you and send you to the schools. I'm not sure why they do this as there's extra middle men to pay. Anyways, most contracts should have you paid for winter vacation one month and not paid for summer or receiving partial pay for the summer months (two months). You would sign for a year and get paid in full for 10. But you have to look around and demand to get these concessions as some try to shirk even these. I'd ask for at least a small pay in summer and a high enough salary.

Some schools stick you in some crappy dorm housing, but I have had friends who have demanded off campus housing to be provided. Tier one cities, this is unlikely and you will just be given higher pay and told to get your own place. It will still be kind of low compared to the living costs. I've seen some bigger cities offering 15 or 16 K RMB, housing costs would bring you to 11 or 12 K rmb a month. Depends on if there's other perks, such as more free time, more vacation that paid, etc.

On the other hand, there's some bad offers there too. I knew a person getting 9000 RMB and she had to do office hours. Crappy dorm room. I mean if there was a free apartment given and lots of free time, it'd be tolerable I guess.

I had another friend in a smaller city who got 15 K rmb and free off campus apartment and lots of free time and even extra days off. He got long vacations, but summers only partially paid.

So, unis, public schools, whatever, look around and see what you can find and also negotiate for. Ask for more than what's being offered if you can. See what happens. Some will pay and some will try to nickel and dime you. 9 K a month with bad housing and office hours wasn't cool. 16 K in a tier one city with office hours might have been tolerable if it's stable. You could make more in language mills in a tier one, but have less time off and less flexibility. You decide what you want.

Some folks are happy taking a dorm room and a uni job with 5 or 6 K rmb a month in exchange for low teaching hours and long vacations. These folks have no bills back home and can live cheaply in a smaller city.

As for bad contracts, you rewrite the contract to your standards and if they decline you, you're better off. If they accept your revisions, then see what happens. Your choice. Negotiate, negotiate, negotiate. Also, be willing to walk away from bad contracts.

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

You sign initially for 10 months - not one year. Come 1 July you are OFF the payroll.
If you re-sign it will be for 12 months (July to July) with the summer break paid - increasingly part-paid.
Before complaining about nickle and diming, take the time to understand the basic contract.
The July-August summer break is the time to do some serious private work while living in your on-campus apartment and being paid by the uni.
All of the admin will be away so no checks on you. But like everything - be discreet.
One year I worked out of town and was only in my apartment 2 days a week. Looked like I was making a series of short holiday trips.
I'm sure the FAO knew but he was happy that he had one known teacher sewn up and only had another 10 or so to acquire.

Voyeur · Joined: 03 Jul 2012 Posts: 431

Most of my uni and high school offers had only nominal summer pay and slightly reduced February pay.
But it's really not a big deal if you just do the math. Factor the salaries over a full year and compare offers. A job with higher monthly pay but no summer pay might be better than the reverse, or not.
As people have said, your Z Visa job is usually less lucrative than private work, hour for hour. So holidays can be a good time to make better coin for less work. It's often hard to completely replace your paycheck with privates during holidays as it can be hard to get that many good short-term gigs. But you more than get by and have some easy months to relax.