Job Discussion Forums

[overhere]

Wow! Thanks fo all the wonderful suggestions. Although, I always find a lot of great information here I am impressed with how generous all of you have been to a first time poster. I really appreciate it.

Some thoughts after reading your responses...

Perhaps, I should try to grind it out here as long as I can stand it ..once my pension is secured (even if I don't draw it right away) It will give me more security and allow me to be a bit more picky where I teach.

I love the post regarding the "Harsh truth" it is spot on! You do not know how many friends I have seen let go in the past year who were within a couple years of drawing a pension. You are right, I may never make it to the finish line. If thats the case, then the decision will be made for me. I also like the suggestion of simplifying my life to become "Teacher ready"

I will look into the corporate training positions. Are those positions found here on Dave's or are there better sites for the corporate positions in China? Also plan to check out the position with the organization in Liverpool. Sounds promising.. Thanks!

One factor I forgot to mention is I am in good health...who knows what the future will bring but at least right now that is not an issue.

The reason I mentioned a salary of 10,000 RMBs is that early in my job research I posted a resume on serious teacher and ended up with an offer of 10 K per month. It was from Tanshi?? (I may be wrong about the name it has been several months back) Now, I know the devil is in the details but that is what I was basing tha figure on. I realize most positions start out less.

One of the ideas I have been toying with if I stay here is to pursue a M. Ed in Teaching English as a Second Language from the University of Cincinnati. Although the thought of going back to school energizes me I worry that the long run it would not be a good return on investment and I would be better off saving the $20,000 for retirement and just take a CELTA course prior to starting my teaching career. I plan to take some formal training even though I am comfortable in the classroom I do want to be a good teacher...Also maybe if I need a break from China I can try another country for awhile..I have worked for the same organization for 21 years so I like the thought of moving around a bit even if it is just school to school...of course if I landed a nice position with few headaches I would stick around..Any thoughts?

I plan to continue to volunteer teaching ESL. I suspect if I will be laid off it will be in the next several months. If it happens then I 'm off to China (I suppose part of me hopes it does happen) if it does not happen I will play their game as long as I can stand it and then chuck it as soon as I will qualify (4 1/2 years) for a pension.

Again thanks so much for yor encouragement! I admire you all!!!

P.S. please forgive any typos I am typing this on my phone and it is sometimes hard to type error free

[El Macho]

If your credentials are as they say, you will probably be able to find a university job teaching in an area related to your degree(s). So, you could wind up teaching law-related classes.

How to find such a gig? I think it would be hard for you to find one outright, over the internet. Instead, I would suggest doing one of two things:

1. Take a vacation to China, go to the major universities in cities you're interested in, and talk to people in the departments. Basically, cold-call for interviews. Make a good impression and hope for the best.

2. Come to China and teach a year of "conversational English" at one of the big unis. If you perform well and make your credentials known, it would be extremely strange if you weren't offered a position teaching content (rather than conversation) in your second year. I know an American who had a JD and taught "Legal Studies" at community college who took this route. His pay was much higher than the salaries you often hear bandied around here. Being competent, qualified, and well-liked results in fair compensation, no matter what the naysayers around here may say.

I'm younger than you and less experienced in the world of work, so I won't comment on whether or not you should quit before securing your pension. I would mention that I have observed that the "older" (than me!) people here who seem the happiest are those who do have some sort of financial support coming in from the outside world (pension, social security, other retirement monies). If you want to come to China and pay off debts back home, you're really going to have to work your keister off. That's not how I want to spend my time in a foreign country...I want to spend my time enjoying the culture and my new friends!

Good luck.

[motown]

Going there first to get familiar with the country is a good idea.
You can visit a big city and see how things work there and then check a town or two in the outback. Talk to foreigners in each place. Ask about the schools.
Many cities in China are polluted beyond words. There have even been posts on ESL Cafe that suggest that one year in China takes 5 years off your life.
Point is: come and visit the country first before making the jump.

[Renegade_o_Funk]

Just to give you an idea of someone retired and on a U.S. pension in china - Iv got a 60 year old guy at my school. He retired about 5 years ago and came to china, so he gets his U.S. pension which I imagine is somewhere between 2-3 thousand U.S. Dollars, as well as his chinese salary so he is pulling in possibly 5k a month.

Anyways with his pension he only works because he would be too bored otherwise, he has a pretty young lady that lives with him and cooks for him/ cleans up after him / translates everything for him and goes to clubs with him to talk to women for him, as he only knows a few bad words in chinese, all for 2k rmb a month. He spends most of his time in the class room telling jokes the students dont understand, outside of the classroom almost all of his efforts are focused on trying to score some tail from the 19-23yr old students.

So if you think you could handle a life like that, then by all means work your remaining 5 years then head to china, you wont regret it.

[The Ever-changing Cleric]

[overhere]

Point well taken about visiting he country before relocating. I would have a look around before settling there. Is the pollution worst than in Bangkok? I have traveled thoughout most of Asia but have not found my way to China yet.

Renegade, thanks for the inspiration! LOL Ill think of your post often while I am slaving away the next few years in cubicle hell

[The Ever-changing Cleric]

[portslee]

[Jordean]

I keep hearing all these stories about folks with advanced degrees finagling more RMB, but all the people I know in BJ (myself included) with JDs, PhDs, etc., get not much more than the average Joe B.A. Of course the Chinese unis will love to hire you, but you are not going to be teaching substantive major courses in a professional field (maybe with exception of business) simply because you have western credentials.

If you are fluent in Mandarin, that might make a difference. But making the big bucks is not gonna happen simply by signing with a school...

You might luck out, but don't count on this happening if that makes a difference in your planning.

[Renegade_o_Funk]

Glad I could provide some insperation. If you are serious about coming to China when you retire, start learning Chinese now. The old pervert route that hire's some girl to live with him is tempting, damn tempting. But just think what master yoda would say if you crossed over to the dark side

Also avoid any chain schools, especially ashton, english first, wall street, etc etc. Those schools would only be un-needed drama in your golden years. Get some gig at a university for 15-20 hours a week teaching oral english. Spend the rest of your time contemplating life, hitting on young girls, soliciting women of the night.

[motown]

[alter ego]

[Mr. P]

"Also avoid any chain schools, especially ashton, english first, wall street, etc etc"

I agree with avoiding Ashton and EF, but disagree about working for Wall Street or even Web.

It is true that you or anyone else would work a lot more at a training center like Wall St. or Web, but, working at either school for 1 year would give you a chance to earn a nice salary that can be used to buy all of the things that you will need in any apartment, such as toaster oven, outside grill, bookcases and other furniture, without using your "own/retirement" money. Keep that in the bank in the US or wherever you're from.

The best part, especially for a new teacher, is that they will tell you what to do = the lessons are already planned. Get into the habit of making a few extra copies for yourself and after 1 year you will have more than enough material to "use" later on in a cushy university position.

Believe me, the Chinese love name brands. Every time I tell anyone that I worked at Wall Street before they seem to like that.

[englishgibson]

web international, according to my knowledge requires office hours and they apparently "lock you in" the office if you haven't done the 40 weekly.

having said that, watch out for a kinda web that in guanxi. it isn't the "international" one. there're a few there and they are a real sh*t. even though you're not required in office hours, you are a clear cut monkey that's also well observed by some young chinese female academics or sort of academics there. your evaluation depends heavily on that too and their contractual ageement's a real crap too. needless to mention the farce local gov regulations

yeah. i too feel old and i'm just 44. well, after i have read some recent adverts with the age limit of 45
however, i am still handsome and they still want my pics

cheers and wine that gets only better with age

[roywebcafe]

I am in the same boat more or less as the author of this thread. I am 46 now and I am unemployed in the UK. I have no pension other than a state pension to look forward to as company pensions are just a way to defraud employees in the UK. I also have experience in EFL and ESOL since 2003 and a CELTA. Rgds my age I do pass for mid to late 30's but not on my passport of course.

So what i want to know, is it worth myself coming to China and working here? Are there good opportunities? Ideally like somewhere not so polluted and have heard Sichuan is a good idea. My post CELTA expereince is only 3 weeks and some employers have said they want at least six months.