Job Discussion Forums

Mandrews1985 · Joined: 22 Apr 2012 Posts: 69 Location: Daegu, South Korea

@Miles Smiles, No apology needed, thanks alot for the information here, I will check out these sites now.

@Denim-Maniac, that all sounds great! This is the type I'm looking for no more than 18 hours per week, early evening finish. It's been a while since I've had a hobby really, purely because of the long hours and late finishes. Love life is nonexistant, i want to have more free to hit the gym. Basically, I want to leave Korea to have more of a rountine life for the first time in 2 years!

@ecubyrd, how do you enjoy the job aspect of it teaching in schools?

@everyone else, It's been great to hear about your stories so far guys. My next question is pay. I've recently applied for a university job recently advertised on here offering between 3.5k to 5k. After contacting them they said i would have to have a doctorate degree and experience being a professor in America to earn the 5,000RMB. Having searched the advertisement pages, it seems uni jobs normally pay between 4k-6.5k... is this really enough to live on? Can you save money on that pay?

Any other pay related information would be great!

ecubyrd · Joined: 09 May 2009 Posts: 172

parnett · Joined: 29 Jun 2012 Posts: 179 Location: China

Next year will be my third year in China. If you are uptight and short-tempered, then this is no place for you. The spitting, loud talking and incessant horns will surely drive you mad.
I taught university in a small rural city my first year here (I was the only foreigner in the city). I had 16 hours of classes per week, and sometimes I wished I had had many more. Bored to death was an understatement. I suppose I could have tried harder to immerse myself in the language and culture, but I didn't feel like putting forth the effort.
My second year, I taught university in Shaoxing (a suburb of Hangzhou). There were more than 60 foreign teachers at the school, so life was a bit more interesting (plus Shaoxing is a fairly decent city).
Now, I am in Fuyang (another suburb of Hangzhou) teaching high school for the first time in my life. Look up the word boring in the dictionary, and there will be a picture of Fuyang next to the definition.
I'm sure all the good universities filled their vacancies months ago, leaving you only crumbs.

ecubyrd · Joined: 09 May 2009 Posts: 172

janeal · Joined: 15 Jun 2008 Posts: 29 Location: Philippines

I worked at a Uni in Henan province and loved it. Good school administration, great students and plenty of time to travel, shop, study Chinese and do other things I wanted. I only had 20 classroom hours/week and 3 different classes so preparation wasn't difficult.

sixthchild · Joined: 18 Apr 2012 Posts: 298 Location: East of Eden

Couldn't help but notice a question remains unanswered about the salary, what is a good salary and whats the minimum you need to live on?

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

sixthchild · Joined: 18 Apr 2012 Posts: 298 Location: East of Eden

So ok, I'll try to be more specfic, is 8000 RMB enough to live on, save a bit and have just a bit of nightlife?

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

How about double ++ more specific? Is that in Shanghai or Shantou? With or without free accommodation? How much savings and nightlife (and what kind of nightlife) is a "bit?"

sixthchild · Joined: 18 Apr 2012 Posts: 298 Location: East of Eden

Hi 7969

Thanks for your patience, clearly I know sweet fa about the place, so as a city, how about Shanghi, with a furnished apartment provided,I understand this is the norm, but utilities are expensive, don't really know what a standard package involves, but is the flight out there usually reimbursed?

GeminiTiger · Posted: Fri Aug 10, 2012 8:42 am Post subject:

I'll save 7696 some time because I know he is on holiday Smile

A standard job for a university gig looks something like 4000 to 6000 rmb and is between 16 and 20 hours, evenings, weekends and holidays are free time and it also includes a place to live.

A standard private school gig looks something like 9,000 to 13,000 rmb and is about 25 hours a week, working nights, holidays and weekends it often has extra hour for office or split shifts. It does not typically include a place to live.

Standard contracts usually reimburse between 7000 and 12000 rmb or the exact cost of your airfare.

Both of these jobs are enough to live a moderately enjoyable life for the standard person enjoying a moderately comfortable expat life and provide Chinese middle-class accommodation.

If you want to know more about salary and opinions on money they offer please consider reading o this thread.

Lobster · Posted: Fri Aug 10, 2012 4:08 pm Post subject:

Furnished apartments are no longer the norm in Shanghai. Expect rent to eat up a good part of your salary.

RED

milkweedma · Joined: 19 Nov 2006 Posts: 151

"Next year will be my third year in China. If you are uptight and short-tempered, then this is no place for you. The spitting, loud talking and incessant horns will surely drive you mad."

This is very true and even if you are not uptight nor short tempered expect it to push you to your limits at any time. Same goes for Korea and Taiwan too.

parnett · Joined: 29 Jun 2012 Posts: 179 Location: China

For the first time in my life I am teaching at a high school, which is for special students who will be studying in Canada after they graduate. My salary is low (5200 rmb), but I get a free apartment (fairly nice) with all utilities paid for. I teach about 10 hours a week, but am in charge of the department (3 foreign teachers), so I spend extra time in the office. I also get 3 free meals a day in the school cafeteria. This is the key to saving money in my opinion. If I didn't have a wallet-draining Chinese girlfriend in Hangzhou, I think I could honestly save 5000 rmb a month.
Of course, the food in the cafeteria isn't anything to write home about, but it's nutritious and filling.
The administration is very supportive of the foreign staff- the Principal even brought me food the day before the typhoon last week.
I live in Fuyang, which is about an hour from Hangzhou. Fortunately, the school is isolated from the disgusting spitting and shouting low lifes walking around the city with no shirts on.