Job Discussion Forums

[stavrogin2001]

Maybe I am wrong, and I should not open myself up this way in a place like this, but it seems that Shanghai jobs are much different than the ones offered in other parts of the country with exception to Beijing and maybe HK if you want to put it is the same category.
I have been in China for the last three years both in the Dongbei, NE, and in Tianjin. Dalian was nice and even the countryside was not too bad. At least it was very Chinese. My question is this, What are the pros and cons of working in Shanghai? It seems to me that it is much harder to earn good money there, not to mention save money. I know it is more "developed", but are there any other defining factors why so many foreigners want to live there?

In this post I hope people will tell me what experiences they have had in Shanghai. Please tell me, and others out there, why Shanghai? As you might have seen from my other posts, I too an looking for a job there at present, but it all seems a little different there. A bit more jaded.

Thanks!

[struelle]

It seems that a lot of people are attracted to the allure of the city, or perhaps the Western influences (Shanghai was, after all, a colonial city prior to the establishment of the PRC) Convenience plays a large role too, and the city provides much of that. Jobs are relatively easy to get for qualified and experienced teachers. Salaries tend to be higher than the rest of the PRC, but so are living costs.

There are some negatives that should be listed:

- Surface road traffic is just insane, and the streets are packed with cars, buses, and bikes. Getting around will take time and patience.
- Newcomers often feel the crunch of loneliness and are not prepared to deal with it.
- Both money and time can fly out the window if you don't have a solid grasp on both.
- It can be extremely hard to focus and concentrate in this city

But the positives to balance out:

- Western conveniences and products can be bought easily
- 5 Metro lines criss-cross the city and are fast
- High salaries make saving money easy
- Lots of expats to network with and dozens of clubs
- Many bars, restaurants, night life
- Good mixing between locals and expats

In short, if you have disclipline, a sense of adventure and work hard, you can make the most of this city. If you don't, Shanghai will make the most of you.

Steve

[Errol]

Like �stavrogin2001", I have been teaching in China for 3 years in the provinces - Jiangxi and Zhejiang. And, I am also interested in moving to Shanghai to work for my fourth year in China.

I have been surprised too by the difficulty in locating a suitable teaching position in Shanghai. There are very few jobs actually being advertised on the various websites, and those that are offered have comparatively low salaries, and rather limited packages of living and employment benefits. I can only compare the disappointing Shanghai offers that I have received so far, with the actual salary packages that I have previously experienced in Jiangxi and Zhejiang.

I have certainly not seen any jobs advertised with salaries in the RMB10000 to RMB15000 range that some posters to this Forum occasionally state are available in Shanghai!

The Shanghai job advertisers seem reluctant to negotiate anything other than a token improvement in their advertised salary package - irrespective of the quality of the applicant's qualifications, their past teaching experience in their home country, and their track record of successfully teaching elsewhere in China. I guess they have no shortage of newly-arriving applicants willing to accept lower packages, so they can be more hard-headed and selective in their recruitment processes.

Maybe most of the vacancies in Shanghai are filled by word-of-mouth, or by part-time employees, so there is no need for many colleges or schools to advertise.

Despite this, I continue to be optimistic that I will locate a suitable job in Shanghai during the remaining weeks of this semester.

[struelle]

Wanna trade places?

Seriously, I've been considering Zhejiang for ages, among a list of other places for for a next move, all south of Shanghai. But I keep saying I'll leave this city and it doesn't happen!

Steve

[Errol]

[quote]"Seriously, I've been considering Zhejiang for ages...." Steve

Hi Steve! I have lived and worked here in Wenzhou, Zhejiang for the past two years. I have enjoyed my time in the province very much - apart from the oppressive Summer humidity!

I would now like a change of scene and a change of pace - hence my desire to move to Shanghai. I have visited Shanghai a number of times during the past three years and always found it a great city to spend time in - although a little expensive compared with Wenzhou.

I am just a little disappointed that serious job opportunities appear to be somewhat limited in Shanghai at the moment - at least that seems to be the case when viewed from a distance! Best Wishes, Errol

[eion_padraig]

In Shanghai to make the big salaries you usually need to be working side jobs. There are some high paying side jobs (200 - 300 RMB/hour) with businesses that amount to a few hours a week. They aren't going to pay for you to get a work visa though. A lot of these do seem to come from word of mouth and meeting folks that are looking for English teachers.