Job Discussion Forums

[Lloyduss]

Hi Everyone!

So when should I start hearing back from the Chinese Universities for the September 2013 start? I sent off my application both in January and early March. The reason I ask is I'm new to the TEFL world and I know it hasn't been long, but it has felt like a million years since I sent off my application.


Thank guys

[amisexy]

From memory, last year most advertisements went up around late April to mid-June. I'm guessing most schools will reply soon after this. There were still adverts in July, but by the time August came around they had really dried up.

I think you should start reapplying at the end of this month. or in May. Schools will start looking around then. That is what my plan is, as I plan to transfer from Europe to Asia for the next academic year.


(Note: I didn't apply last year, but I was very interested, and looked a lot!. Also I don't work in China!)

[rioux]

Lots of places are advertising now.
Go get 'em.

[Lloyduss]

But should I apply again as it would be my third time then? I don't want to annoy them.

By the way thanks Ami for taking the time to reply as it's very much appreciated

[Non Sequitur]

First rule of job search = ABA = Always Be Applying.
Don't reapply, make new applications to new schools.
Also keep live applications going until you actually sign with someone.
And the time to get really active is when you've just concluded a beautiful Skype session with an FAO that you believes loves you and will conduct you gently by the hand into some sun dappled Chinese teaching paradise.
Western societies are trust societies. Others, including China are exploitative.
Be cynical.

[vikeologist]

What information / scans of documents did you send?

[Lloyduss]

I sent a PDF containing:

*A recent photo
*Covering Letter
*CV
*Degree Cert.
*TEFL Cert.
*Passport
*2x References

I have been told that I should have put watermarks on these, however, I thought it would slow the process down so I decided not to this time round.

[roadwalker]

[vikeologist]

OP., sounds as though you've sent all the stuff you need to (unless you're already in China, in which case you could do with a release letter if poss).

I'm a DOS at a Uni, and to a certain extent, at the moment we're looking for outstanding candidates. I guess as time wears on, we'll lower our aims a little if we still have gaps. At the moment though there are fantastic teachers who are becoming available in September, and I'm desperately hoping that we get at least one of them.

I think that the better candidate you are, the sooner you should hear. However, you will get bites from Unis. I don't think there's any harm sending applications in twice, but they may be potentially interested and just parking a decision for the time being. Speaking for myself, I'm very interested in teachers coming to China for the first time. I'm just not really interested in them yet.


I would say most Unis still

a) don't know which teachers are staying
b) don't know how many teachers they'll need in September.

It is still very, very early. My guess is that the peak for recruitment is late April / early May, but there'll still be plenty of jobs going in July / August, (maybe not the best jobs). though only a minority of Unis are recruiting at the moment, that's still a lot of Unis.

However, if you do have a small number of Unis that you are really interested in, maybe give them a ring and follow up on your application.

There's no one right way to do things, but you seem to be at least avoiding the wrong ways.

[Non Sequitur]

All good points from Vikeologist.

[Lloyduss]

I'm looking at the south of China, so, Guangdong: Shenzhen, Macau, Huizhou, Guangzhou and Zhuhai etc. I know that by doing this I'm restricting my job opportunities but I really want to be near HK if possible as it's my first time going abroad. Plus, the south tends to have a lower pollution level than the north.

Thanks everyone thats exactly what I wanted to know, I'll try to find a few more Universities and re-apply late April

[Shroob]

[Lloyduss]

[johntpartee]

[lemak]

I guess recruiters don't pay much attention to our resumes. I had one email me a job offer.....









....for the school I currently work at!