Job Discussion Forums

[Mark-O]

From reading posts and speaking to teachers in Asia, I've heard a few stories of Asian prejudices when it comes to NET jobs. There are stories of those employers who destine to have the status symbol blonde-hair, blue-eyed, youngish expat teacher. Some, as mentioned here on Dave's, have alluded to Americans being third or fourth choice for Hong Kong teachers' jobs - losing out in preference to Brits, Aussies and Canadians. I have even met one teacher who was discriminated against for having an eastern European surname, despite the fact that she was English, born and bred!

From your experiences, and those of others you know, do you think this is particularly prevalent in Hong Kong. Are employers really after the non-americans? Does the blonde hair and blue eyes do you any favours at interview? (I've noticed that most employers require a photo at the application stage in Asia) Or is there a higher level of parity than, say, the mainland where job offers are purportedly made on the basis of the colour of your skin/hair/eyes?

[Freddie_Unbelievable]

"Are employers really after the non-americans?"

As stated before, Americans are usually a fourth choice here in HK. So, what's so bad about that. Did you think Americans would be ahead of UK and Auzzie applicants?

[jenny-pnet]

I don't know that Americans are a fourth choice. In the Net scheme however, the jobs are only advertised in the Commonwealth countries which excludes the USA. My surname is European, even though I'm Aussie. That certainly didn't present as a problem for my employment. I do know however from talking with Chinese teachers at my school that another teacher's application had been sent to my school before mine, but the principal had rejected her because she didn't have recent classroom teaching experience and he felt she wouldn't be capable of promoting the appropriate teaching methodology. And also that when the principal announced to the staff that they would be getting an Australian teacher, they weren't particularly pleased at first because they were concerned about the Australian accent. --- This was all revealed to me at a much later date. Having said that, a large proportion of the last intake for Primary Nets was Australian.

[once again]

"Also, a local private school owner in North Point, who is Chinese, told me the NET wages were driven up by the U.K. government for the purpose of making it attractive to U.K. subjects to remain here after the turnover"

And there is a guy works down our chip shop swears he's Elvis.

[Mark-O]

[Ludwig]

[Ludwig]

[once again]

A guy I sat next to on the bus told me that.." Approximately 127 million adults in the U.S. are overweight, 60 million obese, and 9 million severely obese." Actually, I found the information at www.obesity.org/subs/fastfacts/obesity_US.shtml


"Even our young students laugh behind your back if you are fat, and talk funny." Looks like they would laugh themselves catatonic in the States.

[Ludwig]

'Hongkonger', you are boring and are trolling (and you are a few of the 'other' posters).

[sypanda5]

hello mark-o...
i think that (unfortunately) ALL places, programs, schools people (ok..perhaps i should say MANY) will have their prejudices/beliefs/preferences.
ME, being a young Chinese-Canadian female, was concerned that the EMB would not be very intersted in me, seeing as how I am Chinese (but cannot speak/understand Cantonese). Well, the EMB was ok with me (I actually asked them in the interview if they thought it would be a problem/issue). I think that SOME schools would definitley prefer a blond/blue eyed teacher or perfer a certain nationality, or age group (some prefer older, some prefer younger)...BUT...i guess it depends on your luck of the draw!

good luck again!