Job Discussion Forums

Voyeur · Joined: 03 Jul 2012 Posts: 431

What's up with positions that only offer a contract from Sept to June?

The Z-Visa is 12 months. If you re-sign with them, you lose 2 months of salary, correct? And if you don't, well then what happens with your VISA during July/August? Seems like you are at their mercy if you don't re-up and want to get work right away, plus finding work in July/August might not be that fun.

Javelin of Radiance · Joined: 01 Jul 2009 Posts: 1187 Location: The West

You're talking about university jobs I guess. The Z visa isn't 12 months, its only for 30 days after you get to China. The residence permit is valid from some time in September till your contract ends in June or July and then a little bit extra time to either renew it, move to another job, or get out of country. If you want to stay for another year at same school then when you're asked about it in April you tell them and you'll get a new contract from September till the next summer. You don't begin looking in July and August for work starting in September. Even though contracts are only ten months and change some schools will pay you part of your salary over summer if you stay, some won't. Some will only pay it starting after the second year. The only way you're at the mercy of anybody else is if you decide to quit and didn't plan ahead, no job prospects, you're broke, nowhere to live, and find yourself unemployed. That's nobody's fault but your own if it happens.

Simon in Suzhou · Joined: 09 Aug 2011 Posts: 404 Location: GZ

What up with it? It's called unpaid vacation. You're not working. You're not losing 2 months salary.

As a public school teacher in the USA it was pretty much the same, but they just prorated our salary so we got a check year round. Not many jobs in the world gonna pay you for the 2 months you're on the beach. If you do find that job...hold onto it! Laughing

Most universities will get your paperwork done before the summer vacation, so if you change jobs your visa/residence permit won't be a problem for july and august. You may have to find a place to sleep, though.

Voyeur · Joined: 03 Jul 2012 Posts: 431

I agree, you aren't strictly losing anything. Still, especially if you renew, it does make it hard to keep up your earnings over the summer.

I have an offer through a connection i have that is pretty hard to evaluate, and part of it is because of the 10 month contract.

7,000RMB
2,000RMB housing

10 teaching hours / week and 4 office hours.

In Fuzhou--unsure how far 2,000 RMB goes for housing in Fuzhou.

Teaching at a Tier 1 High School.

roadwalker · Joined: 24 Aug 2005 Posts: 1750 Location: Ch

Voyeur · Joined: 03 Jul 2012 Posts: 431

Definitely having trouble getting some decent apartment figures for Fuzhou, other than there is another job ad that is all over the internet offering 900RMB housing allowance, and saying it is enough for a comfortable 1 bdrm. Hardly trusting that, but it's all I got so far.

Are there summer camps to teach in China? Something I could do during July/August to supplement my income?

choudoufu · Joined: 25 May 2010 Posts: 3325 Location: Mao-berry, PRC

Voyeur · Joined: 03 Jul 2012 Posts: 431

Sorry. I should have specified. I mean for the other end of my contract. Say I re-sign in Fuzhou, wondering if there is some way to make up for lost income during the summer vacation.

choudoufu · Joined: 25 May 2010 Posts: 3325 Location: Mao-berry, PRC

your first RP will be for about 11 months..........enough to cover your
10-month teaching contract, plus a couple weeks (hopefully!) to
go through the transfer process if changing schools.

your second RP will be for around 13 months. it should take effect a
couple weeks or so before the current RP would have expired, and
will last through mid-july of next year.

you'll be covered for the summer....stay in your school apartment,
travel, maybe work. different interpretations of legality for summer
work.

Voyeur · Joined: 03 Jul 2012 Posts: 431

Thanks for the tips.

What do you think about the contract? ~9,0000 RMB / mo. for ~14 hour / week?

Non Sequitur · Joined: 23 May 2010 Posts: 4724 Location: China

doogsville · Joined: 17 Nov 2011 Posts: 924 Location: China

Alternatively you could save some money each month for the ten months and use it to have a nice long holiday.

Summer camps can be hell. Babysitting for spoiled, bored and occasionally mentally ill kids whose parents are too busy working to spend time with them. Just my experience though, others may have more positive tales to tell.

mwaltman · Joined: 07 May 2013 Posts: 78

choudoufu · Joined: 25 May 2010 Posts: 3325 Location: Mao-berry, PRC

Voyeur · Joined: 03 Jul 2012 Posts: 431

Thanks for the Visa advice. Seems like I will have options during the summer if I re-sign, or if I decide to change jobs.

Any advice on whether the overall deal is ok? Or where I might find out how much an apt. in Fuzhou will cost?

I really liked the woman who interviewed me, and the information about the school. This is a pilot program, so there are no current teachers to talk to, however. But aside from the fact that I'd prefer teaching HS to lecturing in a uni, it is hard to tell if this is really any better than an avg. uni job which will have what: ~ 18 x 45 min = ~ 13.5h teaching and how many office hours + free apt. for ~ 6,000 rmb.