Job Discussion Forums

[KnockoutNed]

A school has offered me a salary of 13,000 rmb + a free apartment. I told them that my current position pays more and that I have less teaching hours. So I declined the offer. Then he responded asking what salary range I'm looking for and that he might be able to negotiate. This is the principal contacting me, not an agent.

I'm making around 15 now, but it doesn't provide housing. The great thing about my job though is the low teaching hours and no office hours. I'm also fully paid for Chinese New Year and the new job would be half pay.
How would you respond to the offer? Is asking for 18 reasonable? I have 6 years experience, degree and 120 hour TEFL certification. I'm also already in China

[Non Sequitur]

Why are you looking for another job if you are doing so well now?

[Markness]

If you're doing it for shits and giggles then you might as well aim high man. Always go high because they might give you a counter offer. I gave them a pretty high figure and they accepted. Was rather surprised! You should try too, what's the worst that will happen?

Also, you can say "I heard good things about your school and it seems like something that suits my needs better, this is why I want to change to your school. The problem is the salary, I currently make 18,000 yuan a month at mine, I would like similar in order to make the switch".

[Non Sequitur]

The 'shits' may be the OP's and the 'giggles' may be the school's.

[listerialysin]

By negotiating. You've never had a job before in your own country?

[currentaffairs]

I would ask for 15,000 plus the apartment and probably accept 14,000.

If the hours were a lot more than your current job then I would push for a bit more. The money is still an improvement but it also depends on location, teaching hours, program, and so on.

[Deats]

It depends how much you want this new job.

If you are happy to stay where you are, but would change should a really good offer come along - then aim high. Ask for 15-20k (you pick a number!) and tell them you want fully paid holidays, not half. In China the way they bargain is to usually say a really high number and expect a counter offer, so you should do the same. Ask for 20, settle for 17, or something like that. You can also try and negotiate your office hours etc.

You really should work out what your salary per hour is at your current job then compare it to what you will get paid at the new one. By the sounds of it, your old job will pay more per hour because you work few hours and no office sitting. How about the new one?

Without knowing all the details i.e. current hours, city, etc against the ones offered, it's really hard to judge what offer is better.

Think long and hard, because the grass isn't always greener. Especially in China.

[Non Sequitur]

[hdeth]

The salaries here can be negotiated much higher than the wages they post or offer. I think some FTs, especially first year ones, are pretty surprised at how negotiable salaries can be, especially at private schools.

[54321]

[7969]

[54321]

[hdeth]

[Banner41]

If you are comfortable where you are at, shoot high. Be prepared though if a good offer comes back to actually make the move. I think breaking down to the hourly (including accom.) is most important fact and if you can deal with increased workload.

[7969]