Job Discussion Forums

[T-Bomb]

sorry for the double post in off-topic,

so..

Hi all Visa and applying for jobs in person. I last taught in China in 2004- by comparison I was earning 8500 which back then in a small city was great pay- since then Ive completed my Bachelors and Masters in Communication, and along with my TESOL cert from 2003 I figure I am a fairly reliable candidate.

My questions is- is Shanghai still booming enough to assume a super motivated applicant from within Shanghai shouldnt find it too hard to find a teaching gig within a couple of weeks? Back in 2003 I organised a job with a simple phoner to a recruiter and arrived on a tourist visa and jobs were abundant- Im fairly low on funds but I have a couple of thousand Aussie dollars so flight and hotel costing around 1000 AUD for a one way ticket and accom in a hostel for a couple of weeks covered.. im thinking the remaining thousand will last easily given I live like a local with food etc, so as long as jobs are a plenty i should be able to push through a couple of weeks of searching and the first month of work.

So does the aussie dollar go far in China..i know Shangers is a little more expensive but still its easy to survive on minimal food and transport costs right?

Thoughts from people currently in Shanghai?/

[CNexpatesl]

It'll be fairly easy to find a job. Language mills and kindergartens still pretty much hire any typical Westerner that shows up.

[T-Bomb]

excellent, thats what I was hoping, thanks.

[jimpellow]

Well you are certainly fortunate in choosing Shanghai as I believe it is the only jurisdiction at present in China that will convert a tourist to a z-visa in country. I also don't believe they require a criminal background check either, which is rare these days. A site like Shanghai Expat would probably lead you to good sources of current requirements.

As requirements are now much harder than they were, I would suggest making sure that you have everything you need set-up before leaving. The backpacking-work days have pretty much ceased, so acting spontaneous may not work in your favor.

Sounds like you still intend to work illegally on a tourist visa for at least a month while your work visa is processed. I don't think even in Shanghai you are legal while they are processing it. Enough on this board about that, but I do think fewer employers will share that risk considering they could get into potentially much bigger problems than in the past.

Shanghai is certainly more expensive than most of China, and certainly more expensive than in the past. But some teachers do manage to survive on measly salaries there and you Aussies are always a thrifty and resourceful bunch.

Chinese inflation has averaged 5.58% annually since 2004 which compounds out rather frighteningly. Besides Shanghai having a much higher cost of living index, you need to account for income tax which was only sporadically applied in 2004. Also the social tax is about 11.5 percent. Remember that when looking for work. You will need a much higher salary if you want the same standard of living you had in 2004.

You need to show a ticket out of China now if you come on a tourist visa. Spend some time with this including the suggestions to write on it and such and it works like a charm. Has saved me thousands of dollars. Shhh!

http://www.returnflights.net/

[T-Bomb]

that is a fantastic link- thank you- i need to show an outgoing flight in order to get my tourist visa here in australia prior to leaving. I was going to have to pay for a return flight so if this works it will save me $600 AUD. Thank you.

I dont plan to work illegally whatsoever; most schools with a little guanxi get the visa thing sorted out within days, its usually just a matter of handing over one's passport after doing the medical and voila!

But seriously thank you for the link to the outward ticket service that is fantastic I hope it works with the VISA!

[roadwalker]

[T-Bomb]

If there is one thing I learnt whilst I was there; is that China will always be China. That's what I love about it. From what I understand common sense prevails in these instance, and they can see the difference between a Visa-breaker and a motivated Jobseeker. I have faith that the same culture of cooperation and understanding lives on !!!

[Shanghai Noon]

Shanghai does not convert in-country. They haven't since 2013.

[jimpellow]

[3701 W.119th]

[jimpellow]

[wendell7]

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