Job Discussion Forums

cat527 · Joined: 27 Apr 2004 Posts: 8 Location: Chicago

Hi, I live in Chicago and am a freelance writer. I'm thinking of living in China for a while (probably Shanghai or Beijing, though I'd be open to a medium-sized city), and think I'll need to get a teaching job and work for at least a year to get a Visa to stay more than three months.

So, I'd like to find out if arriving in the late winter/spring is a bad time to try to find work with a contract.

I'm assuming that contract work is the only type that offers a Visa -- correct me if I'm wrong, please!

Thanks for your thoughts.

rickinbeijing · Joined: 22 Jan 2005 Posts: 252 Location: Beijing, China

It used to be that mid-summer was the best time to look for university and college jobs and plum private school jobs but that's changing now. Many colleges begin their searches in January. But if you're just looking for a private school, the calendar is pretty much open. On the other hand, if you need that visa and contract, they are harder to come by in the spring since most contracts for one-year begin in August. Then again, go online to www.chinajob.com and get almost daily updates. Of course, Dave's ESL cafe here also posts daily but not exclusively for China. You must get the contract (no photocopies) to stipulate that a visa will be provided. Best is the Z work visa, good for one year. Barring that, an F visa is good for up to 6 mo. except in Beijing (3 mo.). Good luck!

rickinbeijing · Joined: 22 Jan 2005 Posts: 252 Location: Beijing, China

If you're flexible and adaptable, a teaching job in a smaller market (say, northeast China) can be had even after Spring Festival (when a lot of correspondence for jobs with waibans comes to a screeching halt). Please note that chinajob is a government website. You also need to get all verbal assurances in writing, preferably in the actual contract, (or in the case of government (re: public) schools, a contract addendum). Or come here on a tourist visa and then start checking. You can buy a 90 day visa now and then convert to a F visa later.

ResiWorld · Posted: Wed Jan 26, 2005 5:00 am Post subject:

About a month ago when I arrived in Suzhou was probably the worst time to look for work. I have plenty lined up for February, but this past month was definitely not the time to be on foot patrol in Suzhou.

nolefan · Joined: 14 Jan 2004 Posts: 1458 Location: on the run

Most schools are too busy in the time between January 1st and spring festival. They're dealing with exams, vacations and plenty of other issues so they have no time to deal with foreign teachers.
Also, they'd rather avoid having you during the hollidays because it is an extra hassle for them paperwork-wise, specially if you live on campus. Not to mention that they'd rather not pay you to just sit there until the students come back.