Job Discussion Forums

Gilly23 · Joined: 09 Jul 2003 Posts: 27

Havent posted for a long long time.

How is the market for teaching jobs in Shenzhen. I am a Chinese born Canadian with a 2 years of teaching ESL exp, a TEFL Certificate and 5 years of exp in the Business field. I have a place to stay in Shenzhen but I was wondering is it difficult to find a teaching job in Shenzhen? BTW i would need sponsorship for a working visa too. Shocked

Gilly23 · Joined: 09 Jul 2003 Posts: 27

so what are the basic qualifications to work in china as an English Teacher?

mlomker · Joined: 24 Mar 2005 Posts: 378

A bachelor's degree and a TEFL certificate is about it. You might suffer some discrimination due to your heritage but you'll find work.

Gilly23 · Joined: 09 Jul 2003 Posts: 27

what about no Bachelor Degree but only a Diploma and TEFL with 2 years of teaching exp?

Thanks

Vancouver Jim · Joined: 03 May 2004 Posts: 23 Location: Shanghai

As a CBC, it is a bit of a challenge with some schools. They want the typical looking Anglio appearance. Usually no degree is not a problem if you are mature, and especially if you have bona fide business experience. So itl'll probably come down to an age issue if they feel you are too young. In summary I would say just come and do it; you'll find something. You'll get a better job on arrival anyway. In China there's an incredible demand and I personally know other ABC/CBCs who've found work. In China it seems the most important thing is: Can you/will you do the job? China has a dubious reputation compared to Taiiwan, Korea, and Japan who offer "turnkey" jobs; you'll end up saving more here so that's the bottom line for me. The people in general and women in particular are much better.

I myself am looking for work in SZ (by internet from my base in Shanghai) so if you send me a personal message I can try to help you with some leads. I will start a business in SZ however to start I'll pick up some part-time work. Hope this helps.

Jimmy.

Gilly23 · Joined: 09 Jul 2003 Posts: 27

Thanks for the response, I have sent you a private message. Would most places sponsor for a working visa? I know its very difficult to obtain a working visa but how about Shenzhen?

The Barbarian · Joined: 03 May 2005 Posts: 21

Gilly

Shenzhen is an interesting place to work, many people do a year then leave there with a sense of relief. I worked for Shenzhen College of International Education (SCIE) for a while. It duely collapsed due to poor collaborative management between 2 'partner' colleges. Maybe you've heard of them? I hear that nearly everybody is leaving at the end of this year and they will need a full recruit drive around about now. Give them a try - they are now up and running in downtown Shenzhen and the President (President 'CK' Kong)is a very good man he's a Chinese Canadian too! If you want the email address of the Principal there, contact me and I'll send it through to you.

tradinup · Joined: 13 Nov 2004 Posts: 132 Location: Shenzhen, China

Gilly, CBC's can get really hot jobs in the business field here in Shenzhen, mostly as project managers. Your salary won't be western, but it could easily be the equivalent to a high paying ESL job. You may find yourself as the manager of a department with 20 some people reporting to you, doing big business transactions all around the world. Not bad.

garbotara · Joined: 15 Sep 2003 Posts: 529 Location: China

The Barbarian · Joined: 03 May 2005 Posts: 21

Well, in his defence I have to say that he can't buy books with the fluff down the back of the college sofa. The old SCIE-OEC patnership disolved leaving the SCIE owing the OEC substantial sums of money. As I said there will be nearly 100% staff turnover at the end of the year, with only 3 imported teachers staying (the Principal, the Business Studies teacher and a newly arrived Physics teacher).

I personally found CK to be a charismatic and knowledgable person, fluent in English and understanding of his teachers feelings about the inadequacies of the school. Please remember when criticising this person that he himself was put in a position and certainly did not create it. The situation has now changed, they moved campus and are hoping to go forward. Good luck to him.

Roger · Joined: 19 Jan 2003 Posts: 9138

I worked in Shenzhen for 3 years, and by gosh am i glad to be gone! If you have a personal reason for planting your roots there temporarily, then by all means do it, but don't expect much bliss!
Most employers are cowboys, really most of them, including official and public schools. Shenzhen is China's formerly wild west, which has now shifted elsewhere though its main characteristics are still lingering on.
If you want to get some advice, here is; pinpoint your search to Shekou in the SW or the entire Nansha district; envisage going outside town into Bao'an if necessary though that would mean long trips to Shenzhen proper (for recreational p;urposes, culture whtever that means, socialising in Shekou's bars etc.).
But if you ave to consider working in Bao'an (quite a few modern secondary schools are located there), why not consider DOngguan as well? Dongguan, Humen, Changping - all within a couple of hours from Shenzhen.

tradinup · Joined: 13 Nov 2004 Posts: 132 Location: Shenzhen, China

Roger Roger Roger!!!

You've seen the great walls of China, the bustle of Hong Kong, and everything else in betwee, AND YOU JUST RECOMMENDED SOMEONE TO WORK IN DONGGUAN! FOR SHAME!!! Laughing

garbotara · Joined: 15 Sep 2003 Posts: 529 Location: China