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Negotiation practice in Beijing

 
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burnsie



Joined: 18 Aug 2004
Posts: 489
Location: Beijing

PostPosted: Sun May 29, 2005 12:33 am    Post subject: Negotiation practice in Beijing Reply with quote

I had the case the other day at a school I work at on the weekends for extra cash. The pay is quite low (120 RMB hour) for 2 1/2 hours work. The good thing is was quite easy and right next to my apartment so I can tumble out of bed into the school.

I am not contracted to the company and have little to do with them. I requested that my hourly rate increase to 150-160 hour which is the normal rate in Beijing for this work.

Well, I had all the tricks and comments come out. Fairness in work, you should be committed to your students, only one student is a fee paying student so we cannot afford it, I will lose my job if you don't come etc.

I explained to this young guy that this is the going rate and you should pay similar rates. He explained that this is a promotional class for businesses to attract customers and were not full paying students. I explained that this is your business and nothing to do with me, pay me the going rate.

Well it continues ....

In the end I compromised and said I will do this weekends class and I expect the pay to change in the future. I agreed but I know that he will try to negotiate in the future.

Just to point out this company has paid in full every time and I have only once been paid late. Their management is not as good as others.

This guy I am talking with is only 20 years old and will well developed negotiation skills!

I can if I want walk away at any time and work for a higher paying company but all in all it's good to practice the negotiation skills too! Wink Wink
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lagerlout2006



Joined: 17 Sep 2003
Posts: 985

PostPosted: Mon May 30, 2005 4:02 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

I agree you should get a fair amount and not be taken advantage of...

Last year I took extras at a low rate....I didn't mind until they started to want me to arrive early and stay afterwards "for a coffee." The reason for this was to allow the parents to see the foreign expert hanging around.

Anyway I don't worry much about "going rates." Is it fair? Seems like a job with no commuting time is pretty good. And if 300 Y for 2.5 hours class time is bad...well...I should immediately come to Beijing. Wink
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burnsie



Joined: 18 Aug 2004
Posts: 489
Location: Beijing

PostPosted: Tue May 31, 2005 5:00 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

I have a number of other offers at 150-160 mark which does have commuting.

I think when you get a reputation in the school which has students coming to the classes because YOU are the teacher then this creates a strong weight in my mind.

For other times I know for a fact that the school charges 600 Yuan to each student for an VIP class so when your rate is 120 RMB an hour with individual preparation time you start to wonder who is being taken advantage of.
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kev7161



Joined: 06 Feb 2004
Posts: 5880
Location: Suzhou, China

PostPosted: Tue May 31, 2005 5:15 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Don't underestimate your value. If you truly can walk away, then I say do so (unless they either agree or come to a mutual compromise). I'm working PT for a language school and I love it! The hours are great, the pay is just fine, my students are wonderful, and they don't try to get me to do more than what was agreed upon in my contract and initial interview. They've even eagerly offered me a FT position if I were in need. They are professional and courteous and their new place is neat and clean.

However, I know that if the above were not true, I wouldn't have to stay with them (beyond my contract) because there are other places that WOULD pay me what I'm worth. On the other hand, if you are asking for more money, make sure that what you have to offer them in exchange is a top-notch teacher who is really valuable to your students (not saying you're not, but a word of advice to anyone reading this thread!).
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burnsie



Joined: 18 Aug 2004
Posts: 489
Location: Beijing

PostPosted: Sun Jun 05, 2005 11:11 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Well they have agreed to pay me now 150 RMB an hour from next weekend. I felt it was too easy to ask for this. I have a funny feeling they will change their minds or get another teacher.

Oh well, it might or might not happen but I am not particularly worried about it as there is plenty of work around for the taking from many schools who are willing to pay the same for teachers.
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burnsie



Joined: 18 Aug 2004
Posts: 489
Location: Beijing

PostPosted: Fri Jun 10, 2005 12:50 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Well I thought it was too easy.

They came back yesterday and said they did a review of my work with an employee sitting in on th class for a hour or so and then having the students rate my class and they gave me a good rap.

But anyway they then went to the boss to see if the extra 30 yuan an hour is justified. The boss said no as there are only 2 students in the class that have paid their fees.

I said then that's fine I will not teach that class anymore and they were fine with that.

I have too much work as it is and there are other more interesting work I am getting involved in which is alot better than teaching.
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tony lee



Joined: 03 Apr 2004
Posts: 79
Location: Australia

PostPosted: Sun Jun 12, 2005 2:55 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Quote:
I agree you should get a fair amount and not be taken advantage of...


Dont forget to pay your "fair" income tax on the extra. ;-)
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