Job Discussion Forums

icebear · Joined: 06 Dec 2005 Posts: 40 Location: Alaska

So a few of my friends have expressed interest in working in China once they also finish their degrees, leaving me telling the same things over and over again. To rememedy this I've created a small site with the basic information I've gleaned so far in my research and put up some links and such concerning the process. This by no means is authoritative or 100% accurate, its merely based on things I've read online, primarily at Dave's. Anyway, I figured others might find at least the links helpful as opposed to scouring through a million posts, or would catch some glaring mistakes or omissions. Take it as you see fit.

http://brian.n.jackson.googlepages.com/teachingenglish

kev7161 · Joined: 06 Feb 2004 Posts: 5880 Location: Suzhou, China

My advice is to have your wording a bit more generic and not so personal (like calling a certain type of reader an "idiot" or using the "F" word so liberally or including your own political beliefs). Also, there's a LOT more to coming to China (or anywhere else for that matter) than just getting a job. What about such concerns as: clothing, food, culture, history, the people, the mannerisms (such as staring or spitting) . . .

Not to make everything sound negative, not at all. There are many good things about coming here, such as the lower cost of living and some interesting places to visit such as the Great Wall or the Terra Cotta warriors.

It seems like maybe you've just started your webpage and it could stand to be enhanced over the coming weeks and months.

Just my two kuai . . .

Super Frank · Joined: 03 Feb 2006 Posts: 365

"I can't be arsed to get a job, I'll teach in China instead"
Nice

chengdude · Joined: 13 Jun 2004 Posts: 294

Also, under "Job Listings" you have listed Angelina's and they very much belong under "Recruiters".

icebear · Joined: 06 Dec 2005 Posts: 40 Location: Alaska

The website isn't intended to dethrone Dave's or be impersonal and impartial. Its reading for my friends and family, and first and foremost a place to condense my findings where I can access them easily since I don't have the internet at home. I won't be advertising it on my resume or any nonsense like that. I don't expect anyone to get much out of it besides the links, but who knows.

That said I don't mean anything disparaging towards teachers or their profession with these comments, they are exaggerations. The 'getting a real job' comment is with this in mind... a "real" job is one I work to pay the bills and derive no personal satisfaction from. For example, the hell that is accounting for 8 hours a day, punching equations into Excel files, which I've been so fortunate to be blessed with. I'm sure teaching has many hardships as well, but in general it seems to be a profession people stick with because they like it, and China, not because its helping bloat their retirement fund. To me this speaks volumes, and hopefully it rubs me the right way as well. Job satisfaction is a lot more about enjoying what you do than how many hours you work. I'd have to be extremely foolish to think teaching English in a foreign country is something to be taken lightly, but I do think it is much more appealing than locking myself in a cubicle farm this fall. Obviously so do quite a few others!

Anyway, thanks for the feedback, and those suggestions kev, as you mentioned the website is new (about a day or two old) so I'll be adding information as I come across it.

Edit: Also, thanks for the heads up on Angelina's, I had no idea.

WordUp · Joined: 05 Jan 2006 Posts: 131

The website is garbage and the language needs revision.

Malsol · Joined: 06 Mar 2006 Posts: 1976 Location: Lanzhou

clark.w.griswald · Joined: 06 Dec 2004 Posts: 2056

Icebear, good on your for taking the time to compile some information that could be of help for others. Try to think of the comments that have been made as constructive criticisms and don't lose heart.

I don't think that anyone on this forum disputes the fact that researching China and jobs in China before arriving can be the best ways to avoid trouble here. As such sites such as the one you have put up are valuable as they provide a good read for newbies and give newbies an idea of what to expect.

I think that cleaning up the language and making the site more informational rather than conversational was a good idea.

It might be good if you provide specific details for US citizens (I assume that this is where you are from). Start off with where to find information, information about the visa process, the job search process, booking airline tickets, what to expect on arrival, potential problems, and maybe even a quick run down on some cities outside of Shanghai and Beijing.

icebear · Joined: 06 Dec 2005 Posts: 40 Location: Alaska

Clark, thanks for the input. I concur on all points, and I have begun to take steps towards making the site less conversational. The grammar is awkward or downright shameful at times, and I'm also proof reading it bit-by-bit, admittedly after the fact. That's the beauty of instant publishing with these fancy web editors, right? Wink

I'll go ahead and repost the site in a few months, at which point I will hopefully be in China and all of my pre-trip planning (and therefore that portion of the website) will be complete.

pandasteak · Joined: 01 Apr 2004 Posts: 166

nothing wrong with sharing what ya know. Nice one.

I had a go at putting together a similar site. see link below: