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mattkzbt
Joined: 28 Jan 2008
Posts: 17
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 Posted: Sat Feb 02, 2008 6:35 pm Post subject: HK Jobs/Living cost |
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Hi,
I'm 26, american, i have a BA in History, BUT I am also a certified secondary school teacher in America, i have an MBA, 1 yr classroom experience, 1 yr esl experience...
sooo....with all that, what kind of jobs and salaries can I get? It doesnt seem like i could get the catagoery 1 or 2 of the NET scheme..
I'm also looking to move there in October/November? When should I apply for positions?
Whats cost of living like there? I'm looking to be able to save a good amount of money. Is that possible?
Matt |
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surrealia
Joined: 11 Jan 2003
Posts: 241
Location: Taiwan
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| Posted: Sun Feb 03, 2008 12:03 am Post subject: |
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Here are my answers to your questions:
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| what kind of jobs and salaries can I get? |
There are many kinds of teaching jobs in Hong Kong: language schools, university jobs, NET scheme. It sounds like you are qualified for most except professor. The NET scheme pays much better than language schools or university instructor positions. However, it requires a lot of work and time. Read other posts on this forum for more warnings about the NET scheme...
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| When should I apply for positions? |
Now is a good time. Look over some of the job links below for some ads.
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| Whats cost of living like there? |
In a word, expensive. Housing is very expensive, everything else is a little more reasonable. I pay around $800 U.S. for a tiny place, but I could pay half that if I moved to another area.
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| I'm looking to be able to save a good amount of money. Is that possible? |
I think so. I can save around $1800 U.S. a month, and if I were in the NET scheme, I could probably save a lot more.
Anyway, try these links for more information:
http://www.geocities.com/allhou/hongkong.htm
http://www.classifiedpost.com |
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anninhk
Joined: 08 Oct 2005
Posts: 284
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| Posted: Sun Feb 03, 2008 12:04 am Post subject: |
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Most NET contracts begin on 16th August and they will be interviewing soon for jobs then.
It might be difficult to come in October/November as that is part way through the first term, but people do come after Christmas.
You need to apply asap as the recruitment process is long and, in some cases, takes a year or more, but it is usually 7-8 months
As to saving - it all depends on your lifestyle. A NET's salary is boosted by the housing allowance of $12950 and if you can manage to use that for most of your monthly costs - housing and food etc - then you will be able to save the bulk of your salary. |
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mattkzbt
Joined: 28 Jan 2008
Posts: 17
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| Posted: Sun Feb 03, 2008 8:39 pm Post subject: |
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what are some of the good language schools in HK that i can look at?
do many of them hire year round? |
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surrealia
Joined: 11 Jan 2003
Posts: 241
Location: Taiwan
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roset
Joined: 14 Dec 2007
Posts: 27
Location: At my computer - duh
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| Posted: Wed Feb 20, 2008 2:16 am Post subject: |
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| I wouldn't reccomend a language school. You are paid much less and have to work six day weeks. I managed it for a year and was very pleased at my achievement for sticking it out for so long. You'll earn about 13k which is way below what you could get working with the NET scheme. I did get accomodation and flights, but I was taxed on that 13k so it was even less. Still I saved about �400 a month and still managed to have a great time. It depends how crazy you go. You can spend to the max in Hong Kong, but its knowing when to stop. There is so much temptation that it is easy to go overboard. I had the minimum amount to live over there, and would have been happier with more money, but then wouldn't we all.... |
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Umm Banat
Joined: 18 May 2007
Posts: 28
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| Posted: Wed Feb 20, 2008 9:30 pm Post subject: |
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I have had an offer for a nice sounding job with future prospects After accommodation, school fees and tax are taken out, I would have about $15k per month for travel to work, food, utilities, clothing and entertainment.
Would this be enough to run a family of 4?
Thank you in advance.
UAB |
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roset
Joined: 14 Dec 2007
Posts: 27
Location: At my computer - duh
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| Posted: Wed Feb 20, 2008 11:20 pm Post subject: |
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15k for a family of four sounds quite tight to live on. You could definitely do it though, depending on what kind of lifestyle you want... Food costs could come to at least 500k a month as its more expensive to buy western foods.
People on these sites seem to think that 13k is nothing, but as a single person I lived like I have never lived before. With accomodation and everything else you could live ok, and the mtr is so great for travelling round Hong Kong and isn't too expensive. I guess people go to Hong Kong to live a really rich lifestyle and on at least 20k you can do that. You could perhaps live off that, but just don't expect to be living like a king or anything. Saying that, there are places that offer more though, but still it should be doable. |
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Surfdude18
Joined: 16 Nov 2004
Posts: 651
Location: China
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| Posted: Thu Feb 21, 2008 6:39 am Post subject: |
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| roset wrote: |
| I wouldn't reccomend a language school. You are paid much less and have to work six day weeks. I managed it for a year and was very pleased at my achievement for sticking it out for so long. You'll earn about 13k which is way below what you could get working with the NET scheme. I did get accomodation and flights, but I was taxed on that 13k so it was even less. Still I saved about �400 a month and still managed to have a great time. It depends how crazy you go. You can spend to the max in Hong Kong, but its knowing when to stop. There is so much temptation that it is easy to go overboard. I had the minimum amount to live over there, and would have been happier with more money, but then wouldn't we all.... |
I'm amazed that you can save 400 pounds a month while only being paid 13k, in a place as expensive as HK. |
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Serious_Fun
Joined: 28 Jun 2005
Posts: 1171
Location: terra incognita
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| Posted: Thu Feb 21, 2008 12:54 pm Post subject: |
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| roset wrote: |
People on these sites seem to think that 13k is nothing...
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BCinHK
Joined: 27 Oct 2005
Posts: 35
Location: Hong Kong
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| Posted: Fri Feb 22, 2008 12:08 pm Post subject: |
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| Umm Banat wrote: |
After accommodation, school fees and tax are taken out, I would have about $15k per month for travel to work, food, utilities, clothing and entertainment.
Would this be enough to run a family of 4? |
You might have to carefully watch your pennies, but it depends on the ages of your children and where they go to school which I'm guessing is an ESF or international school. In addition to school fees, there are also fees for books and stationery, uniforms, school lunches, transportation to/from school, sports and leisure activities through the school, school trips (could be to China, could be to Antarctica - and if your teenager is the only one in their group not going, you might as well end his/her life), etc etc etc. Extracurricular activities in English cost a lot more here - in our home country last summer I had my kids in full-day camps for 3 weeks for the same price as it would have cost for a few hours of activity here. With a small flat, you need to do more and go out more with your kids than you might do in your home country.
You haven't mentioned medical or dental. The cost for full coverage medical insurance is astronomical; most people I know have hospital cover (although others will tell you you can use the free public hospital system, there can be huge waiting times (months) to see specialists) and pay for each visit to a doctor. The cost per visit can be as low as $150HK for a local English-speaking doctor or as high as $700-1000 for an expat doctor. Dentists charge similar prices per visit. Children can develop asthma or respiratory infections here due to the bad air quality - that means lots of doctor visits.
Our family of four flew to our home country for summer holidays last year: almost $40,000HK. With greater competition in the airlines it will be cheaper this summer, but still $20,000HK and we're paying, not an employer.
Four Value Meals at McDonalds cost about $100HK.
Lots of families consider it a great adventure and cultural experience to live in HK. But you are away from grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins.
There are some threads here about having children in HK and you also might check at asiaxpat.
Good luck in your decision-making! |
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11:59
Joined: 31 Aug 2006
Posts: 632
Location: Hong Kong: The 'Pearl of the Orient'
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| Posted: Fri Feb 22, 2008 12:19 pm Post subject: |
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| Umm Banat wrote: |
| I have had an offer for a nice sounding job with future prospects After accommodation, school fees and tax are taken out, I would have about $15k per month for travel to work, food, utilities, clothing and entertainment. |
Don't forget you have to subtract a further $3,000 a month for your maid/domestic helper/houseboy. It would be pretty difficult (if not downright impossible) to raise 2 kids in HK without such 'help'. |
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Umm Banat
Joined: 18 May 2007
Posts: 28
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| Posted: Sat Feb 23, 2008 5:56 pm Post subject: |
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Thank you very much for your advice - I appreciate it.
How easy is it for a spouse to find work on a dependent's visa? IT training or similar. |
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