Job Discussion Forums

[pke]

I have a job "offer" of sorts, a job description I guess. I'm not that familiar with what's around - I have a Bachelors degree in English and a CELTA with 2 years teaching experience in Spain.

Its not terribly well paid - but perhaps its as good as I'll get? Would I be able to save a small amount from this salary? I'm not in HK to party, just to have a nice time and save a bit of money (I won't be there longer than a year) to get to the UK and do some other stuff ....

Late January/February - summer 2008.
40hr week - the number of classes taught per day varies from school to school. There is a maximum of 7 x 1hr classes or 9 x 35min classes, or a combination of both taught per day - approx. 23 - 26 contact teaching hours per week.
Teachers have a fixed schedule, which includes time in the office to prep for lessons each week.
Please note that this position requires teachers to work on the weekend. Teachers are not expected to work overtime, although if they cover classes, thus working additional hours, these hours will be given back, at a later date.
There are 8 working days annual leave set around the school holidays which will be given at Chinese New Year (Feb 0 / Easter (March 0
The above holiday is inclusive of public holidays and rest days.
There are also 2 Floating Days - these are days that may be used as sick days, but if they are not used they are given as additional holiday at the end of the contract.
Salary is based on qualifications and experience and starts at HK$15,000 per month for teachers that opt to live in the company flats. The salary for teachers that would like to arrange their own accommodation starts at HK$20,000 (assistance can be given on how to go about this and accommodation upon arrival can be arranged).
Medical - a basic scheme is provided with Blue Cross and covers trips to the doctors and hospitalisation (no dentist).
Bonus - a completion bonus of HK$7,200 will be awarded at the end of the contract.
Work visa sponsored by school

[11:59]

Christ! I am ashamed to live in HK when I see 'job descriptions' like this. Who on Earth do they think they are kidding? "Teachers are not expected to work overtime"? How would � or could- anyone ever work overtime when they might have to teach no fewer than seven (!) classes of 60 minutes each day anyway? That is an absurd number of contact hours (I have 14 contact hours a week and I find that quite excessive in terms of marking and preparation; granted it is university level, but I still think it a tad excessive). The number of hours this firm cites does not (could not) constitute teaching, rather it is crowd control. Seven hours a day is just ludicrous! You cannot teach students of any age group for that amount of time a day, though especially not children, and certainly not children in HK (whose lessons often resemble lectures!).

As regards the 'wage' (I hesitate to employ the term salary in relation to such a paltry sum), it is nothing short of offensive. Really! It is a sick joke! I know of people who only earn $20,000 a month, it is true, but that is for part-time work, perhaps two or three afternoons a week. You would have no chance whatsoever of saving money. Just forget it! Perhaps you are not aware but most teachers in HK � regardless of their level � are on between $40,000 and $50,000 a month, with some earning as much as $80,000 a month (such as old timers with ESF). NETs on the EDB/EMB PNET and SNET schemes receive a monthly housing allowance of some $13,000 a month in addition to their salary, and this Mickey Mouse outfit is offering a salary of but two thousand a month more than that! Was this job advertised on April 1st last year by any chance?

Why don't you apply for the PNET scheme? You would start on a minimum of $30,000 HK a month.

[pke]

Uh ok thanks!
Yes, I have thought of PNET ... but it takes some time to get the VISA and position organised I think ... I'd like to go ASAP, by March/April at the latest.

I'll do some more research.

Thanks again.

[hkteach]

$15000 a month is PATHETIC for a 40 hour week, even though it includes accommodation (although it sounds fairly standard-type flat).

$20000 a month (without accommodation) is even worse. Where on earth would a person find decent accommodation for $5000 ? And then there's utilities.

As a comparison - PNETS on the top of Master Pay Scale receive around $51000 which includes special (or housing ) allowance. Secondary scale is higher (all NETs are eligible for retention bonus of 5% for second contract and 10% bonus for 3rd) .

If you want a job quickly, a language centre or ELTA position would be your best bet.
ELTAs can earn 15000-20000 a month for fulltime work but that would be if employed directly by the school. If through an agency (which takes a big cut) the ELTA would earn much less.

No matter what you do, you need a workvisa and these usually take around 4-6 weeks after application has been made. So after allowing time for the application, interview and visa to be processed, it looks like time will be against you.

[Dipso]

This offer sounds even worse than the HK kindergarten I worked at a few years back.

[kowlooner]

Despite the outrage expressed by parties above about the pay, let's be realistic. It's not great, but it's not bad either. Making $15,000 with housing and $20,000 without are reasonable and well within average pay scales. Moreover, the indignation displayed by the other respondents suggests a less-than-detailed reading of your requirements.

Of course the pay would be substantially better at a government funded or subsidized school, but if your employer is not subsidized (as is the case with kindergartens - as far as I'm aware) the pay offered will be lower. Marketplace realities versus the benefits of government intervention.

The total number of contact hours a week looks reasonable (you mentioned 23-26 hours); however, the possibility of 7 1-hour classes in one day does seem a bit daunting. You might want to clarify how often that would happen. On the other hand, you also mentioned a 40-hour work week. That sounds quite standard.

How many days a week would you be teaching? And by weekends, do you mean to include Sundays? That would be odd unless it's a tutorial school rather than a kindergarten. You also said the number of classes per day depends on the school. Do you mean to say you'll be teaching at several locations? In this case, exactly what kind of employer is this? It sounds as if this is a dispatch agency (if your classes are in regular schools) or a tutorial school with several locations.

You've already taught for two years in Spain, so perhaps instead of asking us it would be better to compare it to what you already experienced. Would you be okay with the terms the school is offering you? Knowing that housing will cost you between $5k and $8k (for not very big, or not very convenient - always a trade-off), does the pay feel acceptable? Do you like teaching kindergarteners, and would that influence (positively or negatively) the hours and schedule they're offering? Some of the questions you have can be answered by yourself.

Finally, let's return to the central issue of your requirements. You said you won't be in HK longer than a year. Given your time frame (starting March / April and one year max), government school positions (PNET/SNET) are clearly out. That leaves only a position such as the one you have described. If you don't wish to name the school, that's fine, but there are a few of somewhat questionable nature, so it would be in your best interest to make sure it is established and reputable. For the established part, you can check that out online at the EDB website (do a name search and see if and when the school was registered).

And then on to your other requirements: to have a nice time (not partying) and save a bit of money. Yes, you can have a nice time, and yes you can save a bit of money, but one year isn't very long and you may find yourself doing one rather than the other (i.e., nice time but not much money-saving, or vice versa, but probably not both), though that depends on your definition of a nice time and how much you're aiming to save.

Good luck!

[once again]

It is simply not true that 'most' teachers in Hong Kong earn between 40-50 thousand a month regardless of level. Go to the American International School website, and there is a section that quite clearly sets out their pay scale. That is for a middle range international school. The government net scheme, with special allowance, at the lowest level, will pay 30 thousand.
That is not to say that you would find HK a bed of roses earning 20 thousand. But it wouldn't be that bad if you are not a party person, and it would be a good way to see HK for a year and then return to the UK.
However, you do not give the name of the company, so make sure you do some research to find out if they are any good or not. You can PM me if you like and I may be able to help with a view to if they are good or bad.

[pke]

This school is called the "Children's English Centre" and looks like its run by some pretty toxic people.

I'm sorry, I thought I'd done a search on their name , but must have been distracted - entirely inexcusable for a librarian.

Anyway- I'll be steering clear.

Good to get feedback about the cost of living and appropriate salaries.

Thanks

[jeye]

Everything i have read has left me with a question you are all talking about teaching what primary or university????? i work in a kindergarten in HK and i make 22 000 a month i have a BA in ECE???? Working 8:30 - 5:00 mon -fri and one sat a month...... If there are better paying jobs out there please let me know because right now i do a lot of privet teaching so that i can pay my bills and still have the money to save........ i do not want to teach anything higher then Kindergarten because i love working with this age group...... thanks for your ideas.............