Job Discussion Forums

[dialogger]

Newbies thinking of working in PRC next academic year (end July or August start) should be starting to target their schools soon.
I have seen a few posts and received the odd PM from non Caucasians wanting to get an FT job. These have been on the off topic site and (inevitably) have been taken over by extraneous personal stuff which moderators close down.
Seriously this is an issue and I feel it needs some input from experienced people who have advice to offer.
It amazes me to see the Chinese learn English as an international passport but fail to grasp that perfect English is spoken by people in Africa and the Caribbean and turn them down as FTs.
My tips are based on my experience.
1. Look for the hard to staff schools ie technical colleges and universities in the western provinces.
2. American born Chinese or those who went to the West at an early age should play down their educational achivements. Chinese recruiters see you as spoiled brats who have had opportunities they did not have. One Chinese who PMd me started their message with their educational achievements. 'My name is xx and I have a post graduate degree in linguistics from Harvard'.
3. Make sure your written English is perfect. Some seem to think it is cool to use it in colloquial ways to underline their mastery.
4. Initiate phone discussion in English as soon as possible. Be polite and respectful. Don't let them dwell on your paperwork. Become a personality they know at least on the phone.
5. By all means get the phone number of a current FT to contact. But don't introduce this request too early. This request says 'I don't believe you'. And it indicates you a Chinese have gone over to the other side and are disloyal.
6. Lastly remember there is the job that gets you to China and the job that keeps you in China. Once here you can visit the international offices of other better schools and think what you want to do in Year 2.