Job Discussion Forums

[Jeembo007]

I really am desperate to get out to Shanghai and unfortunately I'm quite fussy too.

I've been applying for jobs in and near Shanghai and so far have turned down about 6 offers that I considered to be either dodgy (i.e. no contract or "oh don't bother with the working visa, it's far too much hassle, we'll sort it all out for you when you get here...honest") or the offers have been too low (8000RMB in Shanghai with no accomodation!).

I know that being fussy is going to make my life difficult when it comes to finding jobs in Shanghai and I do accept that, however now that the spring festival is over and more schools are recruiting for this period I see more better offers. But they all have a catch...."Can you come out next week????". I'm in England for godsake!!!! I can't get a flight sorted that quickly nor do I expect the Z visa will get sorted that quickly!!

I thought this time of year was the best time of year for sorting out a job, but I appear to be wrong. Is it better to wait a few months? Is it actually possible to arrange a job about a month in advance instead of a week?

This is getting so frustrating, I've been saving up money for the last 6 months in preparation for moving to Shanghai, and I've been looking for jobs for the last 3 months. I've finally got everything sorted that I needed to here back home and I'm ready to go as soon as is possible, but a week is ridiculous.

I have white skin, all the qualifications and experience, so none of that is a problem. It's just finding the right job.

Does anyone have any comforting words?

[kev7161]

Who told you the period AFTER Spring Festival break was the best time to get a job? From all the threads I read (and I've read plenty) most knowledgeable Dave's members advise for spring is to apply in late December to maybe mid-ish January. Get your contract, visa, plane ticket, etc. in order, then arrive a day or two before the spring semester starts.

If you want a summer job, start about April. September start? Maybe about May to early July. See, most schools hire for the immediate work period coming up. Not too many will be thinking about next fall yet. First they have to a) get the ball rolling for this semester and b) start recruiting for summer camp programs. Once that mess is all ironed out, then they think about the fall semester.

If you want to come right away, you may have to endure a six month contract with a language mill while seeking "real" jobs in the meantime to start in the fall.

[Anda]

The main starting date is the 1st September for most jobs here. The ones leaving a job now will mainly be those leaving a bad job mid contract.

[Jeembo007]

Thank you for the replies.

I did start applying the end of december onwards, but I just couldn't find anything. Now there seem to be loads more jobs available but they all start next week.

I may have a job offer starting in August, I still have to have another interview with that school, but I really wanted to come out sooner. Am I less likely to find work from now on? Is it best to wait until August?

[11:59]

[malu]

[kev7161]

I don't think the OP mentioned "a week" for his salary or maybe I missed it. Yes, 8 thou a week would be pretty darn good in almost any city. I also think he mentioned that he would have to cough up the cost of rent. There are too many schools that give free accommodations or offer salary plus a "bonus" (or whatever) to cover most or all of your living expenses.

Yeah, like malu said - - the current job offers are the sudden holes created when all those unprofessional (in my opinion, so go ahead and bite my head off) FTs decided for greener pastures during the holiday.

[Kilroy]

I also didn't see anything along the lines of '8000RMB per week' by the OP. But then again, when I first read the first sentense of the post, I read... desperate to get out OF Shanghai - instead of out TO. It was only later in the thread that I realized I got it wrong. Just goes to show... we see what we want to see, and hear what we want to hear... It probably holds true for reading as well.

If it's 'getable' (8000 per week in SH) - sweet, go for it I'd say... but then again - if something sounds to be good true, it probably is.

KR.

[arioch36]

i guess not really the thread, but, "get out to Shanghai" is this british english or something???In my American Englisg experience, if I said i want to get out to Shanghai, it would be poor english, and would mean to visit briefly


But per the others, now is a lousy time to get a job. The jobs available are those where the former laowai never came back from vacation. An exception, I think, is some Australian "based" schools start the new school year the same as the new calendar year. But still you will mostly be looking at schools so poor that they haven't yet gotten the laowai they need. The bottom of the barrel. A legit school must do your paperwork, go to the waishiban, have them do the invitationletter, give you time to get your visa, etc.

Late April, May June for a school that starts September,

November December for a school that sarts late february or March

[The Great Wall of Whiner]

[cj750s]

[arioch36]

CJ

[voodikon]

[cj750s]

[arioch36]

Fort Polk

No way. I did Aeromed evac, and we participated in the JRTC games down there. Being flyers, we stayed outside the base in a hotel with a swimming pool (actually, lots of army folk at the hotel to come to think of it. they doubled up on the rooms to get the extra per diem.

My memories ... one Air Force or Army gal got mugged after opening her hotel door.
When we go to a foreign country we are told by the intel types where we should avoid. At the hotel, this was anything across the street was to be avoided, don't go driving down the highway as it was a major drug route, and don't try to purchase the services of any of the local talent

The only time in the states we ever got such a warning.

The same Fort Polk?

I did have gator ... tasted like snake