Job Discussion Forums

[davidchu79]

Hi,
I'm looking to teach in Beijing this year, but don't think I can get out there until October. I'm starting to get worried that it's just too late to sort out a job from here and/or that all the good jobs would have gone by then.
Can anyone enlight me on what the job situation is like in Beijing around this time?
Ideally, I would like to teacher adults in a college or a university (less students, more flexible times and wage). I have a degree and a CELTA, but haven't done any teacing since the course 3 years ago. Is that going to be a problem?
I'd like to sort one before I go out (flights cost inc etc), but am now thinking that it would be better to find just get on a plane on a tourist visa and find one out there. How possible is that? And a good job in October?

Any advice, or websites people can give me would be greatly received

Thanks
Dave

[william wallace]

Most F-T jobs will begone by then....you're already got one foot in the quicksand- Chinese surname and Chinese looking,right ? My old buddy was part ethnic Chinese(left China 100 years or so ago) and the funny thing is that he never ever tried to learn Mandarin (quite intelligent,and French/English native speaker)....makes me wonder why,but he left China....which blew me away. He was close to making as much in ESL as possible here(15,000-18,000 per mo., free housing,airfare,100% medical)
The other ethnic Chinese person was from the backwoods of Australia, and she left after 20 months. I was jealous, as I thought she would be able to play Chinese AND foreigner, but she was miserable here in Beijing and went home. Is it that bad for you in the UK ?
Cheers

[nogreasyhippies]

Hey OP, I found this website on the cafe, they're going to set me up with a position starting in october...

www.chinateachonline.com

[hippieshak]

Any more info on this company? I'm looking to get a position with them, but wanted to hear about their... integrity.

[lf_aristotle69]

I don't think starting in October is the hard ask that others do.

Usually there're a bunch of Unis who couldn't get enough teachers or had a few cancellations and are still looking into October.

The other situation (which used to happen, but maybe not these days) is that new Uni students have to do a couple of weeks of military training at the beginning of their first year at Uni. Usually they would arrive a week after the other students and then do 2 to 4 weeks of military training. Then it's time for the October 1st China National Day 1 week holiday and after that the first year students start. Some schools keep a few positions open until October to save on salaries.

Put your CV/resume up on a couple of the sites like Daves and specify you want to start later than usual.

BTW, it's not that common to get reimbursed for your initial flight to China before the middle, or end, of the contract. Were you expecting it when you got off the plane? Make sure you've got enough savings to live on for 2 or 3 months in case things go awry.

There is certainly a general bias against ESL teachers of Asian descent in China, and as we get the impression you're of Chinese (?) descent, that could have an impact on you. But, there's always being in the right place at the right time, and if you're a native English speaker born and bred OS then most FAOs will be mature and give you the same 'respect' as the white faces get.

Do you have to go to BeiJing? China's a big country, with plenty of interesting places to go and work.

Good luck!

LFA

[Anda]

Recruiters just line up jobs for you. As a rule you are on your own once you start a job. They might be able to move you but if you don't fit in where they place you. It's a luck game as even if you start somewhere and it's good it can be sold or management might change for the worse.
.............................................................................................

Teaching English in China: Choose the Right Place and SchoolTeaching English in China: Every Teacher Becomes a Student ... Teaching for a Recruiter: Being approached on the street by recruiters is a daily occurrence ...
www.transitionsabroad.com/publications/magazine/0501/teaching_english_in_china_choose_right_school.shtml - 25k -

[North China Laowei]

David,

I remember reading your posts last year about the same time, I think. What made you decide not to come then and to come now?

Next, with all that the previous posters have written, please still bear in mind the vagaries of the visa situation here. The crux of the difficult period will occur between July 1 and October 17 and if you are planning on arriving during that time, I would give you one BIG piece of advice, without meaning to take a page out of Arioch's book.

For this year, please line up a job before you arrive. Get your papers processed before you arrive. Do what you have to do to make your arrival and stay as reasonably effortless as possible.

Otherwise, even if they promise you a Z visa, you find that at the least you will have a trip to Hong Kong (if the school has enough pull or friendship with the local PSB) to arrange a HK Z visa for you, or else you may find that you just might have a return trip home to secure the visa.

Never mind the fear-and-gloom sayers about Asian face and Asian name. It's still doable, for sure, and I know a small legion of ABC's and CBA's that are working quite successfully here.

BUT

If you are going to Beijing of all places with all of the heightened s*cur*ty in place there, and if you think that you can hobble your administrative way along on an L visa, well, I would think about that quite seriously and quite a bit. They are not in a joking mood around here lately and for every ONE person I know that has managed to eek out another Z visa or an extended stay, I know of at least 10 who have had to leave.

Afterwards, who knows? They just don't want a repeat of Atlanta around here with the sn*per, or of M*nich and all of that. And they are in a position to ensure that it won't happen.

Many foreign students are finding that their student visas, which in the past were routinely renewed, are being denied, in addition to the hordes of holders of F and long-term L visas that are experiencing problems.

And you didn't mention which passport you hold either, and if you are from one of the forbidden thirty-three countries, you will have more issues that will tend not be fixable either.

[wulfrun]

if anyone wants to suggest a well-paid uni job in BJ for next academic year (sept fine), i'd appreciate

ive two years' experience at univs in china with great references

xiexie