Job Discussion Forums

[haberstr]

I recently qualified as an IELTS Examiner and will move to China soon. I'd be very grateful if someone could tell me who I contact, what I do, to get started working part-time as an examiner/grader, both for the speaking and writing sections.

There does not seem to be an obvious local contact name or email in, for instance, Shanghai.

hab

[Non Sequitur]

This took me 30 seconds on Google:
http://www.britishcouncil.cn/en/contact

[vikeologist]

There is no part-time IELTS examining any more. All new examiners have to be full-time, and when I last looked at the website, there were no vacancies.

[Non Sequitur]

The new British Consulate in Wuhan is part of a wider British Centre which will include an office of The British Council.
It's a bit early for IELTS examiner appointments, but no doubt these will come on stream later.

[haberstr]

Thanks vikeologist, finding that out is very VERY helpful. How did you discover there are no more part-time positions? It would seem a natural to do IELTS examining on the weekends and your regular job during the week. Oh well. ...

Non Sequitur: Yeah, if no part-time positions, best to check the British Council job board regularly and wait for a full-time position.

[shawadywady]

[nomad soul]

On a related note...

Examiners face forced retirement
By Angela Snelgrove, EL Gazette | February 2015
Source: http://www.elgazette.com/item/201-examiners-face-forced-retirement.html

Changes to the recruitment of IELTS examiners in China will soon include restrictions on age. The move is part of a long-awaited review of how the British Council manages IELTS exams in China and coincides with changes taking place at other IELTS test centres around the world. ‘We are making the change in order to meet the needs of the market, to ensure we are operating in line with regulatory frameworks and to secure future business growth,’ said a spokesperson for the British Council in London.

Male examiners over the age of 60 and female examiners over the age of 55 will now not be considered for work as IELTS examiners with the British Council in any of its test centres in China. However the Council denies that it is ignoring British laws which prevent workplace discrimination based on age or sex, insisting that it is still committed to equal opportunity and diversity. ‘We welcome examiners of all backgrounds who meet the professional requirements and who are able to meet the requirements of labour laws and regulations in China,’ said the spokesperson. ‘We have for example had qualified Chinese nationals as examiners for some years.’

However those who do meet the requirements and are recruited will be offered a two-year contract in return for a core commitment to examining six days a month. The option to examine for more hours will also be offered. Visas will now be organised by the Council, but taxation, previously the responsibility of the examiner, will be deducted as part of the Council’s obligation as a wholly foreign-owned enterprise. However there is no indication that in addition to the permanent examiners, other examiners employed on a casual basis will be needed. ‘We are looking to recruit a permanent cohort of examiners who can ensure we have the capacity of qualified staff to meet the market demand,’ says the spokesperson.

The retirement age for Chinese workers, including teachers, is currently 50–55 for women and 60 for men. However this is often waived for foreign teachers and some even acquire a ‘foreign expert certificate’ in order to stay in teaching jobs. China is currently reviewing its own policies about age restrictions and forced early retirement due to a rapid increase in an aging population.

(End of article)