Job Discussion Forums

[WuZetTien]

I'm trying to find a teaching job in China. I'm having a little difficulty. I do have a need to make some money, although this isn't my main concern (if it was I wouldn't be interested in China)

In brief; I have a background as a secondary school Social Studies/History teacher. I have an MAT degree from an East Coast, US, university.

I worked in Xi'an for two years in the early/mid 90s. I loved it there. I've been out of the teaching profession for a while. Most recently I've been consultimg for non-profits. I don't have TOESL/CELTA or other ESL certification. When I was in Zhonguo last time that wasn't an issue at all. Also my teaching certification lapsed a few years ago.

Despite this I have a lot of ESL and general teaching experience in China, Russia, Bosnia (its a long story), and the US.

In late September two schools badly wanted me, one in Nanjing, and one in Shanghai. They would have paid very well but they both wanted me to start almost immediately. I wasn't able to at the time.

I've been sending out lots of resumes to schools, unis, and some recruiters. Not much response. I have gotten emails from schools saying that they are impressed by my background. They've asked for my docs and recomendations. (which are good) . They've asked when they could phone me.Then I never hear from them again.

I have gotten a few job what look like solid offers in inland cities-Chengdu, even Urumqi. I have been tempted to take one of them but they are low paying. I do have a need to make money.

Am I being too picky? Are schools much stricter now? Has the financial crisis hurt the ESL world? Am I doing something wrong?

I would like to get a job by February at the latest. I've thought about other options in asia-Korea, Taiwan, or Indonesia. I 'd appreciate any advice anyone might have.

[Eyrick3]

No way jobs have dried up. Plenty available everywhere.

Not having a TESOL might be holding you back. You might want to look into getting into a good course with job placement.

Besides that, the only other things that might be holding you back are age and/or race. As you probably already know, the Chinese prefer young white people, so unless you're older and/or not white, you shouldn't have a problem finding a job, particularly with your experience.

[brsmith15]

With your fine background, BE picky. Don't act in haste only to regret at your leisure. When you get offers, do your research here and be sure to ask the school for the email addresses of current teachers.

Yes, the race issue can come up. Forget it. Keep moving along at a steady, but measured pace.

[eslstudies]

[kev7161]

If you are applying for a high school or college position using your degree (social studies/history) credentials and wanted to teach in those fields, you may be out of luck. Many of these schools want those qualified in maths/sciences. Otherwise, the majority of the teaching jobs will then be in the English area. "Spoken" English or other such subjects to teach them the language. Many of these jobs can be quite low paying, but certainly not all. The "spoken" English teaching monkey kind of jobs are numerous and somewhat easy to get but you just have to be diligent to find the better paying and more lucrative positions.

[bradley]

There are plenty of jobs here still but if you want to teach at a university you will have to wait until the end of February or the beginning of March.

[Dedicated]

I'm not sure where you are looking exactly for job opportunities, but the best paying posts are advertised as below :

<www.jobs.ac.uk/jobs/MD509/Teacher>

With your qualifications and experience, they may just overlook the requirement for a CELTA or equivalent. Worth a try??

[kungfucowboy83]

[Ms Bean]

Maybe his degree doesn't look convincing enough. He may need to get a new one issued to him.

The market hasn't dried up. I got five GOOD offers and over a hundred not-so-good offers.

[WuZetTien]

Thanks to everyone who's offered advice or info here or in private. Im American, "white" (Scottish-German ancestry, as far as I can tell), and I'm female WuZetTien,( my nonm de guerre, here) was a Tang dynastry empress.,(I believe one out of the only two empresses that China had in its 5,000 year history.) I'm in my late 30s. I look presentable, I think.

I have found recently that some of my docs weren't coming though. My diploma and other documents are stored on .tif format on my computer. the recipients couldn't open them, this may have been part of the problem.

Recently I have gotten some nibbles from Jaotong treachers College in yunnan, Beijing agricultural University, and a school in Chengdu. They all seem interested. the school in Beijing would pay the most but they seem to want a demo lesson. I could send a DVD.

Anyway, thanks

[Lhenderson]

Nah.

Best way is to just show up and hustle.

Ever heare of "fake it and make it"?

Just go to some schools and be available and undercut the market and you'll be hired at even some UK schools.

Don't demand airfare, or an office, or that crap and be around and willing and you get the JOB.

[d moon]

Just curious. I'll be in Shanghai next week. How's the market for someone who's willing to 'hustle'. And yes I've been here for some time.

[Hansen]

Wu, If you have an offer from a school in Yunnan, pursue it with gusto. Yunnan is a spectacular place, undoubtedly one of the best in all of China. Lower pay is well worth it to work there.

[arioch36]

Yeah, I would sell out for a lower salary to go to Yunnan. If I didn't have so many roots in Zhengzhou...