Job Discussion Forums

[pacrimwanderer]

Hi

Im looking for good, honest recruiter(s) for ESL school work.

I have 5 years ESL teaching experience, and rather than sort through the
endless mound of info I'd rather trust the services of a good recruiter in china..


work wise, seeking : p/t ESL work in Hangzhou, Qingdao, Xiamen or other coastal city... starting early 2010

thanks
pacrimwanderer

[tashidelek]

To be honest, this is hard, or we can say "impossible"

Most of the ESL schools here are profit-oriented. For the students, they need an ceritificate and for the teachers, they need a job salary. So from the recruiters position, more students and low-paid teachers are their best dream. If you just need a job, live with the fact, dont expect too much, but if you really enjoy teaching, ESL schools in these area are not good choices

[eddy-cool]

I know one, maybe two, good recruiter(s) but Iwon't name them publicly. What is good for me is probably anathema to another guy.

The truth is that 'recruiters' is a very broad category that fits many unprofessional bidders. In China a recruiter may be an import-export business that somehow generates extra cash by acting as a go-between to laowais and to local training centres or schools that haven't learnt their ropes yet in terms of hiring their own laowai teachers. They may make false promises tolure you to China; once here youwill have to sign a contract with your future employer - and that contract may vary enormously from the one promised you.

Your best bet does seem tobe to sift through all the offers you can find online or in printed publications.

[GypsyKingAdventures]

Been in Jiangsu province for about six months now living and teaching high school kids and I love it...I started sending out resumes (CVs) months before flying to Shanghai (without a job) and sorted through dozens of recruiters, most of them just doing what recruiters do - fill openings as cheaply as possible and as quickly as possible.

I've been consulting (i.e., finding a new job every year or so) for over a decade now and have been working with recruiters closely...here are some thoughts:

Send Everyone Something - The more CVs you are sending out the more hits you will get from recruiters - you want this - create a digital 'package' which has your CV with picture, copies of your passport (# blocked out), copies of your degrees and certs, and even a letter of reference helps. Send your 'package' out to every lead you can find in the area(s) you want - take the time and fill in the online applications too - these go straight to recruiters for follow up.

Get More Info - Learn to sort through emails quickly, follow up with your info and let them do the work for you. Make them find out as much info as you need to be comfortable BEFORE you personally pursue the position (i.e., showing up). I went to four different cities personally before settling on my current position and it made a huge difference.

Remember the Numbers - Recruiters have holes to fill, plain and simple. The personality of the recruiter has little to do with the outcome; what's more important is how much they communicate with you. If you need more info on a job and they don't respond fast(!), move on and don't take it personally, you just were not a good fit, or the recruiter is weak, either way it's a no win for you...if they want you they WILL find a way to contact you.

Don't Be Shy - If you get the job the recruiter is paid by the school, so don't be shy about telling the school if they were good/great/outstanding/dismal. Likewise, I always try to use one recruiter against another when I've narrowed my choices down to two or three - if you are hungry for a good job and good pay they should be too!

In short, there is no one magic person out there but there are a ton of good jobs so play the numbers game, make them work for you, do your own legwork, and enjoy the rewards - you earned em'.