Job Discussion Forums

[lithodia]

Ok i heard enough about the horror stories, it seems that no matter what school you look up its always gonna be a bad review, so whatever, i was offered a position in Shenzhen, and I am going to take it. The pay is way more then any other school I've applied to and I just dont think it will be so bad. Sooo my question is, if anyone has first hand experience working in any of the Shenzhen offices as of late, message me, or respond to this thread so i can really prepare myself for what it will be like over there.

thanks!

[The Ever-changing Cleric]

Can't speak about EF as I've never worked for them, but the upside is that Shenzhen is a decent place to live, so even if the job sucks at least you won't be stuck in one of China's hellholes from which there appears to be no escape. So look on the bright side a bit more, is my advice.

[lithodia]

lol thanks, i always try to prepare myself for the worst so it will never be as bad, but i do think im going to have a good time there, none the less

[sahilsondhi]

Please do let me know how Shenzhen is! I'm deciding between Shenzhen, Guangzhou and Shanghai. I've heard mixed reviews about all of them

[Laurence]

@sahilsondhi

(just quickly, without meaning to hijack)

[alter ego]

EF schools usually gets bashed badly here, but a lot depends on your location and manager. If you can, visit the actual school and talk to the manager in person. If you can't, go in with a positive attitude and keep smiling even on the days you feel terribly overworked and underpaid.

[pmcalusio]

We too have accepted a position with EF Shenzhen for Fall 2009 - Has anyone, who is actually there now, either the school or the city, responded. Please give some information. Looking for great accommodation suggestions also. Would love to establish friendly connections with others before arrival.

[englishgibson]

[nickpellatt]

I havent worked for EF but I would suggest that the poster(s) who have accepted these EF jobs come back in a few months and write a little mini-review and update the thread for anyone else who signs up to ask about EF and the like.

They do sometimes get a bad rep, which as I understand tends to be for what is often a strict regime and long hours (when compared to many China jobs), so it would be good to get some feedback. PLenty of people post 'what is this school like' threads ... but few people ever post reviews or comments on their schools after a few months or a term of work there.

I think it would be a great resource if we did that as members, and gave up a heads up to people on all the schools we work at, not just post threads slating them when we have a bad experience.

[englishgibson]

tripping over a couple bad apples i've encountered along isn't that bad..yes..but bumpin'into dozens of people that've worked for the same french fries company with quite simmilar experiences isn't just a coincidence, is it?

as members on we really are credible, aren't we?

again,
cheers and beers to the hot summer camp with some fine uniforms of french friesers ready for all willing to participate in

_____________________________________________________________
i'd like to work for dry cleaners. they don't wash it.

[dakelei]

Lived in Shenzhen for a few months and it wasn't my cup of tea at all but it has its good points. However, do not be drawn in by "high salaries" offered there. It's a very expensive place to live compared to most cities in China. Rents are absurdly high. A place you could get for 4 or 500 a month in most cities can be 2500 in Shenzhen. The only inexpensive way to get around is by bus and they can often be jam packed. There are no motorcycle taxis and regular taxis often begin at like 17 yuan and not 5 like in other places I've lived in China. You can't even hop on a pedicab or something when you have a big bag of groceries because there are none. Most schools will not get an apartment for you and you will be responsible for things like deposits. This set me back something like 8000 yuan when I first got there and I was annoyed. On top of that I had to pay for my own medical exam, something I never had to do anywhere else in China. I'm amazed, frankly, that a school like EF is hiring people who aren't already in the city. There are literally tens of thousands of foreigners in Shenzhen now. If the school is having trouble drawing from that pool there's a reason. Sorry to be cynical but just letting you know.

[Mister Al]

[The Ever-changing Cleric]

[dakelei]

To each his own. I lived in Nanshan when I was there and my dumpy little apartment cost me 1900. There were cheaper ones available but I was told that as a foreigner I wasn't allowed to rent them. Maybe to you "only" 45 yuan for a taxi ride isn't much but to me it is. I'll agree the metro is nice but it serves a very small percentage of the city. The air is positively filthy from all the cars and buses and the only upside of the recent economic downturn is at least the factories aren't pumping out as much filth as usual.

I simply don't understand why foreigners like Shenzhen so much, to be honest. This is just my opinion, mind you, but it seems like the folks who like it the most don't really want to be in "China" at all but long to be in a place that is as much like "home" as possible. I've lived in several places in China and Shenzhen is about as un-Chinese a place as I've ever seen here. At home I wasn't real crazy about New York, either, and couldn't understand why any sane person would want to live there.

[The Ever-changing Cleric]