| View previous topic :: View next topic |
| Author |
Message |
Sinaman
Joined: 23 May 2009
Posts: 85
|
 Posted: Wed Oct 14, 2009 12:31 pm Post subject: Recruiting fun & games |
 |
|
So, I am based in Australia doing my own thing and in the last few weeks I have been helping a friend of mine (who I used to work for in China) recruit for his school and it has been a real eye opener.
Teachers may bitch and whine about schools in China (sometimes with good reason) but bloody hell, teachers have a lot to answer for as well!
Some of the interviews I have had have been unbelievable! |
|
| Back to top |
|
 |
Ariadne
Joined: 16 Jul 2004
Posts: 960
|
| Posted: Wed Oct 14, 2009 12:48 pm Post subject: |
|
|
So tell us about some of those interviews. We might get a chuckle or a groan or some helpful hints.
. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Mr. P
Joined: 25 Sep 2009
Posts: 32
|
| Posted: Wed Oct 14, 2009 1:44 pm Post subject: |
|
|
I'll probably chuckle when I find out how much Sinaman will be paid for each "teacher" he/she recruits for their "friend".
I'm willing to bet that the old adage is true - "One is born every day!" |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
brsmith15
Joined: 12 May 2003
Posts: 1142
Location: New Hampshire USA
|
| Posted: Wed Oct 14, 2009 6:03 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Looking at some of our sad colleagues, from senile drunk/women-chasers to naive, clueless backpackers, you might as well just pick them at random.
The easy question to ask would-be teachers is "Why?" The hard part is discerning the real truth behind the answer.
Maybe the best answers (LOL here) are the same ones that appear on a Phil I final exam that asks the same question:
"Why not."
OR
"Because." |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Sinaman
Joined: 23 May 2009
Posts: 85
|
| Posted: Wed Oct 14, 2009 7:31 pm Post subject: |
|
|
I will post about some of the interviews later today, but I just wanted to address what Mr P has alluded to in his post...
Like I said I used to work for the guy years ago and I caught up with him when I went back to China for a holidays a few weeks ago. He was really struggling to find suitable teachers and he asked if I could help. I said ok. The reason is that I enjoy talking to people and negotiating with people, etc ( I am a Business Development Manager for a Commercial Insurer)
I am doing quite well here, I am not going to brag and say I am earning this much and I have this much but I am quite comfortable on what I am making.
Having said that, yes he does pay me a nominal amount. You want to know how much he pays? The princely sum of $100 per teacher plus any costs that I may incur in advertising his jobs for him. And yes, I plan on retiring on this in a couple of years  |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
peruisay
Joined: 24 Apr 2007
Posts: 35
Location: Deepest China
|
| Posted: Thu Oct 15, 2009 1:05 am Post subject: |
|
|
| Sinaman wrote: |
I will post about some of the interviews later today, but I just wanted to address what Mr P has alluded to in his post...
Like I said I used to work for the guy years ago and I caught up with him when I went back to China for a holidays a few weeks ago. He was really struggling to find suitable teachers and he asked if I could help. I said ok. The reason is that I enjoy talking to people and negotiating with people, etc ( I am a Business Development Manager for a Commercial Insurer)
I am doing quite well here, I am not going to brag and say I am earning this much and I have this much but I am quite comfortable on what I am making.
Having said that, yes he does pay me a nominal amount. You want to know how much he pays? The princely sum of $100 per teacher plus any costs that I may incur in advertising his jobs for him. And yes, I plan on retiring on this in a couple of years |
Schools pay 5000 RMB for a teacher. You're a good friend. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Sinaman
Joined: 23 May 2009
Posts: 85
|
| Posted: Thu Oct 15, 2009 2:03 am Post subject: |
|
|
Yes I am aware of how much they pay. I used to live in China for 5 years previously when I was in my 20s.
I don't mind because I have only recently been made BDM so it is good to hone my skills over talking over the phone plus like I wrote above I do find it interesting and since I do not like being idle when I am not working it keeps me busy.
Anyway, I spoke with a teacher a few nights ago who only wanted to teach one level (for example she didn't want to have an advanced class and then do another class later which consists of beginners). She said that that would be "too stressful". She also did not want the children to be too young as she "didn't have the patience to deal with them". This was actually a trained teacher (from what I remember), but I thought ok. Then she wanted accomodation to be within walking distance of everything as she did not want to take public transport anywhere. She also wanted airfare to be paid upfront by the school (she wasn't the only one that asked for this but back when I used to teach I don't think anyone in China offered this and I do not understand why a school would take such a risk). And lastly she wanted photos of the apt she was going to stay in. I don't know, maybe she is being reasonable in some of your minds but to me she sounded like she would be a major pain in the arse to deal with if she did sign with the school.
I had a male teacher ask me, during a phone interview, if it was easy to pick up Chinese girls! 
I had Africans trying to pose as Americans
etc, etc and I have only been doing this for a couple of weeks |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
vikuk
Joined: 23 May 2007
Posts: 1842
|
| Posted: Thu Oct 15, 2009 2:17 am Post subject: |
|
|
| Quote: |
| Anyway, I spoke with a teacher a few nights ago who only wanted to teach one level (for example she didn't want to have an advanced class and then do another class later which consists of beginners). She said that that would be "too stressful". She also did not want the children to be too young as she "didn't have the patience to deal with them". This was actually a trained teacher (from what I remember), but I thought ok. Then she wanted accomodation to be within walking distance of everything as she did not want to take public transport anywhere. She also wanted airfare to be paid upfront by the school (she wasn't the only one that asked for this but back when I used to teach I don't think anyone in China offered this and I do not understand why a school would take such a risk). And lastly she wanted photos of the apt she was going to stay in. I don't know, maybe she is being reasonable in some of your minds but to me she sounded like she would be a major pain in the arse to deal with if she did sign with the school. |
Sounds very reasonable to me - trained teachers work with specific groups - a job that has you hoping from one standard of students to another - must be a real pain.
And why should anybody want to waste their time being crammed into slow public transport - since I'm sure her employer isn't going pay for those lost hours!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
But it looks like you're into the monkey recruiting game - and it seems that you may have to go for a girlz and booze chaser - another nail in the coffin of China Ft standards!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Sinaman
Joined: 23 May 2009
Posts: 85
|
| Posted: Thu Oct 15, 2009 2:30 am Post subject: |
|
|
| Quote: |
| trained teachers work with specific groups - a job that has you hoping from one standard of students to another - must be real pain |
I dont see it that way, if you are a professional you handle it. That's just my opinion.
| Quote: |
| and why should anybody want to waste their time being crammed into slow public transport - since I'm sure her employer isn't going pay for those lost hours!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! |
Classes are all in one location and she would be within walking distance to the school but the company would not be able to guarantee closeness to everything. And I don't know if you ever held a job in your own home country, but people commute everyday and the employer doesnt pay for those lost hours.
| Quote: |
| But it looks like you're into the monkey recruiting game - and it seems that you may have to go for a girlz and booze chaser - another nail in the coffin of China Ft standards!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! |
I wouldn't be quite as melodramatic as that. Besides from what I have observed standards have actually improved since I first went there in 2001.[/quote] |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Sonnibarger
Joined: 15 May 2007
Posts: 320
Location: Wuhan
|
| Posted: Thu Oct 15, 2009 7:52 am Post subject: |
|
|
the thing is prefessionals dont come to china  if by some chance they were to come... they might expect the company/school to be professional too... seems like that would be bad news for ur friend |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Sinaman
Joined: 23 May 2009
Posts: 85
|
| Posted: Thu Oct 15, 2009 9:58 am Post subject: |
|
|
| I dont mean to sound offensive because I really do not mean to offend, but do any of you have any idea what it is like to work in a western country with a "real job"? Do any of you also have any idea what it is like to be a teacher in a western country? |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
vikuk
Joined: 23 May 2007
Posts: 1842
|
| Posted: Thu Oct 15, 2009 10:26 am Post subject: |
|
|
| Quote: |
| Do any of you also have any idea what it is like to be a teacher in a western country? |
Well for starters - being a teacher in the west is a career in which you can advance, you don't risk being farmed out all over town to various schools, you're not usually asked to teach uni one day and kindy the next, your employers don't bend or totally abuse contractual obligations, like yourself, your colleagues are all qualified and your teaching experience is utalised in meeting and consultation with a view to develop your school's future, you are given educational materials and plan and not sent empty-handed into a classroom with vague orders to just teach - and you're not usually treated as a monkey whose number 1 function is to entertain and attract new custom
If China FT's were treated more as teacher rather than monkey then there would be far less suspicion about the original poster and his friend. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Sinaman
Joined: 23 May 2009
Posts: 85
|
| Posted: Thu Oct 15, 2009 11:04 am Post subject: |
|
|
| Quote: |
Well for starters - being a teacher in the west is a career in which you can advance, you don't risk being farmed out all over town to various schools, you're not usually asked to teach uni one day and kindy the next, your employers don't bend or totally abuse contractual obligations, like yourself, your colleagues are all qualified and your teaching experience is utalised in meeting and consultation with a view to develop your school's future, you are given educational materials and plan and not sent empty-handed into a classroom with vague orders to just teach - and you're not usually treated as a monkey whose number 1 function is to entertain and attract new custom
|
Sounds like utopia! I guess the usual discontent from teachers in the UK, USA and Australia about their working conditions and pay are just not justified?
| Quote: |
| If China FT's were treated more as teacher rather than monkey then there would be far less suspicion about the original poster and his friend. |
Oh give me a break. What are you? A child? Don't tell anyone my super-duper secret vikuk! It would ruin my grand scheme of duping poor unsuspecting fools into english teaching exploitation!
And just to add, if I was a professional recruiter would I not already have known the answer to a question I asked a week or two ago about community colleges and whether its graduates were officially eligible for a z visa or not?
I think some of you have been in China for too long
Last edited by Sinaman on Thu Oct 15, 2009 12:01 pm; edited 1 time in total |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
vikuk
Joined: 23 May 2007
Posts: 1842
|
| Posted: Thu Oct 15, 2009 12:01 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| Quote: |
| I don't mind because I have only recently been made BDM so it is good to hone my skills over talking over the phone |
Well Sinaman - good to see you also honing those skills through the written word - your persuasive arguments, and tactful writing skills have got me - and I'm sure many others - rather interested in that job 
By the way whether I've been in China for a week or an eternity - or if I'm a child or an OAP - makes no difference to fact that China is awash in what many would consider sub-standard FT employment. In this discussion why is your argument starting to turn personal - surely you should be defending and advertising the quality of the employment that you offering - which would more justify your criticism of applicants - rather than calling me names |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
tatsuo1
Joined: 11 Jun 2009
Posts: 75
|
| Posted: Thu Oct 15, 2009 5:49 pm Post subject: To Sinaman |
|
|
You asked if anyone here was a trained teacher in the west. Would you be among those trained teachers before you taught in China?
Your presumption in asking whether anyone here had a "real" job before belies your lack of knowledge about education in general and the professional development of a teacher.
It seems to me that you attempted to recruit teachers free of charge and now take umbrage when another teacher here calls you to task!
Best thing for you is to follow the given tasks of recruiting and pay for what you want.
That's my two cents.... take it or leave it. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
|
FAQ
Search
Memberlist
Usergroups
Register
Profile
Log in to check your private messages
Log in
