Job Discussion Forums

daCabbie · Joined: 02 Sep 2007 Posts: 244

I am truely amazed. I dumped my CV and personal information onto four of the five major sites for China ESL jobs, last night.

In one day I got seventeen emails and nine phone calls. I had to turn my phone off for class because of so many calls.

I must admit it took about 30 seconds on the phone with some of these people to realize they had wasted thier time calling me. READ the cover letter! Ugh. Mad

Is this a unique experience? Are there really that many schools in China trying to hire mid-year? This is my fourth year in China and I have never experienced this before.

Granted it was partly my blanketing the internet all at once. I will never make that mistake again. But it has been fun to watch the sharks circle. Shocked

Old Surrender · Posted: Wed Nov 17, 2010 12:01 pm Post subject:

Not shocked at all. I remember something akin to this when I first started hunting in the states 1.5 years ago.

therock · Joined: 31 Jul 2005 Posts: 1266 Location: China

RBJfaraway · Joined: 02 Sep 2009 Posts: 27

Are these good jobs you're being offered? I can't say I am having the same luck as a noober in the states. What sites are you using?

daCabbie · Joined: 02 Sep 2007 Posts: 244

If you do a google search for China and efl/esl and you will find more than enough websites.

I would classify most of the jobs I was sent as pure junk. Many of them were for language mill jobs and kindergartens. Maybe one or two (out of 25) sounded interesting.

It is crazy how the application process is changing in the ESL market. Many sites allow you to post pictures and videos with your resume as well as links to your own homepage. I guess I forget we are in an industry where flash sells. I saw alot of professional headshots and polished videos of new teachers.

It would be nice if the schools moved in the same direction and started to sell themselves a little more. I would love to see a video of my new apartment, a virtual tour of the campus and an interview with a former teacher.

In China all the jobs look very similar. Smaller schools in smaller markets need to do something to stand out a little more. I am tired of the "Come to our beautiful city" type emails. That do nothing but describe how wonderful thier hometown is and how the pollution is less than Shanghai.

In the end I will probably go with something my recruiter finds me. I know, a recruiter! Why! Because they do a lot of the leg work for me. I give them a list of what I want and they find it for me. They have done so for my last two jobs. I am not paying them, the school is and if something goes wrong I have one more person to complain too. I use a professional organization that has been in the business for over ten years, not a fly by night Chinese person with an internet connection and en email account.

daCabbie · Joined: 02 Sep 2007 Posts: 244

What?

Did I do something wrong? Confused

I posted my info on the net looking for a legit job and posted my results of that search. That is all. Rolling Eyes

Have a great day!

askiptochina · Joined: 26 Feb 2010 Posts: 488 Location: Beijing

I think you did the right thing. In March, I did the same thing. Then, from the end of the month until the end of April I was choosing among several locations. Pick the school, throw away the SIM card, move, buy a new SIM card. No more calls, new job Smile

I just use the email notices to compare what else is out there. So far, South Korea looks like it is going downhill. If I wasn't spammed (or as they say "updated" Laughing

) every day with these offers, I might have moved back there a few months ago.

Don't sign any contracts or process the visa until you visit the school. Make sure it is want you want. Good luck.