Job Discussion Forums

[adrian_sojourner]

I am hoping someone can give a little advice on a few recruiting companies for China. I am currently in the States, and just starting out (recently finished a TESOL course). I am receiving emails from a few companies but have no clue as to their legitimacy or forthrightness. Below is a list, any input would be greatly appreciated!

Edcomasia.com
Angela's ESL Cafe
Ray English
Buckland Group
Chinateachonline.com
FEMC China
Hangzhou Linkman educational Consulting Co.
ESLConsultant.com

If you know of any others, to avoid or to trust, please post.

Thanks all!

Adrian

[west2east]

I'd predict that responses to your question are going to be hit and miss with so many recruiters in China. Hopefully someone can shed some light for you.

The alternative route is to apply to many of the kind of schools you want to work with. During your selection process ask to be put in touch with existing and better still, with teachers that no longer work at a particular school.

At interview stage, questions to ask include "What happens in the first few days?" Find out if you are taken from airport to classroom and told to "Teach!" or are you given any training that goes beyond observing another teacher for several hours!

Ask if the school is a registered SAFEA licensed school (this means that they are authorised to employ foreign teachers). If they say yes, ask the school to email you a scan of their SAFEA certificate. If they wont or cant do that AVOID! I think the number of horror stories on here would plummet if every teacher agreed to send passport scans in exchange for the SAFEA certificate.

How long has the school been in business? How many students do they have? How many foreign teachers? How often will you be obliged to do overtime? How far is the school from accommodation? What is the accommodation?

When you have had two or three interviews,you will begin to get a feel for what is probably a good school. Don't forget to do a google search on the school. Be aware that some bitter 'teachers' post crap about reputable schools. This is why emailing with current and past teachers is so important.

Hope that helps
Good luck.

[DosEquisX]

That's not supposed to be Angelina's ESL Cafe?

You can read about them here.

I am using China Teach Online and they are okay. They are pretty upfront, but don't bend over backwards for you. I haven't heard from them in a while. Sometimes, you have to give them a kick in the pants so they can get back to you.

China TEFL Jobs is okay too. The recruiter I worked with is sort of wishy-washy. He'll provide you with a list of jobs he has and asked which ones you are interested in. All of a sudden, he ignores that response and sends you a completely different school.

I recommend Horizon ESL China. I am using them right now. They have a navigable, well-designed website and very helpful recruiters.

[Sinobear]

AbroadChina.org
EngTop (China)

Used them both (once) and was very happy with their results and service. I should add that with each, the salaries and conditions offered were much higher than offered by different recruiters for the exact same positions.

[cormac]

Well, I have found them all to be rather lackluster unless you're willing to leave it completely up to them the type of work (and type of school).

Overall, I'd recommend NetworkESL... Simply because they do send some good offers, do stay in contact, and do answer your questions regarding contracts/accom/etc. BUT I'd highly recommend that you do your own research in addition to the recruiters info. They want to sell the position.. So they're biased from the beginning.

Lastly, in many cases your recruiter will be determined by where in China you want to teach/live. Only the larger recruiters have nationwide links, and there are loads of smaller operators that cater for just one or two provinces.

As for Ray English & Buckland Group.. aren't they just schools (or franchise) themselves, rather than recruiting for other non-affiliated schools?

[Mr. English]

Best is to be here and apply directly to the schools, don't deal with recruiters. If you want to work in a big eastern city it is easy to do it this way, lots of jobs can be found on the web that are not being run through recruiters. You can then meet people at the school and see the place, get a feel for it, before you commit to anything.

[The Great Wall of Whiner]

Reputable recruiters? Healthy fried chicken?

Neither exist, I'm afraid. Recruiters get money from the school so their interest lies in helping the school, not the teacher.

[adrian_sojourner]

Thanks for all the wonderful advice everyone! Very much appreciated.
If you know reputable schools in Shanghai or nearby, please post.
Wishing you all happy adventures.

-Adrian

[igorG]

Recruiters are people that make money for forwarding job applications to employers. If an employer does not have time or does not know how to deal with a foreign applicant for a teaching job, he/she will most likely not have time or know how to deal with the foreign teacher on the job too. If an employer has the money to advertise, he/she will directly do so on such a site as for example daves cafe. Employers that know how to deal with foreign teachers, that have nothing to hide, and that think foreign teachers are important to them will cope with their valuable future employees such as foreign teachers directly.

[cormac]

[igorG]

[TexasHighway]

igorG wrote: