Job Discussion Forums

chinaroman · Joined: 30 Oct 2010 Posts: 61

I am wrapping up my first 13 month contract in China and am now looking towards finding my next contract. I found my current job on Dave's job-board and it has been overall a good experience. Moving forward I know exactly what I am looking for in my next job. I want to be at a college or University, teaching no more than 16 to 18 classes per week, and definitely in the South. I occasionally see postings for these types of jobs on Dave's, but they are far less common than the typical private language school postings. What are the advantage/dis-advantages to using a recruiter in my case? Any suggestions for good, honest, credible recruiters?

randyj · Posted: Mon Feb 07, 2011 10:33 am Post subject:

Direct contact or job fairs (see http://www.safea.gov.cn/english/content.php?id=12742910) will provide better results. If you are already in China, a job fair is a great place to size up prospective employers. A lot has been written on the subject of recruiters. In my humble opinion, the term "reliable recruiter" is an oxymoron. In addition, many of the better opportunities are not available via recruiters.

chinaroman · Joined: 30 Oct 2010 Posts: 61

randyj, thank you for the suggestion and the link. I am stuck way up in the north of China, and I am a noobie and had no clue that there was job fairs for ex-pats held in China. Much appreciated!

TexasHighway · Joined: 03 Dec 2005 Posts: 779

chinaroman wrote:

CarlD26 · Joined: 03 Feb 2011 Posts: 27

I have to agree, as others have said, avoid recruiters if you can.

chinaroman · Joined: 30 Oct 2010 Posts: 61

Thanks for the advice and suggestions folks!

daCabbie · Joined: 02 Sep 2007 Posts: 244

I use recruiters. Many FAO's are unwilling or too lazy to do direct hiring. I guess its because when they use a recruiter if things go bad they have someone to blame it on.

Also, many FAO's are incapable of answering the questions from prospective teachers. Either their English is no good or they don't have the time or simply the school will give them the money to pay someone else to do it so why do it themselves.

You will have more opportunities available to you if you play a few recruiters. Make them do the leg work for you. If they sound fishy, drop them. If you don't like the offer, refuse it. At the end of the day remember the school pays them, not you. But, recruiters often have mobile numbers and office numbers and can get answers quicker.

It just simply gives you more chances to find the right job. Its like fishing, the more lines you have in the water the more chances you have to catch a fish. Throw the small ones back and keep what look good.

Four different jobs in China. Three through a recruiter, two through the same recruiting agency. I learned the process is always a headache no matter which way you go. Now I take the FAO's by the hand and say, this is what we need to do... most of them don't have a clue about the hiring/contract/medical/visa process.

randyj · Posted: Mon Feb 07, 2011 11:33 pm Post subject:

Cabbie makes a good point. It is tempting to see several prospects laid out before you. At the same time, I wonder about any schools whose FAOs cannot or will not function at a level sufficient to attract their own candidate teachers. If I am looking for a new job, as I was forced to last year, I want a feeling firsthand about a school. My feeling after talking to a recruiter usually is to check to see whether I still have my wallet.

AnomanderRake · Joined: 06 Feb 2011 Posts: 29 Location: Beijing

I have a general recruiter question. What is the methodology of most recruiters? Are they placing you into a job where you work for a school or are you being put under contract with the recruiter and work indirectly for a school?

mat chen · Joined: 01 Nov 2009 Posts: 494 Location: xiangtan hunan

The don't know, they look at your photo and that is what counts.

mnguy29 · Joined: 23 Jan 2008 Posts: 155 Location: USA

I would say avoid recruiters at all costs. They work on "commission" and that is all you should need to know to stay away. I tried it early in my career in China, but I was lied to so many times. I will not do it again. Search the area and the schools by yourself.

the_otter · Joined: 02 Aug 2010 Posts: 134

I got my current job through a recruiter. Unknown to me, she altered my qualifications - bestowed me with a year's teaching experience and a master's degree. The job itself is actually rather good, but the deception has left me feeling insecure and unwilling to insist on my contract. (I haven't received the promised holiday pay.)

If possible, avoid recruiters. There's always a catch.

randyj · Posted: Sun Feb 13, 2011 11:48 am Post subject:

AnomanderRake · Joined: 06 Feb 2011 Posts: 29 Location: Beijing

Trebek · Joined: 30 Oct 2003 Posts: 401 Location: China

I thought Randj gave you excellent advice. I was wondering about the recruiter path myself. He made perfect sense to me.