Job Discussion Forums

[wqill2010]

I am a new teacher and I have been offered a position with Oden English in Beijing (rather quickly I was quite surprised), with very little information from me and no interview by phone or skype I have been accepted. All she wanted was a few documents from me.

all above board ya' think?

any one heard anything about Oden?

Thanks

[Puffy]

It is common practice for schools to offer someone a job simply based on your resume, degree etc...without any sort of interview. I have noticed that a lot more schools are seeking Skype interviews now, though. In my opinion, the better schools prefer an in-person interview.

As for Oden being above board. I wouldn't know. I'm sure someone else would say - if they want you to go to Beijing tomorrow from your home country on an L-visa, it might not be exactly what you're looking for.

[wqill2010]

Ah, well that's part of it I have no degree just TEFL. I am very new, they know that but are still very eager, and no they want me to get a business visa

[Puffy]

F or L visa = the same thing - you would be working illegally. Not that it matters to me because you may have read something else I wrote on this cold, rainy day about having done so myself.

But, 1 big thing to keep in mind is the stability of this school. You may get there and then after awhile they start losing students (for whatever reasons) and then they cut your hours etc...

I read someone else ask about "Easy English". Obviously they are still in business, but I know a person who worked part-time for them in Shanghai. After awhile his hours were cut drastically and then he was let go because they didn't have enough students.

This leads to another important quetion - did they offer you a full-time job with an apartment? Not that that really matters if the school takes a dive.

[wqill2010]

Full time yes, usually they don't do apartments but apparently they're gonna take some of my wages and arrange one for me..(!) hmm...

and sorry but 'easy english'? I dont quite quite get you probably no fault of your own I get a little dense at 5 in the morning ;\ hehe damn chinese corres.

thanks

[Puffy]

"Easy English" is the name of a training center/school headquartered in Beijing. I was refering to it as an example of how a school similar to Oden may suddenly cut hours. I could have been clearer.

I think you should take the job and see what happens. But, ask for them to pay for the apartment. If they take some of your wages then you are paying! Ask them to pay the rent and you'll pay the utilities.

I've never lived in Beijing, but understand it is expensive. Someone else may ask you about the salary amd hours Oden has offered you. In Shanghai, 10k without an apartment = 5 to 6k to spend = not much fun! 12k is much better for 25 hours or so a week.

Once you are in BJ, hang out at Sanlitun (bar street) and you may find a better job or at least a part-time job. Since you'd be working on an F-visa, Oden can't stop you from quitting or working part-time. Of course, if they change the F to a Residence Permit then they can, hypothetically.

5am means you are in the UK now, correct? It is 1pm here.

Good Luck!

[wqill2010]

yeah they're paying the rent and I'm paying the utes'. wages are 6k a month, due to lack of experience apparently

sanlitun eh? thanks for the info. its good to get a little of the inside track.javascript:emoticon('') I will definitely be looking into that! invaluable mon frere

and the UK yes! just in the cotswolds at the moment 'the english riviera' heh heh

thanks again,
buena suerte

[Puffy]

Great. Good for you!

The last bits of advice I can offer are these - as others have said on Dave's, make sure you bring enough money to set up the apartment with a few things after you arrive, as well as have enough money to spend for at least 1 month before you get paid and enough to fly home if things don't work out. $2k USD (I think that is around 3.5k pounds) would do for the living expenses. Regardless of what I typed below, some of the 2k could be used to explore!

Beyond that, even though you will be itching to explore Sanlitun and other places in Beijing upon arrival, I recommend that you lay low for the 1st month or 2. Walk around the neighborhood and visit the free sites. Then, 2 months later, after you have collected 2 months salary and can afford to splurge, go to Sanlitun and have fun!

Good Luck!