Job Discussion Forums

[JRJohn]

I would like feedback from people who know Beijing. Currently I teach at a university in a somewhat dull part of China. I want to move in September. A friend has said he could arrange for me to work in Beijing with him. The salary is 8000 yuan per month. The job is at a private college, not a language school. It seems accommodation would be rent free. I was told I would be only working Monday to Thursday. I would have the choice of living near the college, (which is in RURAL Beijing, to the south) or of living in the city, and doing a 40 minute commute to work each day. A free bus is provided for staff. I have been told there is a good team spirit there.
It may be very good. But could I really live in Beijing on 8000 yuan per month.? My friend is older than me and married, and lives in a nice house near college. But I think I would want to live in the city, and I would want to go to pubs sometimees. What do you think?

[Laurence]

Want to go to bars and eat out?
surely you know drinks are like 30RMB+ in your average joint

Do the math yourself - 8000 is plenty if it's all for fun.

No major purchases though,
which kind of leaves you at the mercy of your employer in terms of your domicile.

I would opt to live in the city, where social connextions are easily formed,
rather than living in a suburb like Changping, which can make you feel like an outsider.

[The Great Wall of Whiner]

I'm one of those who shout "OMG" at such low salaries.

Many, many will say it's fine. But if I can find a public college job in a cheap city for 8000 a month, there is no reason why you with uni experience can find much much higher in a private one in Beijing.

[Timer]

Depends on the hours I guess. You mentioned it's only Monday to Thursday which leaves plenty of time for private tutoring or something else to earn more money.

Could you live on 8,000 a month? Maybe, but I've heard Beijing is expensive and I've seen people mention 10,000 is what you need to enjoy it. Like I said before, you should have opportunity to do extra work to make up the difference.

[JayCee86]

I live in Beijing and you can easily live on 8,000 a month. The biggest difference in price between Beijing and other cities in China that I found from experience is accommodation - but you have yours included.

Apart from accommodation Beijing need not be much more expensive than other cities in China, it's just that it's much easier to spend the money.

However, if you want to go out and enjoy yourself a lot, especially at foreigner-oriented places, you're not really going to have too much left over.

I'd live in the city and commute, but it'd best finding out where exactly you'd be living first.

[Zero]

Maybe I'm weird but I would not live in the city and commute. To me, having the accommodation be near work is important. It can take an hour, easily, to get from Point A to Point B within Beijing, much less traveling "40 minutes" outside the city. I put that in quotes because who knows what location they mean as the starting point, or how long it would really take. But, I am not into nightclubs or pubs or other such venues that would make living in the city attractive.

[rottenflesh]

Beijing Hospitaliy Institute ??

[spicykimchi]

I've never been to Beijing, so I can't even give you an idea about the cost of living. But . . . I would rather do the commute every day than live in some rural area.

40 minutes by bus doesn't sound too bad. Think of all the language exchange you can have with your coworkers on a Monday morning!
Well, at least you can bring a book or MP3 or iPod/iTouch/iPad thingy. (Bring an original Game Boy; that's how "out of it" I am.)

I'll assume that it will be easier to meet women in Beijing, as opposed to, say, some podunk town where the women only speak Bocce. When you make a girlfriend, you'll want her nearby, right? You don't want to say, "Hi, I'd like to make you a home-cooked dinner." "My address? 666 Middle-of-Nowhere street. I'm the fourth moisture farm on the right."

Good luck with your decision!

[clownshow]

As to meeting women.. remember the FT is on the bottom rung of the ladder when it comes to the hierarchy of desirability by Beijing women, but not to worry cause a lot of country girls come to Beijing to gain employment or additional education and mountain girls who serve as teachers in their village are looking for a way out.

[spicykimchi]