Job Discussion Forums

mitchm · Joined: 17 Jan 2011 Posts: 25

I'll keep this short:

My goal is to teach English at the university level in Zhuhai, China starting in Fall 2011.

My secondary goal, if I can't land a job in Zhuhai, is to do the same job elsewhere in China.

I have already applied directly to a few universities in Zhuhai and have my resume and passport photo posted on several of the major ESL job boards.

The real question is: I am not seeing very many job ads for Zhuhai universities yet (I presume this is understandable since the hiring season is just starting to get underway). Should I be aggressively applying to universities in any city I am willing to live, or should I hold out longer for positions in Zhuhai?

I don't want to settle for a job elsewhere now if waiting could allow me a better chance for a job in Zhuhai. At the same time, I am worried that if I don't act more aggressively now in terms of applying all across China, I will miss out on a job altogether.

My credentials: B.A. and M.A. in English Language and Literature
2 years of teaching experience (English Composition) at a state university
6 semesters of university Latin (not sure if this counts for anything).
No TEFL cert

Thanks for any and all advice!

JZer · Joined: 16 Jan 2005 Posts: 3898 Location: Pittsburgh

mitchm · Joined: 17 Jan 2011 Posts: 25

A strange slip indeed. Edited for more chronological feasibility!

TexasHighway · Joined: 03 Dec 2005 Posts: 779

mitchm wrote:

Gamecock · Joined: 18 Nov 2003 Posts: 102 Location: Zhuhai, China

As someone currently teaching at a university in Zhuhai, I can tell you not to be too concerned. It's a little early for fall recruitment and most universities will be on the lookout for new teachers in April and May.

I KNOW that my university will be looking for several teachers for the fall semester, and your credentials and experience are what they are looking for.

Check your PM for more details.

Non Sequitur · Joined: 23 May 2010 Posts: 4724 Location: China

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zhuhai#Colleges_and_universities
There may be some names in this group you haven't happened on yourself.
I would widen to a radius of a bearable train journey from the target location and then widen again if need be.
You really have no real power until you get an offer. The only power you DO have is the power to keep applying and that's what you should do.

mrklink · Joined: 21 Mar 2011 Posts: 2 Location: Inner Mongolia

I'm currently at a university in I.M. I was hoping to see about jobs at other unis next year. And have been scoping out cities (googlemaps) in general areas I might teach, looking up schools, and finding contact info for sending requests/resumes. Is this about as good as it gets for finding a university job?

Sounds like this may be the general idea folks advise for picking a uni job but if someone else has insight it would be super useful. Any recommendations on midsized or smaller cities? I'm currently in a place with about a million and it's a bit disconnected so was hoping on tips for a similar place a little closer to the beaten path but not overrun by western influences. I know that's a tough question. Sorry.