Job Discussion Forums

Tigerstyleone · Joined: 26 Mar 2010 Posts: 181

After four years in Korea I'm ready to move on.
I'm confused about working in China. Its huge and every province has its own rules.
I see the same jobs posted online week after week.

Should I start at a cram school, and learn the Chinese style of EFL like I did in Korea or should I just head over there and check it out in person?

Any other options or advice?

Texaschicken · Joined: 29 Apr 2011 Posts: 1

I'm also burned out with Korea, and have been searching for an appropriate job in China for months.

So far ive been extremely disappointed. Despite having an MBA, TESOL, and 4 years experience teaching, every recruiter ive contacted has offered me crap 6000-8000 RMB jobs over and over again.

The University jobs I see advertised are pure crap at again 4500-7000 RMB. Who would give up a year of their life to make welfare money.

Where are all the good jobs advertised? I dont want to live in Korea, but its hard to give up a relatively lucrative position here for a job that will pay me less than 1000 USD in an unknown land working more hours than I do currently.

Is the job market that bad in China?

Texas Chicken

Johnny_Utah · Joined: 24 Jun 2010 Posts: 35

I have been told korea is very stressful, and you work like a dog over there. If you get a job at a university in china for say 8k yuan a month, you will likely be working 15-20 hours a week with a free apartment, which leaves you with all the time in the world to go find private students and teach at private training centers.

I would say for the most part, life in china is not very stressful. But it's easy to get sucked into the easy life in china, and then before you know it you've been here for years. You need to come here, and get dialed into society if you want to find the better teaching jobs. Just because you have been teaching in Korea, does not mean you can just walk into a good job in China.

The Great Wall of Whiner · Joined: 29 Jan 2003 Posts: 4946 Location: Blabbing

Many of us did the transition from there to here and are not looking back. Agreed that financially, China can be a kick in the yoo-hoos when comparing it to other countries. But you can also land a decent-paying job.

One can find on this very site jobs offering well over 10k. Also, remember that in China, everything is negotiable. If they NEED a teacher, they WILL pay (or promise to at least) what you ask for.

At this very moment I can see jobs throughout China advertised for decent enough salaries.

Maybe you are more burned out than you realized?

sojourner · Posted: Tue Jun 14, 2011 4:32 am Post subject:

Johny Utah wrote:

" If you get a job at a university in china for say 8k yuan a month, you will likely be working 15-20 hours a week with a free apartment, which leaves you with all the time in the world to go find private students and teach at private training centers".

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I agree that if one wants a pretty easy job in China, one should consider the uni sector.But, unfortunately, you will not find too many jobs that pay 8 K per month, with free accommodation - at least for someone signing on at a particular uni for the first time . Maybe, in Guangdong Province you might find a few unis that might offer that sort of package for a new person . Elsewhere, if you were offered 8 K, either the hours would be something like 20 + pw, or no rent-free flat .

Most uni jobs, it would appear, seldom offer more than 6 K per month, even for someone who holds a Master's degree. Even with such a qualification, most unis would probably pay only around 5 K. But in subsequent years, if you re-sign on, they'll probably increase the salary by 500 per month.However, there appears to be a limit to how may increases you'll get if you re-sign year after year.In most run-of -the-mill unis, at least in Zhejiang Province, the limit is probably around 7 - 7.5 K

Some provinces will pay more - and, often less - than 5 K for a Master's holder.I have 3 Masters degrees (inc. one in Applied Linguistics), a B.Ed, CELTA - and 8 years uni teaching exp., in China - but, was recently offered only 4.5 K by a uni, in Hunan ! Someone says that you should always negotiate - but the Hunan uni wouldn't budge !

But one shouldn't always dismiss those low-paying jobs out of hand. Occasionally,, you'll find that they might provide some goodies that are often lacking elsewhere, eg: a low number of teaching hours (12 pw, maybe); 12 monthly salary payments, rather than the more usual 10; free meals; etc.

During the past, whenever I've changed unis, I have always negotiated for a salary a bit higher than the one in the ad; and, I've usually succeeded - until now ! It wasn't only the aforementioned Hunan uni that was inflexible - FAOs elsewhere appear to be digging in their heels. Maybe, they are aware that many economic refugees from the US and UK are now eyeing China ! The old law of supply and demand !

Peter

Miajiayou · Joined: 30 Apr 2011 Posts: 283 Location: Nanjing

MisterButtkins · Joined: 03 Oct 2009 Posts: 1221

time to teach · Joined: 03 Feb 2011 Posts: 73 Location: Bangkok

Experienced teachers can do well in China, and earn far more than they would on welfare in their home countries, if they live in the right cities and make smart job choices.

I earn and save about the same in China as I did in Korea, but generally have to teach more classes in China because my per class rate here is around $22 usd and was around $25 usd in Korea.

A lot of teachers in China, myself included, are also here because without MA degrees it's nearly impossible to teach at unis in Korea. I've taught at two unis in China and averaged just under 900 usd per month for 14 and 12 hours respectively. Both jobs included free housing.

The trick is to do outside teaching. There are so many part-time jobs in Shenzhen now that teachers have the option to freelance in a variety of positions on a full time basis.

I agree that it really comes down to how much you can save and the quality of your life while your saving. I left Korea in 2006 and never looked back.

spicykimchi · Joined: 19 Oct 2010 Posts: 50

time to teach · Joined: 03 Feb 2011 Posts: 73 Location: Bangkok

China has its own way of driving teachers mad, so its always good to have a master plan, a way out of the TEFL mines to a cozy retirement.

I've had teaching jobs in China at kids language schools, adult language schools, hotels, colleges, universities, high schools, and corporate offices.

The key is to stay motivated and enjoy the process of becoming very good at what you do, regardless of the field.

University jobs are just one way to get to the promised land.

SH_Panda · Joined: 31 May 2011 Posts: 455

[quote="spicykimchi"]

Mr. English · Joined: 25 Nov 2009 Posts: 298 Location: Nakuru, Kenya

In the major cities in China you can go 100% freelance, private tutoring, and do far better than working at schools.

Tigerstyleone · Joined: 26 Mar 2010 Posts: 181

Johnny_Utah · Joined: 24 Jun 2010 Posts: 35

work on a tourist visa, or business visa. Go to china on a tourist visa, then a visa agent can help you convert it to a business visa. It's possible to get 6-12 month tourist visa's where you have to leave the country every couple months.

cormac · Joined: 04 Nov 2008 Posts: 768 Location: Xi'an (XTU)

Regarding the better paid positions, they seem to go by word of mouth. Since I've been here I've been offered two positions for decent amounts, but I declined because I'm aiming to build up a better set of contacts and reputation in my city/university. However, I have met a few guys pulling in over 12-15k along with free apartments on 18 hours a week... they've just been in Xi'an for a few years, and know the right people. They also have rock solid reputations.

If you're expecting to just land the perfect job from the internet, maybe China is not the place for you. There are great jobs to be had but you need the connections both within educational circles, but also through the more formal social ones.