Job Discussion Forums

[chrisandcarla]

My husband and I are in Vietnam, finishing up our TEFL course. We're thinking of heading to China in search of mountains and seasons. What is the best strategy for job hunting in Southwestern China? Is it best to just show up in a city and look, or to find schools online and email first? We're hoping to end up in Yunnan or Guangxi (Kunming, Nanning, or Guilin or the surrounding areas). Does anyone know what the job market is like there? Or can you suggest any schools? We're Canadian, hold Bachelor's degree and we will have TEFL certificates a week from now.

[7969]

I've had three jobs in china and found all of them online. I contacted all of them via email, they replied, we talked on the phone, then I took the job(s) and showed up to begin work.

All the jobs I've had turned out to be decent (5+ years at the current job) and all of them were found here:

China TEFL Network

[Gringo Greg]

Ditto 7969. I found my job through a different recruiter and found it online.

I have but two suggestions. First is to check out a few different recruiters and then compare offers. Second, I spent 7 years in Thailand and a couple of years in Mexico. China is different and full on. Having a job before you arrive can make things much easier and reduce your stress level.

[dean_a_jones]

The best thing you can do is to do your homework. Read as much as you can online about what to look out for, what is good or bad, what kinds of pay levels there are in your area, what dangers and traps there are.

Dig through the first few pages of posts on here that are related to visas, contracts, pay, using recruiters and working conditions to get some insight and perspectives (and read some amusing disagreements on what the concept of 'good' is in relation to these things). Do a site search for specific info on locations you are considering.

See what kind of local information you can dig up on expat sites in the areas you want to go to. There are quite a lot of general and location specific websites for expats in China which will be full of useful information. A simple Google search will help locate them, once you get on a good one, see what links they suggest.

China is a great place, and with a bit of work you can find a good job, with terms you are happy with, nice colleagues and a reasonably supportive office team (and some of this stuff is quite personal, in terms of what you want). Just don't expect to fall bass ackwards into it and get things the way you want. Expect to get burned and work hard to avoid it, and your chances of landing something you like the first time around are much higher.

[choudoufu]

nanning and kunming are both large-ish cities, lots of
university opportunities. be aware the pay in kunming
is around 3500 rmb, nanning around 5000. better pay
(longer hours) at the private schools.

how are your finances? wanna take a vacation?
get yourself tourist visas, and hop on the train to nanning.
you're close enough that you can scope out the cities and
the university campuses (campii?). have a couple interviews.
check out the teacher housing.

you might be able to find an opening for the spring semester
at a university. otherwise you'll be looking at private schools.
if you sign a contract, get your paperwork and return to vietnam.
you *should* be able to get your work visas issued in
vietnam....i'm assuming you have long-term/student visas.
of course, you should confirm at the embassy.....also ask if you
can use a chinese health certificate when you apply.

[7969]