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bluetortilla
Joined: 18 Apr 2006
Posts: 815
Location: Henan
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 Posted: Sat Oct 01, 2011 11:04 am Post subject: Job Search, Agencies, Government Jobs, Private Sector |
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Newbie here! Rehashing the already rehashed I'm sure.
I'm looking at the job board and all I see are agencies. Any comments? Are there other ways to get jobs in China (e.g. hit the ground running)? It seems to me that a government sponsored job would be far nicer than a private one but I'm sure that depends.
I plan on leaving in February (or January? not sure of the hiring season) so I got some time.
Any advice? Thanks! |
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Shroob
Joined: 02 Aug 2010
Posts: 1339
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| Posted: Sat Oct 01, 2011 11:23 am Post subject: Re: Job Search, Agencies, Government Jobs, Private Sector |
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| bluetortilla wrote: |
Newbie here! Rehashing the already rehashed I'm sure.
I'm looking at the job board and all I see are agencies. Any comments? Are there other ways to get jobs in China (e.g. hit the ground running)? It seems to me that a government sponsored job would be far nicer than a private one but I'm sure that depends.
I plan on leaving in February (or January? not sure of the hiring season) so I got some time.
Any advice? Thanks! |
Newbie also, but I've been reading about TEFL for a while!
From my understanding, to work legally you need a 'Z' visa, which can't be issued from within China. Meaning you either either enter on a tourist visa, find an employer then do a 'visa run'. Or, you find a job online and go through the normal procedures (this can take a while).
Of course there are plenty of people working illegally in China, however I wouldn't even consider this. For one, my morals would stop me and secondly, the consequences if you get found out. Remember, anyone willing to employ illegally probably won't hesistate to get rid of you or treat you like dirt as they know they have you between a rock and a hard place. Note I said probably.
With regards to recruiting season, language mills recruit all year round. Public institutions have already started their academic year, however, you may be able to find a job for the second semester (February I believe).
I've taken a job found via an agency - I have 0 contacts in China and a lot is 'who you know'. They have ups and downs, it's certainly possible to source your own job, start emailing uni's, schools, places where you want to work now and gauge the interest. |
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bluetortilla
Joined: 18 Apr 2006
Posts: 815
Location: Henan
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| Posted: Sat Oct 01, 2011 11:30 am Post subject: |
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Thanks.
I'm an 'old dog' who is keenly interested in further his career. My adventure days are, alas, not what they once were I'm afraid.
I would never work for illegal op. Anywhere. There are some seriously nasty people in this world.
I also don't think I'm into visa runs at my age. I have four months until February (I'm sure I'd prefer a gov. job if I can get one). So the agencies on Dave's China Job Board are upfront do you think? Has anyone any warnings of scams or things to watch out for?
It's already October! |
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7969
Joined: 26 Mar 2003
Posts: 5782
Location: Coastal Guangdong
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| Posted: Sat Oct 01, 2011 11:49 am Post subject: |
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| Try this Teach in China. |
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bluetortilla
Joined: 18 Apr 2006
Posts: 815
Location: Henan
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| Posted: Sat Oct 01, 2011 12:11 pm Post subject: |
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Looks great! Thanks. |
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Shroob
Joined: 02 Aug 2010
Posts: 1339
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| Posted: Sat Oct 01, 2011 12:49 pm Post subject: |
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| bluetortilla wrote: |
Thanks.
I'm an 'old dog' who is keenly interested in further his career. My adventure days are, alas, not what they once were I'm afraid.
I would never work for illegal op. Anywhere. There are some seriously nasty people in this world.
I also don't think I'm into visa runs at my age. I have four months until February (I'm sure I'd prefer a gov. job if I can get one). So the agencies on Dave's China Job Board are upfront do you think? Has anyone any warnings of scams or things to watch out for?
It's already October! |
I've PM'd you.
With regards to warning signs, always ask for the contact info of past/current teachers. Ask them what it's like. Be aware though, employers will understandably put you in touch with employees who they get on with, not the ones who think it's hell. Try and talk to as many as possible.
It might sound obvious and somewhat patronizing, but always read the contract thoroughly. |
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The Great Wall of Whiner
Joined: 29 Jan 2003
Posts: 4946
Location: Blabbing
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| Posted: Mon Oct 03, 2011 7:51 am Post subject: |
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Why does every single ad start with this:
Accurate pronunciation,more than3 years seniority....
Looks like a recruiter's website to me... |
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The Great Wall of Whiner
Joined: 29 Jan 2003
Posts: 4946
Location: Blabbing
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| Posted: Mon Oct 03, 2011 7:53 am Post subject: |
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I would suggest contacting schools and/or colleges directly and negotiating a better salary. Recruiters take a chunk of your monthly wage. The lower they can reel you in, the more they get from the school.
Google can be a good friend.
Good luck. |
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7969
Joined: 26 Mar 2003
Posts: 5782
Location: Coastal Guangdong
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| Posted: Mon Oct 03, 2011 8:10 am Post subject: |
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| The Great Wall of Whiner wrote: |
Why does every single ad start with this:
Accurate pronunciation,more than3 years seniority....
Looks like a recruiter's website to me... |
You checked every last one of them did you? Who cares how the ad begins? Did you bother to look any further than the intro or home page of chinatefl.com? The actual content? No, you didn't, instead you again jumped to wild, inaccurate conclusions. If you had looked you would have noticed that there's contact info (email/tel/names/postal address) for most of the schools listed on that site - translation: you contact the school DIRECTLY.
Here's one random sample for you, look closely at the Contact us box on the L hand side:
Sichuan Engineering Technical College
I've had four jobs in China, all four of them from that one site, not once did I have to deal with a recruiter. Others on this forum have used it as well with very good results.
| The Great Wall of Whiner wrote: |
| I would suggest contacting schools and/or colleges directly and negotiating a better salary. |
Ummm yes, that is exactly what the site I posted above allows you to do.
Last edited by 7969 on Mon Oct 03, 2011 8:26 am; edited 1 time in total |
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bluetortilla
Joined: 18 Apr 2006
Posts: 815
Location: Henan
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| Posted: Mon Oct 03, 2011 8:26 am Post subject: |
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| The Great Wall of Whiner wrote: |
I would suggest contacting schools and/or colleges directly and negotiating a better salary. Recruiters take a chunk of your monthly wage. The lower they can reel you in, the more they get from the school.
Google can be a good friend.
Good luck. |
Understand what you're saying but the poster told me he just used the site to find and contact schools directly as well.
It seems to me that applying to schools directly without a contact ain't exactly shooting fish in a barrel, but then again I know next to nothing about China. I'd like to go around agencies if I could but I'm a little worried as I'll be coming from Japan.
I found good results with Wikipedia under 'universities and colleges in (Guangdong),' but how do I sparse out the ones that have an English program or would be hiring native speakers of English? It would be a lot of work to contact all of them!
Not complaining, mind you, just wondering if you have a good search method. : ) |
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7969
Joined: 26 Mar 2003
Posts: 5782
Location: Coastal Guangdong
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| Posted: Mon Oct 03, 2011 8:32 am Post subject: |
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| bluetortilla wrote: |
| Not complaining, mind you, just wondering if you have a good search method. : ) |
Use the site I listed above, or any similar site. Either decide what kind of school you want to work at and approach the job hunt from that angle, or do what most other people seem to do - decide which area in China you want to work and go from there. chinatefl.com makes that very easy to do (school listings by geographical region). |
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bluetortilla
Joined: 18 Apr 2006
Posts: 815
Location: Henan
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| Posted: Mon Oct 03, 2011 8:40 am Post subject: |
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| 7969 wrote: |
Use the site I listed above, or any similar site. Either decide what kind of school you want to work at and approach the job hunt from that angle, or do what most other people seem to do - decide which area in China you want to work and go from there. chinatefl.com makes that very easy to do (school listings by geographical region). |
Yes, the site is very helpful. I still have a lot to explore. I believe I'm using ChinaTEFL as well. I'm also exchanging info with Start and Sunny. No idea as to their reps, but one is offering a pretty good possibility (if it's for real!).
I'm not so sure agencies aren't a bad way to get started. You can always look on your own later. Several agencies have been recommended to me that I still have to check out. Busy busy busy!
Southern China only by the way. |
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igorG
Joined: 10 Aug 2010
Posts: 1473
Location: asia
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| Posted: Mon Oct 03, 2011 10:39 am Post subject: |
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| Southern China only by the way. |
Me too. But be careful about the job advertising sites and forums. They more often aren't what they appear to be. Jobs seem to be mostly advertised when few want to accept them. Then, you don't want to be pimped. Having your portfolio handed over to too many may not be the best idea. Also, you may be "busy busy busy" if too many lackies contact you. Work on direct employer contacts, and, perhaps, have someone who speaks the language assisting you. |
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The Great Wall of Whiner
Joined: 29 Jan 2003
Posts: 4946
Location: Blabbing
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| Posted: Mon Oct 03, 2011 11:06 am Post subject: |
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I am not criticising the website, I am sure it's fine. And I am sure you can contact the school directly (even if they know you got their info. from that site). It just looks unprofessional with the ads titled the same way at the start and with testimonials to boot on the side. What does the site need testimonials for anyways?
Maybe I'm wrong, though. Maybe they all decided to spontaneously write testimonials?
Sorry, I'm the kind of guy who asks questions and looks at all angles before signing on the dotted line, but that's just me.
Not trying to promote other sites anyway...Dave's ESL all the way! |
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The Great Wall of Whiner
Joined: 29 Jan 2003
Posts: 4946
Location: Blabbing
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| Posted: Mon Oct 03, 2011 11:11 am Post subject: |
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| igorG wrote: |
| Jobs seem to be mostly advertised when few want to accept them. |
Precisely. |
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