Job Discussion Forums

healinghumanity · Joined: 15 Dec 2008 Posts: 10 Location: right now Korea

Dear Teachers,
I got a job offer of 7500 RMB and downtown Shanghai apartment at a university job of 3 days a week (15 hours and no office hours) which is an ideal city for me.
I know some of the best unis do not make final offers for another couple of weeks but I suppose this is a quite a good offer I should not let pass up?
Can I get a better offer with a Masters or you think I should take this one before it goes to someone else?
If I agree to work with them by email and send them my passport photo, does that mean I am fully committed?
Thanks,
Jake

Opiate · Joined: 10 Aug 2011 Posts: 630 Location: Qingdao

What field is your Masters in? If it has nothing to do with education or the subject our employer wants you to teach then it is of very little value.

Sending them an email and a passport photo is not a firm commitment. I can almost promise you that if they find a better candidate they will not consider the email a binding agreement. You are not fully committed until you sign an actual SAFEA contract which you will not likely do until after your arrival. The contract they email you has roughly zero meaning.

I can not say how good an offer it is for Shanghai but 7500 with a house and only 3 working days certainly sounds reasonable. Good luck.

healinghumanity · Joined: 15 Dec 2008 Posts: 10 Location: right now Korea

I have a Masters of Arts in the Social Sciences. They said they would pay 7500 for someone with a Masters degree but are you suggesting maybe mistakenly assumed it was a Masters in something else, or that my Masters will not help me in teaching?
Thanks for the info about the contract

ecubyrd94 · Joined: 25 Aug 2011 Posts: 77

If it said a Master's degree, then that is what it meant most likely regardless of field of study. 7500 with provided housing in downtown Shanghai would be fine. Those are good hours; I'd snatch it up.

Opiate · Joined: 10 Aug 2011 Posts: 630 Location: Qingdao

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

In China, you are more likely to get a better salary because of your looks as opposed to your education. This means that a white guy in his mid-20's with a degree in Entomology will command more money than a black guy in his 40's with a Master's in English.

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

In China, you are more likely to get a better salary because of your looks as opposed to your education. This means that a white guy in his mid-20's with a degree in Entomology will command more money than a black guy in his 40's with a Master's in English.

ecubyrd94 · Joined: 25 Aug 2011 Posts: 77

creztor · Joined: 30 Dec 2009 Posts: 476

Sounds like a very good offer. Spend some time looking at job boards and you'll see most university jobs offer around 5k to 6.5k at most for similar positions.

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

hippocampus · Joined: 27 Feb 2012 Posts: 126 Location: Bikini Bottom

Yeah, this seems great. I know of an opening in Suzhou for a 4500/month. Isn't that rather low for the Shanghai area, even if it is with a Uni and comes with an apartment?