Job Discussion Forums

[nathrodgers]

Hi everyone, newbie here who has just had his first uni offer! I'd like to see if anyone has any views on Wuzhou uni or the area in general, or the pay package offered.

It's 4500 RMB per month, free accommodation on campus, and less than 18 45 mins lessons per week teaching speaking and listening. A one way flight is paid for, and the uni also gives me 2200 as a traveling budget per year. ALl visa costs are covered, and they will also pick me up from the airport.

Is this a good deal, and should I take the offer? In my gut, I feel it is not bad..

[roadwalker]

Sorry, I don't know the Wuzhou area, but I can tell from the interwebs that it will be a bit isolated for a city. On the other hand, there probably is some nice countryside nearby. It looks like you should be two or three hours oops, on edit, more like seven hours! from Yangshuo and Guilin, two popular tourist places known for beautiful scenery, and other places with similar topography and fewer crowds. There apparently is a river ferry to Hong Kong as well, so maybe not completely isolated.

As for the offer, it looks standard except you should expect a full reimbursement for a round trip air ticket for a full school year. More and more schools are putting caps on that formerly standard feature, say 6500 to 10k, but others continue to pay full. The 2200 is standard.

Ask to be put in touch with current or former foreign teachers there. Good luck.

[nathrodgers]

Thanks for the info- they wont move on the one way ticket and say it is standard practice at their uni. I quote:

According to the rule of our school, we offer one way ticket. This is based on the practice that most foreigners like to stay in China for a couple of years. If you plan to work here for two years. We can extend the contract to Auguest 2013. You get paid during the winter and summer holidays. It's equal to giving you a return tickect. Most schools pay 9 months' salary for a two-semester contract with foreign teachers. They don't get paid during the summer holidays. We sign a 11 month contract, and you get paid for 11 months. But we need about 1 month to finish all the work before you get a work visa, so we may start the contract from October 1.

I don't think I can be bothered to argue!

[roadwalker]

If they pay eleven months, they are almost there. Compare jobs by total compensation.

[GeminiTiger]

I would say most schools pay 10 months.

Also, the one-way ticket thing is nonsense, especially if they are going to only accept a receipt for such a flight. It makes it really difficult for most people who either go don't go home or who buy round trip tickets to get anything. IE-- Their plan.

[johntpartee]

[nathrodgers]

I think I'm going to take it tomorrow. The guy answers ALL my questions, and is even sending some photos of the apartment. Plus he's put me in contact with a current teacher. The same cannot be said for the way other uni's have treated me...

[johntpartee]

That's a good start. Hope you have a pleasant first adventure.

[milkweedma]

Reject it and play hardball because they are low balling you on the airfare. Also 18 periods is too high for 4500. Most Uni's pay at least 5000 these days. Don't accept their manipulation for a low deal!

[it'snotmyfault]

I stayed there for a couple of nights with a friend, we didn't see another foreigner so it was a bit of a contrast to nearby Yangshuo (it was about 3 hours on the bus).
I don't know what you like doing in your spare time, but there were few signs of any western style nightlife (suits me just fine) ! It had the usual McDonalds and KFC though.
There was a big country park that took about 3 hours to walk round and some nice views around the river which runs through the centre of the city.
I'd prefer a place like this to cities like Shenzhen/Shanghai etc

[nathrodgers]

Theyve extended the contract to August when I asked about increasing the money to 5000. Seeing as the term does not begin until September, I guess this is money for nothing, as the dire straits say?!