Finding a Job in China ... Advice anyone?

Posted Aug 13, 2009 8:20am by whr2206

Joined: Jun 15th, 2009
Posts: 3

Hello all,

I'm hoping to come to China this fall/winter to work. (While learning Mandarin on the side!)

Are there any other opportunities for recent college graduates besides teaching English? I wouldn't mind teaching but I would rather do something else if I could.

About Me
- American
- 23 years old
- BA in Political Science / Justice Studies
- Languages: English(native) and Arabic
- I've read in previous posts that your "appearance" is important for some reason... I'm about as white as they come haha.... blonde hair/blue eyes. I don't really want to be "window dressing" though...

So could anyone point me in the right direction? I've done some research online but it seems like the only jobs I can find are teaching jobs. I wouldn't mind teaching/tutoring small groups... but I'm not sure if I have the patience to teach classrooms with 30+ students.

Thoughts or suggestions?

Thanks a lot!

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Angie Z

Joined: Aug 5th, 2009
Posts: 41

Re: Finding a Job in China ... Advice anyone?

Posted by: Angie Z on Aug 13, 2009 4:54pm

Hi,welcome to china!
you can work here like english teacher.but most foreigner they dont wanna be teacher here that i know. basically foreigners work in school is easy and that all you can do. Except you have graduated and you can work in the foreign enterprises company .well,be a teacher needs your patience, but,there are many type teachers, for example, one-to-one teach, small class like 2or3 students, or in the kindergarten.and they have part time and full time job.its differnt.but english teacher job is really easy for you and the money is good.

whatever, hope you have a nice trip in china.

whr2206

Joined: Jun 15th, 2009
Posts: 3

Re: Finding a Job in China ... Advice anyone?

Posted by: whr2206 on Aug 13, 2009 5:19pm

Thanks for the reply!

Perhaps I used the wrong word!! I have patience... I just cannot imagine teaching such a large group of people. I communicate much better in smaller groups!

My main goal is to learn Mandarin. I'm assuming I need an X or Z visa to stay long term in China. I was thinking about going to college there but I don't really want to incur any debt. I just paid off my college loans and I feel good about it! haha

Thanks all

Watson

Joined: Jan 30th, 2007
Posts: 2,913

Re: Finding a Job in China ... Advice anyone?

Posted by: Watson on Aug 13, 2009 5:21pm

whr2206 wrote:

Thanks for the reply!

Perhaps I used the wrong word!! I have patience... I just cannot imagine teaching such a large group of people. I communicate much better in smaller groups!

My main goal is to learn Mandarin. I'm assuming I need an X or Z visa to stay long term in China. I was thinking about going to college there but I don't really want to incur any debt. I just paid off my college loans and I feel good about it! haha

Thanks all

Save yourself the drama and the headache. Go to Taiwan instead, you can learn Chinese and get a decent job without the b.s.

coco-nuts

Joined: Aug 20th, 2006
Posts: 1,267

Re: Finding a Job in China ... Advice anyone?

Posted by: coco-nuts on Aug 13, 2009 5:54pm

I agree with Watson. Check it out. The work environment is much more open and receptive too.

whr2206

Joined: Jun 15th, 2009
Posts: 3

Re: Finding a Job in China ... Advice anyone?

Posted by: whr2206 on Aug 15, 2009 8:42am

I really don't know much about Taiwan...

Are visas easier to get for Americans? I would assume that Taiwan would be slightly more welcoming to westerners. What type of "drama" and red tape does China have that Taiwan would not have?

I'm basically trying to find a way to pay for my living expenses while learning Mandarin. I want to stay in China or Taiwan until I have a good grasp of the language. So I'm planning on staying around 2 or 3 years if I have to. I have enough money saved to support myself for a little while... but definitely not enough to stay as long as I want! I would think the cost of living would be more expensive in Taiwan though. (Maybe not any more expensive compared to Beijing, Shanghai, or Guangzhou though!)

I have previous experience teaching English in Sub-Saharan Africa but I know this is much different from Asia!! With that said, I don't need the greatest accommodations. I've lived in some meager conditions before! haha

Niu Bi

Joined: Aug 12th, 2009
Posts: 625

Re: Finding a Job in China ... Advice anyone?

Posted by: Niu Bi on Aug 15, 2009 9:49am

Teaching English will be your best bet in the current economic climate. Finding a good job in the corporate world won't be easy...especially since it sounds like you don't have much experience. An internship would be easier to get but they don't really pay and aren't for the long term.

I'd say come over here, sign up for some Chinese classes (the classifieds here are a good resource for finding them), and get a part time job teaching English. Most often you'll find that your teaching job leads to something else as you continue to network and find out what's available.

Have a gander at this article recently posted by a member of this forum:

http://www.forbes.com/2009/08/13/china-jobs-employment-leadership-career...

reader1

Joined: Nov 11th, 2008
Posts: 24

Re: Finding a Job in China ... Advice anyone?

Posted by: reader1 on Aug 31, 2009 8:58pm

if I were in usa, I would like to say where I shall teach Chinese?
I can teach you Chinese art, how to painting, how to use 3D to build up your electronic fine art, and I can teach you build up and fix your wireless set. I will teach you how to fix industrial elelctronic equipment... as well as geometry and perspective principle...