Teaching in China

Recruitment agency or direct applications? Seems easy initially: why wrestle with multiple schools when you can send one CV, then sit back and play video games while a recruiter finds you a job?

Well, don’t break out the Nintendo just yet. Using an agency can save you hassle, but there are drawbacks. You become just one of the teachers they’re hawking, instead of dazzling schools directly with your personality, skills and charm. And you risk being duped by unscrupulous recruiters.

Remember, agencies should charge jobhunters little or nothing. An application fee may exist, to deter bored teenagers with no intention of leaving their bedroom, let alone their country. But it should be minimal.

Some agencies will entice you with non-existent jobs, then hire you out to unsavoury schools. Ensure you know the name and contact details of your school. While most agencies won’t tell you the specific school till matters are fairly advanced, they should tell you the city early on. You can then research local schools, so you’ll spot any well-known stinkers. Get a school’s name before you come out, and do your research.

Both schools and agencies should be prepared to provide contact details of people they’ve employed/recruited before. Don’t be afraid to ask an agency how well they know a school – have they placed teachers there before? If your agency is based outside China – why? How often do they visit? Agencies stand to make money out of you, so shouldn’t mind answering your questions.

Some offer a “teacher training programme”. This often appeals to inexperienced teachers, but will probably involve substantial fees and result in a lower salary than you’d get elsewhere, plus a qualification that’s not widely recognised. You’re better off doing a TEFL course.

There is no shortage of agents you want to avoid, for reasons ranging from dishonesty to incompetence. Don’t be dazzled by an impressive looking website, but do avoid email addresses like happychinajob2008@yahoo.cn. Can you phone and speak to someone knowledgeable? Any reports of other teachers using their services online?

Good recruiters know it’s in their interests to keep both you and the school happy. Bad ones just want money, fast, and they don’t care what you go through for them to get it. There’s no harm in trying agencies, but it’s best not to rely on any one method of jobhunting. Check www.tefl.com and www.eslcafe.com/jobs/china/ for vacancies, and try reading the various Chinese teaching fora to learn from others.