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Posts: 104

Governor

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Q: Is it safe to sign a teaching job contract with an agent ( and not with a school)?

Any one who has done this before? what's/what was the experience like? One agent is 'inviting' me  to sign a contract with him but some instincts are strongly advising me against this. Although I have never heard of nasty stories about signing contracts with agents I am just suspicious  this wouldn't be safe. I will appreciate your views/advice.

11 years 22 weeks ago in  Business & Jobs - China

 
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Posts: 2186

Emperor

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I would be extremely suspicious. Who is paying you? If it is the agent where is he / she getting the money from? The school perhaps, and if so how much is he / she creaming off?

Bona:

yeah, it's the agent paying...that's what makes me even more suspicious, that he would simply be making easy money out of me.  

11 years 22 weeks ago
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11 years 22 weeks ago
 
Posts: 1968

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Never, ever sign a contract with an agent UNLESS you are from one of the non-scheduled countries, you do not meet the minimum requirements for a job in the province where you wish to work, etc.

 

They will scam some of your pay at every occasion; they will set you out to pasture in case of the slightest misunderstanding between yourself and the school to where you will be assigned, and generally speaking, they are often shut down by the authorities when the wind no longer blows in their direction, so to speak.

Bona:

Thanks  for this. Helps in my decision making regarding the 'offer' on my table.

11 years 22 weeks ago
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ambivalentmace:

ask them for 3 teachers that have signed with them in the past for a reference because you have friends who were misled by agents before. you want their phone numbers to call them personally, they can still deceive you but this usually makes them give up on you if its a scam and move onto to the next easier victim.

11 years 6 weeks ago
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11 years 22 weeks ago
 
Posts: 212

Governor

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This is how I got into China. Signed with an agent and when I flew out here they started sending me to schools for interviews.  They paid for the apartment and visa stuff.

 

The positive is that it was a great way to get into China and get my foot in the door so to speak.  The negative is that they are making a lot of money off of you.  I was getting paid 5,000rmb plus an apartment but I later found out the school I worked at typically paid 10-13,000rmb and it was actually the school paying for the apartment.  

 

These can be good places to get your foot in the door....but in my experience once you've been here awhile and learn how much schools pay and how to get a job on your own it's best to leave the agents and move on to greener pastures.  Seems like this is what most people at the company I worked for did.....came into China then got a job on their own once they figured out how things in China work.

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11 years 22 weeks ago
 
Posts: 5539

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the agent is simply the go between. they will send you the contract from the school. the contract should have the school's name and info. anything else , tell them to go fish.

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11 years 22 weeks ago
 
Posts: 141

Governor

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Everyone I have talked to who has signed a contract with the agency rather than directly with the school has later been very sorry that he signed.

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11 years 6 weeks ago
 
Posts: 1838

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You should get a contract with the official school seal anyway. They would need this to get the invitation letter and FEC for the 'Z' Visa and RP.The agent is an intermediatary and cannot issue this. If they do, there is something suspicious about the process they are following.

icnif77:

Companies in China can circumvent 'School's seal' notion: "Stuffing agent title is 'School', or it is Co. with many Schools, where they send FT" as H. G. from Hangzhou is.

 

H. G. is not School, butt....they are able to sponsor Z visa with all necessary documents, and on the top of that, Z pick-up location can be in Hong Kong.

11 years 6 weeks ago
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11 years 6 weeks ago
 
Posts: 1989

Peasant

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Signing a contract with an agent should be the last worst option to consider. Do your best to avoid it.

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11 years 6 weeks ago
 
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Answer of the DayMORE >>
A:  "... through ..."?  Only "through" comes to mind is "S
A: "... through ..."?  Only "through" comes to mind is "Shenzhen agent can connect you with an employer, who's authorized to hire waigouren ... and can sponsor Z visa." It's not like every 10th person you meet in Shenzhen's hood can sponsor work visa ...  The only way to change from student to labourer visa is just a regular way by: 1. Finding an employer, who'll apply for an Invitation letter; 2. Exit China and apply for Z visa in your home country's Chinese embassy; 3. Enter China in 30-days after Z visa was stamped into your travelling instrument ...As I am aware, you won't be able to switch to Working permit by remaining in China....,so make ready for a return to your home .... -- icnif77