By continuing you agree to eChinacities's Privacy Policy .
Sign up with Google
Sign up with Facebook
Q: not really a question just feeling sorry for myself,its my own fault need to get stuff off my chest.
I am sitting at the computer at work thinking way to much,I sent my CV to a kindergarten through shenzhenparty.com and I got a reply back to go in for the demo class.I phoned the guy yesterday and told him my situation I said I dont have a degree he then got back to me that afternoon and said man you got this experience at teaching kindergarten but Im sorry we cant take you.
its my own fault about this(money is tight at the moment) so doing a degree is not an option,Im stuck in a job that I dont like,the kindergarten I work for has changed so much since I have been here that its just not a nice place to work for any more.I like the kids and some of the teachers are ok.but as soon as i enter the door at work in the morning i just want to leave.
no one really cares about education side of things here at work,things only matter when they want you to do something for them.
just feels like Iam stuck in a rut and going through the motions.
the guy that I phoned up about the job sent me a mesg on wechat and said we will be the 1st to phone you if any changes should arise.
Its not just work either its life stuff outside of work,thinking about my sons education with out hukuo,turning 48 this year and Iam almost 50.
the gym keeps my sanity,my son keeps my sanity as well other wise I really would lose the plot.
I dont know
I need to get my shit together
It`s silly stupid rubbish that we can marry here, have family, buy a house, a car, but we are treated the same as gap year students when it comes to employment.
The Government really do need to change the law. You can contribute lots to society here if only they were to change the stupid laws. See what the kids are losing because of that stupid bit of paper... and its their kids . You would think they would want the best education they could get for their kids.
I would do as Mike suggests. But moving west of the river is a good option. Lots of good locations over there.
I had the issues with my z because I dont have a degree either. 30 years experience and they wanted original documents from school decades ago. sigh.
Chin up dude. You will win. And dont forget, your marriage RP looks exactly the same as a work RP:-)
gouxiong:
I would almost tend to agree with you when there would not be here that simple fact that we all knew the rules of the game before entering China (or we should at least make the due diligence to learn the basic game rules ...).
What of course does not mean that we have to like all the rules, but that is already totally different debate ...
Sorry you're feeing this way.
Isn't there a way round the lack of degree? I thought you already had an FEC/Work permit in SZ? I know you've got shitloads of experience. That must count for something? I've no degree but then I work in Engineering where they'll take account of experience here.
I'm 50 this year & didn't look forward to this age. Now I don't care & have given up worrying about the greying hair & laughter lines.
Mui think we all go through periods of feeling like this. It will pass.
get an on-line degree at an accredited University......that is not expensive...its better than no degree, and dont say..'Im too old etc...' because you can never say 'Im too old to eat!!
RobRocks:
Im not too old,we are a one income family at the moment I would have to wait until my wife goes back to work before I could do any study.
I work in HR here and can tell you for sure that work visas can get transferred to another company. That is of course if you are on a valid visa. Recently the government has become stricter with visa requirements. It used to be possible to get a work visa without a degree in special circumstances.
just wish you all the best .... hope things get better for you
I have watched your trials and tribulations from afar for sometime. Perhaps you should look at other Pearl River Delta cites for work where the cost of living is substantially lower but quality of life proportionately higher with comparable salaries.
I live and work just over the ditch from Shenzhen and have a very comfortable lifestyle.
I'm aware of a wechat group called ZS FOREIGN TEACHER UNION (not affiliated with the STFU in any way or agents). It's basically the wechat group for English teachers, both chinese and from foreignerland, and they share job info within the city. Requirements are not as tight as in a first tier city
iWolf:
If you have any trouble, PM your wechat ID and I'll get you added. Or call Anita 13560663393....she posted a couple of jobs you may be suitable for yesterday
Hotwater:
Great post Wolfie!
Rob, it's a nice city as well with some good people there (apart from 1 tone deaf bogan!)
iWolf:
Thanks Hottie.......Awooooooooo!
That flotsam is on the way out anyway He calls me Wolfie, I call him Hottie....we have a thing :-)
Hotwater:
Ooooohhhh....will you buy me a drink love? I'm anyone's for a Bacardi breezer!
603921935:
How can I join zs foreign teacher union ? can u post group id ? Thanks
iWolf:
I have joined this group to help some friends join, so I can add you. Please PM me your wechat ID and I will add you to the group.
Sorry to hear that man, good luck to you!
As iWolf said other cities in the PRD are pretty developed nowadays and comfortable to live in while being much cheaper than SZ or GZ, maybe you should consider them.
I live in Foshan, I wouldn't move back to Guangzhou even if I was offered twice my current salary.
iWolf:
I wholeheartedly agree.
I was in Shenzhen at first. Leaving there for a more comfortable city was the best move for me. Although it took a couple of years, my salary is the same as it was in Shenzhen but cost of living is miniscule and no daily madness. You can even ride a bicycle on the roads (relatively) safely.
I just turned down a position within my company in Sz for this very reason. And I bought a new apartment here for 4000rmb per square metre....shhhh!! Keep this between us. I'd hate for word to get out to the masses and ruin the place.
I would abandon Q 'Do I like my new job?'. I never think about that, when I'm looking for part-time (extra) work. I need part-time for this or that reason, and....that's it!
Walk the area around your home, and knock-on kindergartens doors, and ask for a job. At kindergartens, most important thing is kids must like you! You must be able to make kid stop crying, what some of them like to do, when they see new FT. You must be funny and entertaining at your demo class.
As soon as you'll follow my opening sentence, you won't take any 'didn't get job' as failure, but just as 'I'll try at another kindies tomorrow!'
There is no Q about 'like or not'. You must get a gig! If you don't like it, you'll find another one.
What is more important (to me), your job shouldn't be too far from your home.
That is the reason, I won't push my job contacts, because none of them is resident of Shenzhen.
However, if you care for Chinese placement agents, I have 3 reliable ones, which I use. PM me for their contacts.
Walk the 'doors', and good luck!
The degree requirement is ridiculous for most esl jobs - you're obviously more qualified with your experience than some random recent college graduate. Best of luck to you.
I can relate to the feeling of anguish every time walking into work. Quitting that job was the best decision I ever made, but maybe not so realistic in your situation. Just keep applying to jobs. Do whatever it takes to gtfo.
Don't you just love that? How stupid little things like a piece of paper dictates your life...
I am sure you have the experience and the knowledge, but nope... gotta have that piece of paper. There is some good advice going through here. Moving to a smaller tier city would be a good choice. I know the education (if your son is at that age) may suffer but the overall living conditions will be better and much more opportunities.
Personally, I ducked out of ESL teaching and went into business. I made a lot more money than ESL teaching and it is fun but way more tiring. Then again, dealing with little kids on a daily basis takes a ton of patience and energy too.
Maybe it is time to open up your own small school in a lower tier city? You can get the marriage visa and just tutor. Probably make more that way.
Sorry your down man, the worst part is as I see it is that when u first came you were qualified and now your over qualified but because of that paper. Id say in this case break the law. Most places will get you a fake one and ive met a few and none have been caught. Your toooo qualified. If your legal now they wont even look. But i should note. Risks and all.
Others advice for other Cantonese cities is legit . My wife is from ZS. Not my style but i get why people love it. As a former Foshan man myself, im dying to go back if i get the chance.
But i would also say dont rush anything. If you have been at the same place for 13 years or so, thays amazing. Most people get into their lulls by the 2nd year. You seem like the type that takes the lows with stride and really rides the highs. So things will pick up im sure.
Eorthisio:
Welcome back to Foshan anytime Mike. In the past few years the hot spot for expats has become Nanhai along Guilan North Rd and Guiping West Rd, all the area around Qiandeng Lake and Poly Canal City between the MTR stations Nanguilu and Financial High Tech Zone where the city has been very well developed. Zumiao and Chancheng overall have been deserted as this new area in Nanhai is much more agreeable to live in, and closer to Guangzhou. Very few people around here too compared to Zumiao, more room, less to no crowds, lots of greenery and the local inhabitants are much more educated (wealthier as well) than the hordes or migrant workers in the downtown area. 4 new high end malls with everything like in first tier cities just opened in the past few months along Guilan North Rd, and new upper end residential buildings pop like mushrooms. Some expats opened bars and restaurants around but we don't get all the low life losers in there, mostly business people on travel or senior managers working at the nearby factories in North Nanhai. And it's still super cheap to live here compared to first tier cities.
I love Foshan 
It`s silly stupid rubbish that we can marry here, have family, buy a house, a car, but we are treated the same as gap year students when it comes to employment.
The Government really do need to change the law. You can contribute lots to society here if only they were to change the stupid laws. See what the kids are losing because of that stupid bit of paper... and its their kids . You would think they would want the best education they could get for their kids.
I would do as Mike suggests. But moving west of the river is a good option. Lots of good locations over there.
I had the issues with my z because I dont have a degree either. 30 years experience and they wanted original documents from school decades ago. sigh.
Chin up dude. You will win. And dont forget, your marriage RP looks exactly the same as a work RP:-)
gouxiong:
I would almost tend to agree with you when there would not be here that simple fact that we all knew the rules of the game before entering China (or we should at least make the due diligence to learn the basic game rules ...).
What of course does not mean that we have to like all the rules, but that is already totally different debate ...
You know what I did, Rob, when I was your age? I fukd off to China. Heheheh.....
And now I'm here I don't see myself having much of a chance were I to head back to Aust. Jobs very difficult to find there. Very. In my case I've let my registration lapse and to fix that would require more education. And I couldn't do the work anyway because I'm all busted up now.
I think you should come to Xinjiang. To my city. Let me know if you're interested and I'll put the feelers out for you. As the only foreign kindergarten teacher in the city you would quickly become a star. Only this afternoon I knocked back a private gig with a littly because I haven't got your ticker.
Give this some thought. Your wife might like the idea of moving somewhere far away and beginning a new life with her hubby and child in a place that's still China.
The degree issue can be taken care of.
Dude - it sucks!
And, because you do seem to be a fairly upstanding guy, and cos you do have the experience, I'm going to suggest something that I normally wouldn't to anyone - and even wouldn't do myself.
Create yourself a fake degree! Use whatever photoshop skills you've got, and just do it. There's only about a 0.00001% chance any kindergarten or whatever will ever bother to check it. Especially if it's from a place they've never heard of! And if it's an 'online' degree, even less chance anyone would bother checking anything.
You're not really cheating anyone - no-one is likely to lose out on job because of it (there are so many around), you have the skills, you have the experience. The hassle of 1 little bit of paper isn't worth this much grief!
Just do it!
(and, when money is better, then do that degree for real!)
Good luck!
ScotsAlan:
Yup Dokken, The truth that people such as myself are scared to say.
My wife used to work in HR, and we would go to lunch in a busy street where there were loads of people selling fake qualifications to factory workers.
Now, my wife used to do mass interviews for factory operators. So I asked her, what happens if you get a copy bit of paper ? Her answer? Yeah, she knows it's a copy but if the I think the person is ok for the job then it's not a problem.
It's the person that counts in China, not the paper :-)
gouxiong:
Yes, I also think that one of the best ideas is to base your existence in foreign country on the fraud! Especially if person is coming to real middle age so the threat of deportation, accompanied by forced start in the place where person did not want to go, is no problem!
Good advise!
I would never take it though ...
We say that the way to hell is paved by the good intentions.
PM me if you're serious about moving. I talked to the principal of the school where I am (Shiyan) and explained your situation. He would be interested in talking to you.
You would also get free accommodations and your son could attend the kindy (where my sons go) for half tuition (no hukou worries).
Not really an answer to your question but others have given some excellent responses. I'd just like to point out that the responses to this thread have been an example of this site at its finest. Good work guys and gals.
Just buy the documents you need. Can get documents on the internet to say whatever you want for a couple hundred bucks. Chinese do it all the time.
