When you’re applying for teaching jobs in China from your home country, it can be tempting to get overexcited and jump at the first offer you get. That, however, can be a recipe for disaster. Here, I bring you some tips on how to avoid getting duped when applying for teaching jobs in China from abroad.

Barriers to entry

As in many parts of Asia, schools and language centers in China that employ foreign English teachers are run first and foremost as businesses. According to the State Administration for Foreign Experts Affairs (SAFEA) — the Chinese body that regulates the hiring of foreign teachers in China — all applicants must hold a Bachelor’s degree and have at least two years’ teaching experience in order to get a Z (work) visa.

In order to be legal, Chinese institutions offering TEFL courses must be licensed by SAFEA and are therefore bound to abide by the rules regarding qualifications and experience. In the past, however, many language centers were able to register as companies rather than schools, thereby bypassing the expensive process of obtaining a license. This also gave them more leeway when it came to the qualifications and experience of their foreign employees. It was, therefore, easier to land a teaching job with little or no credentials. On the flip-side, it left these employees unprotected by the relevant labor laws.

There has been a major crackdown on such shady language centers in recent years, however. These days, anyone without a degree and two years experience in any field would find it almost impossible to get a work visa for China. But that won’t stop unscrupulous employers and recruiters telling you otherwise.

Recruiters

There is still a good amount of dodgy recruiters who target unsuspecting innocents applying for teaching jobs in China from abroad. The easiest way for them to do this is to offer you your dream job (which may or may not exist) and then ask for an initial “deposit,” “recruitment fee” or “visa fee.” 

Avoid job ads with titles such as “Teach English in China – No Degree Required,” or “Weekend TEFL Certification” and never, ever, be persuaded to part with any money. As an extra precaution, the China Business Central website urges all applying for teaching jobs in China from abroad to insist recruiters produce verifiable identification and a SAIC (State Administration for Industry and Commerce) business license. Reputable recruiters will be happy to do this.

If you have the qualifications and experience, finding a teaching job in China is relatively uncomplicated and not something you would really need a recruiter’s help with. You’ll find hundreds of genuine teaching positions on our jobs pages and other dedicated teaching websites like tefl.com.

Employers

Once you’re in the position of considering taking a role at a certain school, I suggest you request to speak privately to a couple of foreign teachers who currently work for (or have worked for) the school. Although the school will, of course, present you with their biggest advocates, hearing about the working conditions from somebody actually on the ground will give you a much better idea than the rosy portrait painted by management. You should be able to sniff out any BS pretty easily, and the willingness of the school to provide you with these contacts will in itself be an indicator of their trustworthiness.

In this same vein, if the school is offering you accommodation as part of your package, ask to see recent photos of the actual apartment you will be placed in (not one “just like it”). The quality of the housing provided by the school will be a strong predicator of how you will be treated throughout the duration of your contract.

The paper work

Anyone who works as an English teacher in China will probably meet one or two other foreigners who are working illegally without a Z visa. It’s much more uncommon these days but there are still instances of schools and recruiters bringing teachers to China on tourist visas and persuading them to start work straight away while they “process the work visa.” Never let anyone convince you this is an okay thing to do.

Regular sweeps are carried out on schools employing foreign teachers. A heavy fine (of up to 20,000 RMB) is the best-case scenario outcome if you’re caught. A stint in prison and deportation is the worst. I strongly advise against engaging with recruiters and/or schools who offer to fly you to China on a tourist visa. If nothing else, you’ll probably be required to pay for the requisite trip to Hong Kong to obtain a work visa once you’re out here. Make sure your potential employer recognizes the importance of securing a Z visa before you enter the country to begin working.

Always read the contract thoroughly before accepting the position and make sure is signed and stamped by the school. Ask for the Chinese version too (as this will be the legally-binding one) and run it through an online translator. Don’t be afraid to ask for any clarifications if you need them and keep an original signed copy for yourself.

You

When in doubt, trust your gut. If you feel like a recruiter or potential employer isn’t being straight with you, they probably aren’t. Do some due diligence: run a search on the school/recruiter name with the keywords “scam,” ask questions on ESL online forums and arm yourself with as much information as possible. All schools will be good at some things and bad at others and no doubt have some disgruntled former employees, but use your common sense and try to pick a reputable institution that you think will respect you as an employee, hire you legally and stick to the terms of your contract. If you do your research and ask the right questions, applying for teaching jobs in China from abroad will be a breeze.

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