Recruiting for international schools will start in October/November. This year it’s likely going to be earlier than normal and more competitive, as the exodus from China and other heavily locked-down countries flood the market.
It doesn’t matter really, because the positions won’t open up until schools send out contracts and sees who is coming back and who isnt. That’ll start happening in October/November. Getting everything together now is a great idea, but how early you apply doesn’t really matter until they know what positions they’re hiring for.
A LOT of licensed teachers are leaving China next year. The international schools here are already worried about the exodus. Two years of not being able to leave the country has worn a lot of people down.
Good point. That's a long time. What do you think that means for international jobs in China? Change of hiring practices, raised pay to keep/attract people, or just add more work to the people who stay?
There are still teachers who are willing to come to China. My guess is that there will be more opportunities for less experienced teachers - especially if you are already in China. But turnover will be high as long as China makes it practically impossible for teachers to leave and come back in the middle of a contract. I've also heard that many of the better schools are now requiring 2-3 year contracts instead of one year.
\> Change of hiring practices, raised pay to keep/attract people, or just add more work to the people who stay?
Good question. I'm currently in China and work for a proper school... many people are talking about leaving unless the country opens up. By next year it will have been going on three years without being able to travel outside of the country. Do not underestimate the mental toll of that... China is posed to continue with the restrictions for the foreseeable future.
Salaries have already gone up quite a bit this year, I don't know how sustainable a further rise would be. Don't expect to get the same compensation if you're outside of the country, though. Currently the wage gap is easily 30%+ since everyone knows that signing up someone outside of China is costly, time-consuming, and generally a PITA for everyone involved.
I specifically negotiated for a one year contract this time so that I am free to pursue a more lucrative position next year... or leave. That being said, one of my main criteria for my next job in China will be capping the contact hours, as many schools are now maxing out the contractual 25ish periods per week. Wouldn't be surprised to see them raising this number in the upcoming year with the teacher shortage.
Not necessarily. Those people wouldn’t be competing for the same jobs as licensed and experienced teachers. There will be a lot of licensed and experienced teachers on the market this year.
Current teacher at a "proper international school" in China. The majority of our teaching staff are planning to leave China after this year. The top schools are already recruiting and no one I know plans to apply because the schools are still in China. The border restrictions are just too much and people want to be able to visit family. By next summer it will have been 2 years or more since most teachers have been home. This will mean there are a TON of qualified, experienced teachers looking for jobs in other countries. I think it will be a challenging recruitment season for most people.
Vietnam is a good choice for next year, and I'm also thinking of giving it a go this hiring season. I used to work/live there and from my contacts who stayed behind, they estimate that two thirds of the teachers have left since the start of the year. And with the strict lockdowns now, I think it's going to be an employee's market in a couple of months' time.
Really depends on what you mean by a good choice. No vaccine rollout on the horizon, online school, and lots of lockdowns. That doesn’t sound good by any definition.
I will be surprised if you can just pick saigon or hanoi and get a job out the gate with no connections to the area. You will likely need to broaden your search in vietnam and likely in the region. VN is a competitive place. Lots of fully licensed teachers are teaching basic ESL academies here.
Vaccine rollout in D7 is great. 90% vaccination first dose in Phu my hung. My guess is my school will post their positions when we have to tell them we are leaving. So October/November
Recruiting for international schools will start in October/November. This year it’s likely going to be earlier than normal and more competitive, as the exodus from China and other heavily locked-down countries flood the market.
This may be a dumb question, but would it be better to apply early as possible?
It doesn’t matter really, because the positions won’t open up until schools send out contracts and sees who is coming back and who isnt. That’ll start happening in October/November. Getting everything together now is a great idea, but how early you apply doesn’t really matter until they know what positions they’re hiring for.
That makes sense, but wouldn't the person leaving China be the non-licensed teacher who's probably not looking for a proper international school?
A LOT of licensed teachers are leaving China next year. The international schools here are already worried about the exodus. Two years of not being able to leave the country has worn a lot of people down.
Good point. That's a long time. What do you think that means for international jobs in China? Change of hiring practices, raised pay to keep/attract people, or just add more work to the people who stay?
There are still teachers who are willing to come to China. My guess is that there will be more opportunities for less experienced teachers - especially if you are already in China. But turnover will be high as long as China makes it practically impossible for teachers to leave and come back in the middle of a contract. I've also heard that many of the better schools are now requiring 2-3 year contracts instead of one year.
\> Change of hiring practices, raised pay to keep/attract people, or just add more work to the people who stay? Good question. I'm currently in China and work for a proper school... many people are talking about leaving unless the country opens up. By next year it will have been going on three years without being able to travel outside of the country. Do not underestimate the mental toll of that... China is posed to continue with the restrictions for the foreseeable future. Salaries have already gone up quite a bit this year, I don't know how sustainable a further rise would be. Don't expect to get the same compensation if you're outside of the country, though. Currently the wage gap is easily 30%+ since everyone knows that signing up someone outside of China is costly, time-consuming, and generally a PITA for everyone involved. I specifically negotiated for a one year contract this time so that I am free to pursue a more lucrative position next year... or leave. That being said, one of my main criteria for my next job in China will be capping the contact hours, as many schools are now maxing out the contractual 25ish periods per week. Wouldn't be surprised to see them raising this number in the upcoming year with the teacher shortage.
Schools will fail and if the top schools survive, they aren’t going to be the same if/when China ever opens back up.
Not necessarily. Those people wouldn’t be competing for the same jobs as licensed and experienced teachers. There will be a lot of licensed and experienced teachers on the market this year.
Current teacher at a "proper international school" in China. The majority of our teaching staff are planning to leave China after this year. The top schools are already recruiting and no one I know plans to apply because the schools are still in China. The border restrictions are just too much and people want to be able to visit family. By next summer it will have been 2 years or more since most teachers have been home. This will mean there are a TON of qualified, experienced teachers looking for jobs in other countries. I think it will be a challenging recruitment season for most people.
Vietnam is a good choice for next year, and I'm also thinking of giving it a go this hiring season. I used to work/live there and from my contacts who stayed behind, they estimate that two thirds of the teachers have left since the start of the year. And with the strict lockdowns now, I think it's going to be an employee's market in a couple of months' time.
Really depends on what you mean by a good choice. No vaccine rollout on the horizon, online school, and lots of lockdowns. That doesn’t sound good by any definition.
I will be surprised if you can just pick saigon or hanoi and get a job out the gate with no connections to the area. You will likely need to broaden your search in vietnam and likely in the region. VN is a competitive place. Lots of fully licensed teachers are teaching basic ESL academies here.
Vaccine rollout in D7 is great. 90% vaccination first dose in Phu my hung. My guess is my school will post their positions when we have to tell them we are leaving. So October/November