Living and working in HK

I'm from Australia and have the urge to get out of Oz and pound the HK pavements for a job, is that too risky? I possess the usual Undergrad B.A and a Grad Dip in TESOL. I need to know when is the best time to snap up a job.


It appears applying for jobs online is getting me no where.


The other thing I need to know is where is the best, cheapest, but not nasty temporary accomodation.


Thanks folks.

i'm assuming by your name you are looking to teach...


early in the year is prob. the best time, as the bigger int. schools are usually re-signing teachers then...and opening appear then, but really, you should be able to find work pretty easily just by showing up (tho you tech. aren't supposed to look for work on a visitor visa..but many do...)


look here for current vacancies:

http://classifiedpost.scmp.com/jscommunity.php?communitycode=EDU&lcid=HK.EN


this is typical for most of the year...


you are right tho, online apps. rarely bring results unless you have a sparkling job history


look for a flat share if you want to live comfortably and cheaply...google it or there might be some advertised on this site....basically anywhere in HK Island will be more expensive than elsewhere, and expat popular areas are typically more expensive as well....look local to save money on the Kowloon side or even in the NT

thnx for the reply guys,


I am very familiar with the SCMP, bobby, I look at it online every weekend. I haven't had any success yet. I am hoping.


I tried the nEt sheme too for primary teaching, no luck there as I don't have enough experience. Nor am I Primary qualified. I am TESOL qualified. Not much difference really as you're still teaching English to non-native learners. It's the chicken before the egg theory.


looks like I will remain an egg for a while, having the same experience in Oz.

There are many Australians teaching in hk so you'll feel quite at home however some competition is obviously there.


If you're looking for inexpensive short term accommodation, we'll have from early to mid June a very centrally located flatshare in Wanchai, 1 min from the underground, 2 stops to Central or Kowloon. The flat is 450 sq ft, furnished and has a single and a double.

Check out the Wall Street Institute, or similar "colleges". They are always looking for TESOLs. Maybe Berlitz as well, or the British Institute.

You're not qualified enough for the NET scheme, yet they have an abundance of people working for them that have no teaching qualification and have only ever worked in 'language schools' - what a joke the EDB is.

Even if you get a NET job, you cant do any proper teaching anyway, because they won't let you.


Anyway, be aware, that your pay will be low, because the Aus$ is so high and the HK$ is so low...

Might be a good idea to stay at home til you get more exp and the exchange situation alters.

Sandyshore,


You are misinformed, I am more than qualified to work in the NET scheme. Click on this link to discover the facts.


http://www.edb.gov.hk/index.aspx?langno=1&nodeID=1300


Another thing, certificate holders of TESOL can 'not' work in Australia unless they possess a PGDE. Unlike Australia, you can work in HK with a forged TESOL certificate you can buy from Thailand or anywhere else in Asia where crooks are running TESOL scams and nobody bats an eyelid.


I can work anywhere in Australia because I possess a Grad Dip in TESOL. It is a question of luck or the X factor. Why I didn't pass the EMB interview is beyond my knowledge because EDstaff, in Melbourne, who do the recruiting on behalf of the HK NET scheme can not divulge interview outcomes.


I meet category 4 of the criteria to work in the NET scheme. You can not decree I am unable to work in HK, that is dependant on HR from the relevant schools or colleges, or the NET interviewers themselves.


I spent five and a half years at Uni, and now have to deal with greenhorns who can purchase a TESOL certificate, online, or study TESOL Teaching in 5 days. Now, that is a f*cking joke.


I spent a solid 18 months studying for my Grad Dip in TESOL and now have to contend with others who possess a certificate making competition harder to get a job because they will work for a fraction of the wages I wouldn't work for. That is a joke!

Hi,


You have no competition from fake TEFL/TESOL holders. They can only get PNET jobs. You would fit better if you U/Grad is in Education. Just go do another Grad Dip in ED and get some experience. Alternately just come here and apply locally as a lot depends on the schools. It's easier to get a NET job in a Primary School. The pay is lower but the work is much better, do that for a year and then you'll know the lay of the land. There's heaps of International Schools here that are hiring all year, especially the Aust. International School. There's heaps of Tutorial Centers that sponsor NETs too. You can go visit the Tutorial Centers too. Hong Kong Island is where the money is. Also there's the ESF groups, heaps of work for YOU!!!

OK, the exchange rate is going down but hey you're not gonna be living in OZ while you are here so any comment like that is stupid. I got an Ozzie friend who makes more here teaching in High School and doing IELTS Examining and makes about AUD$20K a year more that she could make in OZ.

You'll have no trouble. Just come. You get a 90 day Visa on arrival, no forms to fill out just a stamp in your Passport.

There's plwenty ogf cheap accommodation here, just google it. Don't get a room in Wan Chai, its the Red Light District and you'll have Filipina, Thai, Vietnamese hookers hassling you day in day out. There's lots of cheap, clean small hotels in the next suburb, Causeway Bay and you can bargain good deals for long stay. I got a directory of them so just mail me and I'll send you the link. COME NOW as it's INTERVIEW SEASON!!! You can get a cheap flight from Cairns & Darwin now to Macao, then jump a ferry over to HK for AUD$16.