Marchie

The breakfast and the view!

Bahala na kayo mag isip kung ano ang breakfast at ano ung view. Haahahahaah

Anyway, grabe sobrang busy last month, actually for the last two months. Daming paganap sa school. Hahaha plus recently, wala akong ganang mag post post. Hahaha (tawang tawa yan? haha)

42 days and counting.

As an OFW, I’m still fortunate to receive credit card offers even if I’m no longer working in the Philippines.

But that doesn’t mean I have to activate every card offered to me.

Credit cards can be useful, but only if they fit your lifestyle and spending habits. Kahit mataas ang credit limit, if the card doesn’t align with how I manage my money, then it’s not for me.

So I called BPI and asked them to cancel the card ASAP.* Hindi unlimited ang pera nating mga OFW.

So always be wais with spending. Credit cards are beneficial, but only when used properly. Ayern lang! 😅

BTW* I used Viber Out to call from abroad, super helpful for OFWs who need to contact Philippine banks without spending too much on international calls.

Almost around ¥2400 for a day in Shanghai Disneyland and the aroubd area. 😅

I think some of you are asking for the Resume Template.

I’ll be sharing this to you all; however, please take note that this is just a template I made. If you think this will not fit your style, by all means, SKIP! But if you do, feel free to share them with others as well.

Link:

Resume Template.docx NAME Present Address: Email: LinkedIn Account: (optional) WeChat ID: (optional) Philippine No.: (add another number if you have one from another country) EDUCATION POSTGRADUATE PROGRAM (if any) Name of School, City, Country Date Program (Master of Arts in ….) UNDERGRADUATE PROGRAM N...

I think this was one of my earliest posts when I first started teaching in China.

Yes, it’s possible to get a 45k RMB offer—back then, and even now.

And no, I’m not here to inspire anyone. Honestly, I might have just been lucky.

Most of the people I know here in Shanghai are earning 20k and above. Different backgrounds, different schools pero that’s the general range.

Yes, 8k RMB is already bigger compared to what you’ll earn in the Philippines. No doubt naman dun.

But think about it—yung mga iba mong kasamahan earning twice as what you are earning, while you’re doing the work of five people?

At some point, it’s not just about “mas mataas kaysa sa Pinas.” It should also be fair for the work you’re actually doing.

SHARING MY PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE APPLYING IN CHINA:

It never occurred to me that I would be teaching in China in the near future, probably because I was unaware of the incredible salary opportunities the China experience provides. In any case, after five gruelling months of application and waiting, my work permit has been approved and arrived. Yes, quite long! Anyway, I'm here to share my experience and answer frequently asked questions because I believe that, like me, many of us still aspire to work abroad predominantly to support our families.

Here are the FAQs I usually see here:

1. How did you apply?

I won't lie, I didn't apply. I got a message on LinkedIn from the school I'll be working with in December 2022 asking if I was interested in joining their school while I was on holiday in Bangkok. I hesitated because I didn't submit any applications and had no prior knowledge of the institution. I just told myself, "Go try," though. I was recruited, which I believe is the correct term.

2. Where do I apply?

Although I am neither an agency nor a recruiter, here are some suggestions: 1. Register at echinacities.com and submit your application there. 2. Research potential schools and submit your application through their website or Gmail. 3. Register for an account on WeChat and join groups. The most practical choice, in my opinion, would be to register on echinacities.com. Here, I saw a number of effective applications. Do not be concerned; they shouldn't and won't demand money. Skip it if there is one!

3. They said it is difficult to get a work permit in China for non-natives; moreover, working in Tier A cities like Shanghai and Beijing. How did you manage to do it?

Thankfully, the school that recruited me requested assistance from a third party (a UK-based agent, INTA Group) to assist me and complete my documents. Given all I've read online about applying in China, I directly asked them if I could apply for a work visa in Shanghai as a non-native foreigner. What she told me is (Non-verbatim), "the reason you'll not be able to get a work permit would be that your school is non-compliant. They have issues with the government, like when you apply for an English Teaching position, they will ask you if it is okay to put Math teacher in your work permit instead." She just confirmed for me that my school always complies with the law and that there are absolutely no complaints pending with the government or any other authority.

4. How much is your offer in Shanghai?

To be honest, at first, I didn't believe that the offer would be that good—too good to be true, as they said. But my salary offer would be as follows: around 42000 RMB after tax per month, 9000 RMB for housing allowance, 35000 RMB for airfare, relocation, and other allowances. Given that I am the only Filipino in the group and Asian teachers are significantly underrepresented compared to native teachers, I was probably lucky that my school does not discriminate against non-natives. My take on this is that if one school offers you a salary package, do not go below 15000 RMB. Know your worth, and prove to them that you deserve a higher salary.

5. What are the documents you submitted for your application and work permit application?

These are the following documents I submitted: AUTHENTICATED (NBI, PRC License, ToR, and Diploma). For NON-AUTHENTICATED (Work Letter Experience, Updated CV, Physical Check)

6. Why didn't your school ask for TEFL/TESOL?

I'll be teaching music, and I applied for the position. My agency informed me that as long as you have a teaching license on you, TEFL or TESOL certification is not necessary. I won't be instructing ESL or English.

7. How long does it take for you to get your working visa?

The timeline from January to the present is as follows:
Initial interview with school HR on December 27
Interview with the Department Head on January 4
Interview with the Head of School on January 6
Interview with the School President on January 10
I received the offer letter on January 17.
Between January and May, I began the process of applying for all the necessary documentation.
They requested a notice of my employment permit on June 9.
I was notified of my work permit on July 5.

8. Why did you not get your contract authenticated at the Philippine Embassy in Shanghai?

I believe I've already addressed this. I had originally intended to travel back home to process all of my paperwork, but because the Philippine Embassy is making our lives and my employer's lives difficult, I decided against it and instead chose to remain in Myanmar until my work permit arrived. My suggestion for this is for you to ask your employer to just follow the POEA contract template.

9. How and how long is the process to authenticate my contract?

You need at least three weeks for this. Any notary public in China will notarize your contract within seven days. The FAO (Foreign Affairs Office) will authenticate your contract in 4 days. Your contract will be certified by the Philippine Embassy in Shanghai in around two to three days.

If you have other questions, just type them in the comment section, and I'll try to answer them as soon and as honestly as I can.

Have a great day, everyone.

napansin nyo ba, recently, tumataas ulit yung mga offers sa China.

Nakikita ung mga offers bumabalik sa 25-45k RMB.

Friend of a friend tapos yung isa kapit-barangay. Ganyan kaliit ang mundo! Tapos dito na din kami sa China nagkakilala. 🤣

Kain pa more 😅🤣