By Andrew London
From TV weatherman and "magnetic" sales executive to English teacher -- there's a big pool of China-based employers out there willing to make your job more about the experience, than the money.
The going rate for an English teacher with one of a number of private schools or universities is anywhere from 5,000-7,000 yuan ($625-875) a month, with accommodation, medical cover, plane ticket, a basic living allowance, and for some, and end-of-contract bonus packaged in.
China's English-language news channel CCTV 9 will pay a little bit more for a weatherman, or woman -- about 10,000 ($1,250) a month for 15 hours work a week, but accommodation is not included.
At UTS Asian Express, an international relocation company, a business development executive with "aggressive" hunting qualities can expect a salary package in line with normal expat standards, depending on the candidate's caliber.
However savvy jobseekers who dig a little deeper and make the right connections may strike it lucky with a job that pays higher, if not equivalent to what they may earn back in their home country.
A recent foreigners job fair in Beijing highlighted the large pool of qualified and employable expats and both Chinese and international companies were now looking locally, rather than cast their recruitment net overseas to find the right people.
The job fair was run by Chinajob.com and supported by the State Administration of Foreign Experts Affairs and the China Association for International Exchange of Personnel.
French recruitment company, BMU Consulting, which has offices in both Beijing and Shanghai and represents big name clients from the US, UK and Europe has about 30 jobs on offer at the moment, a figure that changes weekly.
"We're looking people to fill middle to high level positions," BMU Assistant manager Damien Moizan said.
"There are more qualified foreign people in China now than before, so there's more (candidates to choose from)."
Moizan said up to 20 percent of BMU's clients required candidates with Chinese language skills.
Remuneration varied between the "local" terms offered by Chinese-based employers to international companies willing to pay good money for top shelf candidates.
"Some companies from the US and western Europe offer big packages, but it depends," Moizan said.
Chinese-based employers are offering remuneration similar to local standards if not slightly higher. While some employers concede the pay is not as high as "Western" standards, they argue that the cost of living is very cheap, and the experience "invaluable".
Xi'an Hi-tech Industries Development Zone is recruiting business development managers to help lure foreign investment to its IT, automobile, pharmaceuticals, manufacturing and modern services industries.
"Salary range is between 3,000-5,000 ($375-625) a month, we also provide a housing subsidy of 1,500 yuan ($188) a month," George Zou, a project manager for the zone's Foreign Investment Promotion Bureau, said.
"We base the salary on the local living costs, which are quite low in Xi'an. But if we find the right person we would consider paying more."
Income is taxed at a variable rate and increases the more you earn. The first 4,800 yuan ($600) earned is tax free for foreigners.
(China Daily May 11, 2007)
