FAO Cristi and other interested readers re Reputable Agencies:

My Preferred Chinese Recruiters' Modus Operandi By:Monitor
Date: 10 September 2009

By 'recruiter', I mean someone who tries to find employment in the Chinese education sector for a foreigner. What about their modus operandi?
(1) Some recruiters will demand a fee for their services from said foreigner; (2) others won't ever.
(3) Some will not provide said foreigner with a potential employer's contact details before a contract has been signed; (4) others will.
(5) Some will not provide a potential employer with said foreigner's contact details before a contract has been signed; (6) others will.
(7)Some will pay you direct while you teach at an educational establishment that they have sent you to; (8) others will take no more than their introduction fee from a potential employer, after which the provision of your employment package is the sole responsibility of said employer.
(2)(4)(6)(8) is my preferred Chinese recruiters' modus operandi.