I have applied for a teaching job with this company and over the last few months I have gone back and forth with one of the recruiters, they have amended my contract (English and Chinese) they have increased my housing allowance and they have specified the working hours as per my request, they have sent me copies of their legal documents and I have checked all the information with a Chinese friend I went to university with.

I have found them to be very courteous and understanding when I have have asked so many questions. I understand everyone has a different view of recruiters - the way I see it is they are providing a service, the same way that Randstad or Hayes does back in the UK they find you a job in the area you want to work.

I came across this thread today an some of the comments are a little alarming (although some just seem like haters) obviously I am not in China and I have not seen the apartment or the school I will be teaching at so I might be disappointed when I arrive, I hope the last few months of negotiations will provide me with what I have asked for.

I originally considered one of the big language schools but decided I would prefer to work for a school over a language mill, I cam across Echo English and decided to give them a chance , I have spoken to three of their employees the recruiter, the guy who is the liaison for the teachers (American) and one of the new teachers (a young lad from the UK) they have all given me information on what it would be like to work in china.

I will update my experience after I arrive, I was told by the liaison guy that if I was not happy he would organise a new school or apartment so that I was happy the way I see it if I am not happy where I live or work then I am not going to be a good teacher and for the company to succeed it is their interest to make sure teachers are happy with their conditions, this company has been running for 8 years if they were that bad then they would have closed down by now and I would expect to see a lot of negative posts from disgruntled previous teachers, which I haven't!

I will update in the new year

take it easy,

Mike