Best wagie job for 3-5 months?

Rance

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As the time to move to China draws near I'd like to build up some extra funds so that I can have a head start upon arrival.

I've been trying to get a job in the U.S. before heading over but that window has pretty much closed at this point.

Do you guys know any good wagie jobs that pay well and aren't too strenuous? I was thinking of working at the UPS office.
 
Forklift driver? Might take a few weeks to get your license but it pays a cut above most shit jobs and if you do overtime you can make quite a bit. Not sure if this is the answer you're looking for but I did it in Australia and it was pretty chill
 
construction is not bad, especially as many places will pay you cash to avoid taxes and can hit OT, in 5 months you could easily make 15k if you work hard
 
Night auditor at a hotel is the ultimate job for a bookworm, etc. if you don't mind working a graveyard shift (but I meean shit, maybe it'll get your entire body totally pre-adjusted to the timezone difference before arriving in Asia again) at maybe a few dollars over minimum wage. It's 1-2 hours of clicking some buttons and 6 hours of usually just sitting there doing whatever you want on your laptop/phone/book. They're also pretty used to high turnovers - wonder why
There's also certain blue collar jobs like factories or cannabis-related jobs that are pretty low responsibility where you can use headphones the entire shift and listen to audiobooks, podcasts, Mandarin immersion, etc.

Btw - are you applying for teaching jobs now? In SEA/Vietnam I swear it's you apply in August and get hired immediately, and even still that's just peak season and you can still get a job practically any time of the year. But apparently in China it's more like several months in advance minimum. I just now realized it's almost definitely over for me to start (at a university) this year considering I don't get my degree until like August at the earliest. To the slums I go - at least I'll have conversational 中文 in a year's time, but fuck

Thanks. This reminds me, a lot of expats in Japan who hit rock bottom end up in construction work.
 
Btw - are you applying for teaching jobs now? In SEA/Vietnam I swear it's you apply in August and get hired immediately, and even still that's just peak season and you can still get a job practically any time of the year. But apparently in China it's more like several months in advance minimum. I just now realized it's almost definitely over for me to start (at a university) this year considering I don't get my degree until like August at the earliest. To the slums I go - at least I'll have conversational 中文 in a year's time, but fuck
Yes, I started applying in early February but that was way too early. I've gotten a few offers already. Generally about now (mid-late March) is the beginning of the hiring season for August/September. I wouldn't say it's "several months in advance minimum", should be good through July or so, and even in August they take last-minute hires due to a high level of flaking.

You might be fine applying if you explain that you'll receive your degree before arriving to China. I would definitely do this. The only catch is that you'll need a few weeks to get your degree apostilled which is quite a tight timeline to work with.

Lol is it about construction work?

This is what gets thrown around by the construction guys I know:
1742511200330.webp
 
Yes, I started applying in early February but that was way too early. I've gotten a few offers already. Generally about now (mid-late March) is the beginning of the hiring season for August/September. I wouldn't say it's "several months in advance minimum", should be good through July or so, and even in August they take last-minute hires due to a high level of flaking.

You might be fine applying if you explain that you'll receive your degree before arriving to China. I would definitely do this. The only catch is that you'll need a few weeks to get your degree apostilled which is quite a tight timeline to work with.
If I start binging adderall I can maybe manage to have degree in hand by end of July. Any recommendations besides eChinacities for staying posted for last-minute hires? (I don't know if recruiters would care about me reaching out to them at the moment so bit of a catch-22, but perhaps in the near future)
Lol is it about construction work?

This is what gets thrown around by the construction guys I know:
View attachment 10200
One of my favorite anime ever - the first season of it at least. I think you'de like a lot actually. But he gets sent to a labor camp due to gambling debt and has to gamble his way out
 
If I start binging adderall I can maybe manage to have degree in hand by end of July. Any recommendations besides eChinacities for staying posted for last-minute hires? (I don't know if recruiters would care about me reaching out to them at the moment so bit of a catch-22, but perhaps in the near future)
Here are some other resources I wrote down. I've only used eChinacities though.

eChinacities
Instajob Asia
Dave's ESL Cafe
WeChat groups
ESL Nest
Teach Horizons
Teach English Global

Most of my interviews have come from recruiters who find my profile on eChinacities and reach out to me via email.

One of my favorite anime ever - the first season of it at least. I think you'de like a lot actually. But he gets sent to a labor camp due to gambling debt and has to gamble his way out
Will give it a look!
 

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