Why China Teaching Interviews Run Through Recruiters

Yes, interviewing through a recruiter rather than dealing with the school directly is normal in China, especially when a recruiter set up the interview. The school keeps communication flowing through that recruiter until the contract stage, because the recruiter earns a commission from the school once you are hired, and going around them would burn that relationship. Expect the recruiter to pass along the second interview, negotiate your contract, and coordinate the documents for your work permit and Z visa.

Keep one point straight: the recruiter is paid by the school, so they sit closer to the school's side than yours even while negotiating for you. That is not a reason to distrust them, but it shapes whose interests lead.

You can bypass recruiters and apply to schools directly through job boards, which gives you more control at the cost of much more time. Either route, it is standard to share your resume, an intro video, your city preferences, and salary expectations early in the conversation. Hold your passport and other sensitive documents back until a credible school is genuinely ready to proceed and you have verified it is legitimate. On timing, if you stay flexible you can land offers within a few weeks; kindergartens have the most openings, training centers are more of a grind, and insisting on uncommon arrangements, like two jobs at the same school for a couple, cuts your options sharply.