Pros
I came to App-Ark during the company's transitioning period. Fei (now our Chairman) introduced it's startup culture when I first interviewed with him. He was straight up with me about some of the drawbacks we deal with as a startup but also convinced me of his optimistic attitude about App-Ark's future and the projects they have planned. After nearly 3 years, this is what makes me stay. If you have good ideas and suggestions for how to make it happen, people are always willing to listen. Sometimes you need to mention it a few times but persistence pays off here. Most of the consultants who stay are those who are truly interested in education and see the possibilities for change. But all of us also have interests beyond this that we want to work on. Some help out with HR, others were planning classes on social media or American culture, and a few are currently working on filming, programming, and designing our new website (myself included). As a student coming straight out of college, it has been rewarding to see that the work I put in is actually considered and implemented. In terms of team dynamics, getting along well with other consultants can make the job so much more fun. This means anything from grabbing lunch together to plan out a new project or going on company retreats after peak season. And the question most want to know about: salary. I am pretty happy with my base salary, and we also get bonuses for some of the extra projects we work on. I do know some companies in this industry offer more but with the support I've gotten at App-Ark, I've found it worthwhile to stay. Besides, I am definitely living comfortably in Shanghai with what I make. I would compare my current lifestyle to being upper-middle class in NYC. Could I be paid more? Probably. But that will be a conversation for my contract renewal.
Cons
Because we are always trying to make our team system better and improve our marketing strategies, the company structure changes quite a lot. This means having to adapt to new systems. Sometimes it results in a more effective workflow, and other times it means laboring over extra and unnecessary tasks. Another con would have our schedule. The reality of our job is having to adapt to the US application season. This means being somewhat busy during summer, working long hours from September to December, and having a more relaxed, project-based season between January and April. I will always find peak season to be extremely tiring; there is no beating around the bush. And finally, a lot of us face homesickness. Thanksgiving and Christmas hits me the hardest so I try to get some of the consultants together to celebrate. As much as I do love Shanghai, it can be tough to move to a different country and start all over.