Job Discussion Forums

[neverheardofem]

I have been applying for jobs in China but a thought just occurred to me which has since built up to be quite a worry. About 3 years ago, I did a bit of a lousy thing. I applied for a position through a well known recruiter, accepted and signed a contract. The school applied for my invitation letter, I received it by UPS but then decided not to go for personal reasons. My dad was sick at the time which was a factor, but to be quite honest, I just didn�t feel right about it. I know I should have realised this sooner. Anyway, the recruiter got really annoyed and said that I should go, I�m letting down the school; cost them a lot of money, etc. I felt terrible and they were quite right to be angry but I didn�t want to do something that didn�t feel right. Anyway, she said that she would have no choice but to report me to the SAFEA.

Now 3 years on, I really want to go all the way this time � but will this affect my ability to gain the visa?

Thanks!

[danasoverseasemail]

Many threads on this subject.

However, the process the employer went through does not cost money, so no money was lost.

[choudoufu]

[Miles Smiles]

The first time that I intended to come to China, I was in a car accident right before I was to leave the country. I had the visa, but I had to back out. The school was a bit miffed, and I don't think anyone believed me.

A year later, I got an email from the FAO asking me if I was interested in reapplying. I told her that I was already in China, working for another school. I never heard back from her.

Just don't mention that you backed out of your first job.

[peewee1979]

On the subject of a blacklist - I would venture to say that a recruiter has so little say in this if it really exists.

IF a blacklist exists those on it should have committed some egregious breach OF THE LAW. Doing a runner, showing up drunk, banging your female students are not of such a highly serious nature in China it seems and would not get you on a GOVERNMENT APPROVED blacklist.

Recruiters and schools sharing information on a www site may constitute an unofficial blacklist but should not preclude people from coming and getting a real visa.

[therock]

[peewee1979]

[The Great Wall of Whiner]

Peewee is right: You are not blacklisted after 3 years because of a contract 3 years ago. These last for one year. Something else is up.

Recruiters make a lot of money for getting a foreign teacher for a school. Fees are typically anywhere from several thousand to over ten thousand yuan. The recruiter was angry she lost so much money when it seemed a good thing. She most likely did not 'have' to report anything, but the chances are she did out of spite because the school probably complained bitterly about her 'promise' of getting them a white-faced actor to attract students to their 'learning institute'.

In China, money is king. If you cost someone money, they will remember. If you cost someone a lot of money, revenge is not unheard of. "Turn the other cheek", or "Suck it up and move on" are nice little catch phrases seldom applied here.

This is simply a cost of doing business. People can and will change their minds. People are not slaves and should not be forced to do something they choose not to do. There are always extenuating circumstances, and believe me... our bosses care not one iota about our families or personal issues. Shut up and do your job. Anything that will stop the boss from making money will cause friction.

In conclusion, schools make an enormous amount of money simply because they have a white foreign face. The chances of every white person they come across to work for them decide to stay a full year in a foreign land without a single quirk or problem is miniscule.