Job Discussion Forums

[china505]

Hello,

I apologize if this has been brought up before but I did search and didnt find exactly what I am looking for. If anybody has done this or been in this situation I would love to hear your advice/story. Likewise, if you know something about this, advice and stories are much appreciated.

Background:

Been in China for 3 years working for the same company which is a well known company here in China (think "language mill"). Recently the job has become very bad, and no longer something I want to do. I have stuck it out here for 3 years, been a manager, then back to just FT, long story short, I want to move on to somewhere w]that I actually have a chance to be a teacher. I have an education degree, all my papers are legit (no bad visa stuff, etc, etc).

The issue is that my contract is currently a 1 year contract and after this term, I am still signed on for another 6 months....ok.

In my contract it says that if we give 6 weeks notice, we wont be fined and can get a release letter. From what I have been told, people who do give 6+ weeks notice generally dont have much trouble other than minor pay issues which im less concerned about at the moment.

Current Situation:

I have interviewed at a local University and want to get this job, The people I interviewed with (head of the English Department), liked me, liked my resume and we got along well so the moved me on to the next step which is HR approval, ok I got approved by HR, next step, get some papers turned in and they can get a contract and we can sign it and BAM, early September Im working at the University.

The papers I need according to the Uni are:
-Release letter
-Cancelation of FEC
-Medical check (I guess I have to do and pay for this myself...ok)
-Rec letter from A current manager (ok, no problem)

So, here is what I am wondering: (Im confused and nervous so please bare with me).

1. how does the release letter and FEC cancelation work (say I give adequate notice (10 weeks rather than the 6 required), or even simply ask them to change my contract to 6 months rather than 1 year which helps them as I stay through finals and in theory, give them 12 weeks notice)? I am assuming I get a release letter and FEC cancelation papers AFTER I am actually done???

-This is a concern because if I give say 10 weeks notice, then the University dosent do a contract with me until I get these papers, that means the future job isnt really "secured"....Right???

2. I know some people go home and get a new invitation letter and Visa, does anybody here think this may be easier??

-When I say "easier", what I mean is that I have not been home in 3 years so I would not mind taking a trip home and if made the switch easier, id be fine with it, dosent matter that the trip would be at my own expense.

3. Medical Check: I know this is standard, but is this something thats commonly done on your own? EVERY one I have done in the past 3 years has been with somebody from the school, not on my own, and not out of my own pocket (again, I dont mind spending a few hundred rmb if it streamlines the process, even if I dont get it back).

4. For those of you who switched jobs, especially those of you who did it before a contract was over, did it generally go smoothly? I have read some horror stories, but I would imagine that more people have had ZERO issues or very minor issues compared to the few scary stories I've read about this.

5. I have been told by multiple managers that if I give 6 weeks notice, there wont be a problem, imagine that today is today and this new job starts Sept 3, what would you do? The gap makes me nervous.

Thank you very much for taking the time to read this, I sincerely appreciate constructive feedback from you all, again, this is my first time trying to switch companies so please excuse my lack of understanding in how this all goes down.

Thanks again!!!

[johntpartee]

Sounds like you already have a handle on what needs to be done. You are doing everything by the contract, you don't mind shelling out your own dough to do whatever needs to be done. As far as a "smooth" transition, that would mostly be up to the administrators at your present position; unfortunately, that can't be addressed by anyone on here since you're getting into individual human nature here. If your current employers wants to make your life miserable, they can. Have you informed them of your plans to see what their reaction is? Try laying it out to them like you did here, hopefully they'll see that you want to leave on good terms and will respond accordingly.

[kungfuman]

[GuestBob]

This is how things might look:

1: Sign a contract with Happytime University for the coming September.

2: Submit your notice to LinguaSausage and get confirmation of your completion date and the date on which your release letter will be available.

3: Check the end date on your FEC - you may be able to get away without a cancellation letter for your FEC if Happytime University can just apply for a new one. To do this, your FEC will have to have less than thirty days validity on it when you apply for a new one. Provincial variations may apply, check with your local provider for details.

4: Take a new medical in the province to which you are moving.

5: Work for LinguaSausage until the end of your notice period.

6: When you are supplied with the release letter pass all of the documentation to Happytime University and they will get the ball rolling with your new FEC application, then the Residence Permit.

Your RP should remain valid and I don't think anyone is going to have any beef with you remaining under it whilst you switch employers.

Bargaining tip - why not come to an agreement with LinguaSausage that you'll work for them for ten weeks - like you mentioned in your post - on the condition that they provide you with your release letter and FEC cancellation on the date requested by Happytime University?

I have switched jobs before and I have always done it before I finished contracts (easier to go from employment to employment).

[china505]

My Residence Permit expires August 26, THe company I work for cant get 1 year residence permits due to some legal thing they got into a little while back.


Also if it matters, New job is in the same province, same city. IS this something I shouldnt mention to the current employer?

[GuestBob]

[kungfuman]

[choudoufu]

they can give you the release letter at any time. my last uni gave me mine
around end of march-ish..........i filled out the form and printed it out for
them to make it easier.

bargain. tell 'em if they give you the letter now, then instead of the minimum
6 weeks notice, you'll give 'em 12 weeks and will complete the semester.

everybody's happy.