Job Discussion Forums

bluetortilla · Joined: 18 Apr 2006 Posts: 815 Location: Henan

I won't mention names or what city but some people who know my avatar know where I'm going (from one province to another).
Anyway, I started negotiating for a public college job and things were going very well until they sent me the pdf contract to read. After I wrote back saying I agreed to it they suddenly became curt and wrote very little. They asked if I'd be wiling to go there to sign the contract. I said sure, no problem, and told them when I got my tickets (I don't care about renumeration if I just get the job- it's not that much money). They wrote and only told me where the school was, and that they were available such and such an afternoon. They didn't ask about my lodgings or welfare, even though I'm a stranger to the city. I bought the tickets a few days ago and emailed them, but I've heard no reply. No 'looking forward to meeting you.'
If this were an interview in the U.S. I wouldn't be surprised. But what's strange is that they were so friendly at first but once the contract discussion started they clammed up. Now I'm worried that I'm going to go down there for nothing. If they tell me they need more time for signing the contract, I think I'm going to tell them it's now or never- there's not much time until the next term and I've already been searching since mid-February. (It seems in China I spend a good chunk of my time making sure my visa extension will go through, or wondering how I can find the next decent job that's not some stressed out language mill with a wacky visa arrangement.)
My first and only college in China was negotiated in good faith and 'in a friendly manner' as the contract says. Is the new college I'm dealing with now typical? Maybe the FAO is just really busy or something. But I don't like being promised a job in clear terms, accept it, and then finding that suddenly everything seems vague and up in the air.
Well, sorry for babbling or ranting or whining or whatever. I just want to know what other people think about the negotiation process, and what they think I should do if I go there and I'm not offered a contract to sign. After all, they expressly invited to go there 'to sign the contract' (their words), not for an interview or something (although I assume they want to make sure I'm 'OK' as it were and that's why they want me to physically show up).
I also don't want to end up in a school that's going to be a p. in the a. for a whole year. I teach. I do my job, and I do it as best I can. The students are the ones who count to me, not the admin. so much- they're who I'm there for. I don't mind speech contests or the occasional outing or whatever, but life is too short for shenanigans. Not very professional here imo.

johntpartee · Joined: 02 Mar 2010 Posts: 3258

choudoufu · Joined: 25 May 2010 Posts: 3325 Location: Mao-berry, PRC

why go there at all........if only to sign the contract?
if you wanna meet 'em, or visit the campus, then fine.

but if everything in the contract is agreeable, why not simply
have them EMS two copies of the contract (and appendixeses!)
to you. you sign 'em, (make copies!), and EMS 'em back.

they get the contracts signed/sealed, and EMS your
copy back to you.

just say sorry..........we're in the middle of the semester,
can't just take off a few days to go visiting.

bluetortilla · Joined: 18 Apr 2006 Posts: 815 Location: Henan

Thanks, I appreciate it.
Actually this is one of those posts I regret having posted. I've already bought the tickets, I doubt that they're refundable, and I'm moving there in August regardless, so why not make the most of it?
If it doesn't come through I'll just check out other options while I'm there and stop being a wuss about it. They asked me if I could come to sign the contract, they didn't demand it, and since it's settled they're probably on to other business or not checking their Yahoo account as much. So not much to say about it except wait and see.
I did get my first contract signed exactly as chodofu said- but I was in another country at the time.

choudoufu · Joined: 25 May 2010 Posts: 3325 Location: Mao-berry, PRC

bluetortilla · Joined: 18 Apr 2006 Posts: 815 Location: Henan

Zhejiang_Man · Joined: 23 Aug 2012 Posts: 123 Location: Zhejiang

renumeration - the act of learning math for a second time? Or, being able to proclaim oneself as being doubly numerate?

bluetortilla · Joined: 18 Apr 2006 Posts: 815 Location: Henan

Bud Powell · Joined: 11 Jul 2013 Posts: 1736

Remuneration might work

davelister · Joined: 15 Jul 2013 Posts: 214

bluetortilla, IMO the change in attitude you've experienced from the representative of your to-be employer is perhaps not uncommon at all in China. As far as that person is concerned, you have accepted a position there and their commission is in the bag or that box is ticked, so they don't feel any need to continue with pleasantries, including prompt replies. I certainly prefer to deal with Western management.

It reminds me of where I work. We have walking hairdos that only ever hide their contempt, smile and say hello to teachers if they have prospective students in tow.

fat_chris · Joined: 10 Sep 2003 Posts: 3198 Location: Beijing

bluetortilla · Joined: 18 Apr 2006 Posts: 815 Location: Henan

Bud Powell · Joined: 11 Jul 2013 Posts: 1736

I agree with Dave Lister. Pleasantries are over once you agree to something. If it's a public school, say goodbye to communication between you and the FAO after you arrive and have that special lunch or dinner during the first week.

bluetortilla · Joined: 18 Apr 2006 Posts: 815 Location: Henan

Bud Powell · Joined: 11 Jul 2013 Posts: 1736

I don't fault you one bit for being uncomfortable or suspicious. One would think that a PROSPECTIVE employer would not believe that your showing interest and a willingness to go talk constitutes a foregone conclusion that you'll sign.

It's possible that the employer doesn't want to respond to questions that might kill the deal.

I've run into similar situations when I was in my home country, and the prospective employer quit communicating. This is where the recruiter came in handy. I merely sent an email to the recruiter asking what was going on. The recruiter responded saying that she'd find out. In a couple of days I got an email from someone in the FAO who apologized for not responding. She was (supposedly) taking care of a sick relative.

Choudoufu's suggestion that you give it a couple of days because of the Sports Day, English Day, Job Recruiting Day, etc., may be slowing down communication is a good idea, though FAO's don't get too involved in school activities unless they're also teachers.

One more thing. I may have said this before: Don't take it too personally. (You've probably already figured this out already). Once, I was with a Chinese friend, and I was having a really bad China day. She thought it was funny that I was getting hacked off at my perception that everything was going wrong with my interaction with Chinese teachers, the FAO, vendors in the electronics bazaar, the woman who sold tickets in the bus station, etc.. She told me, "Don't take it personally. Those people treat everyone like that."

She was right. From then on, she did all of the talking. I let her suffer the slings and arrows.

Prepare yourself for a snag, then be pleasantly surprised when things go smoothly.