Job Discussion Forums

[jimpellow]

Hello,

Has anybody recently joined Wall Street? I was contacted by a recruiter who works directly for them. I replied (I always do out of courtesy) that I was I not real enthused to come back to China with the current environment, especially as they are located in the more affluent jurisdictions and there was a strong possibility that I would have to return to the United States and pay for a costly pre-medical and obtain an FBI clearance.

She responded that a local police background check would do. This to me signifies that she is either a liar, or as clueless as a few veterans on this board.

She also states that they will reimburse for the pre-medical once I arrive. I know it is standard for the employer to pay for the Chinese medical, but this is the first I have heard of an employer also paying for the pre-medical. Hence, is she clueless here too, or is the quickly deteriorating supply of teachers forcing schools to be more generous?

(Answers from those with actual knowledge or constructive comment is well appreciated. Those who spend their time trolling this board with attacking and confrontational comments are requested to spend their efforts instead sticking their fingers in an electric socket in hopes of fixing their brains. Also not welcome our replies from those who think that reality revolves around their personal experiences in the past.)

[nomad soul]

[hdeth]

I wouldn't count on getting reimbursed for the pre-med, but the local police check being OK might be true. I moved to Beijing in January and just used a local check. Had to be notarized. When I first moved to China about a year and a half ago a faxed copy was OK in Shandong. Though I think my employer did something to make things work.

I've been stuck paying for every single medical exam. If I had made an issue out of it I think my employers would have paid but I figured it''s not THAT expensive and a happy employer makes my life easier.

[Songbird]

Yes they do. In fact, I got 2 reimbursed as I ended up getting 2- I already got one a couple of months with the FAO of WSE ready to start work, then when I went home suddenly the Consulate also required me to have the medical to apply for the z visa (I couldn't get it transferred for some reason) so had to go for a (literally) last minute medical for this silly reason! WSE was fine with it and reimbursed both.

(btw this was 3 years ago now)

[jimpellow]

Thanks for the positive responses.

I think the chances of me actually going back to China at this time are slim. But I am curious, and nice to share the knowledge.

I do know that Beijing has cut back on the requirements and I have posted about it before. Ironic, that the seat of power where all this crap started is now cutting back on it as other jurisdictions implement it.

I just refuse to pay the pre-med, or really even do, the pre-med on principle. The entire thing is because the local authorities have been instructed that one be done if there is cause for concern. Yet, rather than follow the spirit of the law, they just demand that all applicants do it to cover their own butts.

[Son of Bud Powell]

[Deats]

In China I allegedly have: an irregular heart beat, a fatty liver and a stomach ulcer.

In England I have: none of the above.

Chinese clinics are a joke.

[jimpellow]

[3701 W.119th]

I'm relatively healthy (for an overweight smoker / drinker). One thing the medical turned up was high blood pressure.

I'm a foreigner in China, working at a language centre, and living downtown in fairly big city. High blood pressure is surely a given?

[Deats]

Don't trust ANYTHING a Chinese medical shows up. Don't trust ANYTHING a Chinese doctor tells you. Just remember that these doctors went to Chinese universities therefore they probably paid for their grades.

[buravirgil]

The last two comments simultaneously present western exceptionalism and beg stereotypes: Being overweight, a smoker and a drinker, but suggesting one is relatively healthy is simply denial at the age of 25 and potentially famous last words over 40; A physician, by virtue of being Chinese, is not sufficient grounds to assert they probably "paid for their grades".

Prolonged high blood pressure is a serious condition and its causes are varied and often complex, but sometimes not, and the poster has identified three major contributors, though a job at a language center and living downtown are not among them. Graft is found more often in developing countries than developed, but medical training is fraught with challenges in every country, at every institution. Cheating is not a minor issue, nor is substance abuse.

Given the best of circumstances, it is recommended any medical prognosis be given a second opinion.

[jimpellow]

[listerialysin]

[nomad soul]

[jimpellow]