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Received an offer but not certain I should take it
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dmk1967



Joined: 19 Aug 2014
Posts: 19
Location: USA

PostPosted: Fri Nov 20, 2015 4:59 pm    Post subject: Received an offer but not certain I should take it Reply with quote

Hi all, I just received an offer with CIPTC (aka Shenzhen International Personnel Training Center). During the Skype interview, a good deal of my questions were answered with "it depends on which school we place you with." I just received the offer/contract and I'm starting to feel a little queasy about this. I had hoped that at a minimum I'd be able to ask for pictures or description of the housing provided, but, again, that's something that apparently won't be revealed until the last minute after arriving there ("depends on where you're placed").

Thoughts? Am I being silly wondering whether it's a good idea to take an offer without knowing where I'll actually be working, or is this routine?
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Non Sequitur



Joined: 23 May 2010
Posts: 4724
Location: China

PostPosted: Fri Nov 20, 2015 5:21 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

You must have a Z. If this centre can't get that - move along.
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dmk1967



Joined: 19 Aug 2014
Posts: 19
Location: USA

PostPosted: Fri Nov 20, 2015 5:37 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Non Sequitur wrote:
You must have a Z. If this centre can't get that - move along.


They do say in the contract they will proess the visa.
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Non Sequitur



Joined: 23 May 2010
Posts: 4724
Location: China

PostPosted: Fri Nov 20, 2015 6:03 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

That's good.
But in 'process' they should send a letter of invitation which you use to get the Z at your local PRC consulate.
I think your next step is to ask them: 'When will you be sending the Letter of Invitation?'
Go to the offer checklist thread. I'm just concerned that you may be confronted with a 'mornings here, afternoons there' scenario with you commuting for an hour (unpaid) at lunchtime.
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dmk1967



Joined: 19 Aug 2014
Posts: 19
Location: USA

PostPosted: Fri Nov 20, 2015 6:18 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Non Sequitur wrote:
That's good.
But in 'process' they should send a letter of invitation which you use to get the Z at your local PRC consulate.
I think your next step is to ask them: 'When will you be sending the Letter of Invitation?'
Go to the offer checklist thread. I'm just concerned that you may be confronted with a 'mornings here, afternoons there' scenario with you commuting for an hour (unpaid) at lunchtime.


Here's what the visa portion of the contract says:

"It will take about four weeks to process the visa application in China and can only be started after Party A has received all necessary documents mentioned above from Party B. Once the required visa processing documents have been compiled they will then be sent by express mail directly to Party B. Upon receiving this necessary paperwork, Party B shall go to Chinese Embassy or Consulate to apply for work visa (Z visa) and shall only enter China on this visa which is needed for legal employment on mainland China."

The "documents mentioned above" are just the usual (degree, passport, etc.)...
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Non Sequitur



Joined: 23 May 2010
Posts: 4724
Location: China

PostPosted: Fri Nov 20, 2015 6:30 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

All pretty regular.
Any start date been mentioned?
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dmk1967



Joined: 19 Aug 2014
Posts: 19
Location: USA

PostPosted: Fri Nov 20, 2015 6:46 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Non Sequitur wrote:
All pretty regular.
Any start date been mentioned?


February. Like i said, I'm just a little uncomfortable about not knowing where I'm going to end up until the last minute, but if this is commonly done in teaching recruitment, then I'll try to be brave Smile.
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Non Sequitur



Joined: 23 May 2010
Posts: 4724
Location: China

PostPosted: Fri Nov 20, 2015 7:40 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Missed the February bit.
But that makes for relaxed timetabling getting your medical and then the Z.
I can understand that some detail isn't available this far ahead, but I would like to see you get assurances that:
a) Accom is on or adjacent to campus
b) All teaching is on the same campus.
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dmk1967



Joined: 19 Aug 2014
Posts: 19
Location: USA

PostPosted: Fri Nov 20, 2015 7:46 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Non Sequitur wrote:
Missed the February bit.
But that makes for relaxed timetabling getting your medical and then the Z.
I can understand that some detail isn't available this far ahead, but I would like to see you get assurances that:
a) Accom is on or adjacent to campus
b) All teaching is on the same campus.


He said I'd be assigned to one school. I asked whether the free apartment (when available) was within walking distance of the school and he said yes. But, again, I can't ask for pictures of said apartment because "that depends on the school" and I haven't been placed yet. There's also the chance I may have to find my own place and they give an allowance of 2500, but from what I've read I'm going to have to supplement that figure to get something decent, so again it would be nice to know exactly what I'm getting into here.

I think I'm going to email them asking if it's possible to send pics of sample apartments just to get an idea...
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Non Sequitur



Joined: 23 May 2010
Posts: 4724
Location: China

PostPosted: Fri Nov 20, 2015 7:56 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Good to have those assurances.
I taught with a guy years ago who lived with his Chinese GF in her apt away from campus.
He had split shifts ie he worked 8-10 and then again 2-4.
His apt was too far away to go home and he just had to hang out killing time.
Another point how about looking for another option to keep in your back pocket.
A regular uni or vocational that has a history of hiring FTs and are set up for it and your hiring is taken care of by their FAO - not a 3rd party.
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dmk1967



Joined: 19 Aug 2014
Posts: 19
Location: USA

PostPosted: Fri Nov 20, 2015 8:02 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Non Sequitur wrote:
Good to have those assurances.
I taught with a guy years ago who lived with his Chinese GF in her apt away from campus.
He had split shifts ie he worked 8-10 and then again 2-4.
His apt was too far away to go home and he just had to hang out killing time.
Another point how about looking for another option to keep in your back pocket.
A regular uni or vocational that has a history of hiring FTs and are set up for it and your hiring is taken care of by their FAO - not a 3rd party.


Well I only got five days to accept/reject, and no doubt the recruiter is going to be on me first thing Monday for my answer, so really no time to find another option. Either I take it and live with it, or reject it and keep searching...but thanks for all your input so far!
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Non Sequitur



Joined: 23 May 2010
Posts: 4724
Location: China

PostPosted: Fri Nov 20, 2015 8:14 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Best!
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OhBudPowellWhereArtThou



Joined: 02 Jun 2015
Posts: 1168
Location: Since 2003

PostPosted: Sat Nov 21, 2015 12:28 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

If you have sent all your information, then you should be told exactly where you'll be placed.

I wouldn't agree to anything until I knew where I was going to live and teach.
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teenoso



Joined: 18 Sep 2013
Posts: 365
Location: south china

PostPosted: Sat Nov 21, 2015 1:38 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

I think if you're worried about the uncertainty in the offer , you should pass on it. I think most training schools will expect a good deal of flexibility, even when you're in the job, and you might find it unsettling.

Shenzhen is a big city and you could be living a way from your school. If you're young and energetic, a daily commute and hanging around in an office between shifts, might be nothing. Also lots of people don't bother too much about their living situation, and are more interested in getting out and about. You seem more risk -averse, so my advice would be just to look for a safer , more predictable offer.
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Non Sequitur



Joined: 23 May 2010
Posts: 4724
Location: China

PostPosted: Sat Nov 21, 2015 3:47 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Yeah I'll refresh my idea of having a backup.
New Year is a week or so earlier in 2016 but even so you have time to investigate other opps.
A pinch of salt with the pressure turnaround time mentioned above.
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