Job Discussion Forums

[tefter]

Hi all,

I have a tough decision to make. I have been offered a teaching position in Zhejiang province and I have to answer "yes" or "no" this week. If I decide to go for it they will start preparing the invitation documents. BUT - if I receive a better offer next week?? Could I possibly keep both options open and have two sets of invitation documents prepared? I mean - will anyone know that? Do the Foreighn Expert offices in the different provinces have a joint computer system or something like this...?

[KES]

Would you mind if the schools sent multiple invitations and then hired the better teacher after a group arrived?

Wow, hope you have a short engagement.

[Super Mario]

It's a 50/50.
They may well screw you around; offer a position and then withdraw it. It happens all the time.
Whether you want to work from that "ethical" base is up to you.

[Babala]

Why not just wait and take an offer you want. If you are not completely happy with the offer you got, keep trying. When you accept an offer, the school is counting on you to come. Remember that they have to do work to get you here too.

[englishgibson]

The answer to your question OP is YES as per invitation letter, but NO as per your work permit.

I must say that your intentions are absolutely unethical and I'll join KES in hoping that you'll have a very short engagement in any of those two schools.

Cheers and beers

_____________________________________________________________
Backpacking through China is a field of business

[tefter]

Wow! So much spite in this forum! Actually, this is a simple preventive measure. As Super Mario said, schools withdraw offers all the time. I'm not trying to be unethical, just safe.
And - my "engagements" in China have never been short, so I wouldn't worry if I were you. Useful advice is welcomed, poinltess spiteful comments - ignored.

[Super Mario]

Case in point: Dr Paul's English School, Qingdao, "hired" some people I know to what looked like good positions, and then withdrew the offers after said folk had refused contract renewals at their present schools. Nasty.

I wouldn't do what the OP is suggesting though. Public schools have a tough enough time recruiting as it is. I've witnessed the chaos no-shows and late "sick mother" withdrawals can cause. Do your homework as thoroughly as you can. If it falls through, there are still 1000s of jobs out there. Just make sure you've got a Z visa before leaving, as that's evidence of the school's good faith.

[Girl Scout]

In all honesty I'd be wary of a school wanting a decision immediately. Unless their semester is starting in a month and they expect you to show up right away, they can wait until you have had time to check them out.

There's always a better offer around the corner. Someone's always doing better then you. Make a commitment and stick with it. You're not doing yourself or China any good with your current attitude.

[therock]

You could probably get two invitation letters, as long as they are from different provinces. If the two schools are from the same province, then its unlikely they will issue two invitation letters.

[tefter]

Thank you (almost) all.

I have already decided to go for the school in Zhejiang province. They seem reliable enough. As I said, nothing is further from my mind than screwing some innocent school. I've been close to being burned before, hence my distrust. So there's nothing wrong with my attitude. My employers so far have been very happy with me.

Cheers!

[Girl Scout]

Good luck.

Don't disappear. We'd be interested in hearing from you again.

[tefter]

Thanks!

I'm now almost certain the school in Zhejiang is excellent. In the course of a lengthy period of negotiating they accepted almost all of my requirements. I'm not a native speaker so I consider myself lucky.

[englishgibson]

[tefter]

[HunanForeignGuy]