Job Discussion Forums

[StayingPower]

Is it just a fact of life here or does it seem at times you might be breaking etiquette? I mean, going for a job interview, feeling like it's a great opportunity, like they'll hire you. Then you get this non-comittal appoach from some, as if you've been fleeced.

What I mean is that I did a demo a few days ago and it went well. The lady placated me with plattitudes, said she'd call me the next day( I know this Taiwanese lie.) Told her I'd spent a few years teaching in Korea, she adhered. Then three days later still no call.

So I called tonight, asked her When? She said they had some teacher coming in from Seoul, wanted to test him. Thought, Why Seoul? How could they grab someone out of the blue from Seoul? Would the fellow, or woman, really come all this way to do a demo? Would anyone really apply here from Seoul(The jobs there pay atleast 2.2 million won, hub of Korea.)

I got to thinking. Why lead me on? If I had been in Korea, which I was, then why go out of your way to have someone come all the way from there when you had someone at your doorsteps? My only thinking is this.

Did I break etiquett by mentioning Korea? Does Korea outshine them? Is it not true Korea is one of the most proficient of ESL learners/speakers-according to statistics-in Asia and could that be why?

The demo, therefore, went well. The interview went great. No face was lost, except this.

They needed me as a sub the next two classes and to prove that in some respects, teaching etiquette, kowtowing to what the children, and the school's budget demanded, was not but a demo to illustrate an illusion.

The CT didn't like me.

[TaoyuanSteve]

Just forget about them and move on. Do not wait for any one job and don't waste time wondering why they might want other candidates. For all you know they might think the other teacher is younger and better looking. I doubt the Korea thing is really a factor, at least not for the school. Your last line of your post may be the real reason you didn't get hired along with the subbing thing. Keep going to interviews and keep calling.

[SanChong]

It's not a great situation, but is it much different from back home?

Back home, sometimes firms won't even respond to applications at all, or often simply write a one or two line email or letter, months later, indicating rejection.

Don't go down the road of blaming things on the local culture... we are here to adjust, after all, right? If you keep feeling this way, you will just end up bitter and angry for the long run....

[matchstick_man]

In my personal experience if you're not hired straight away you haven't got the job. If there was no call after three days I'd assume I hadn't got the job. I've done demos and never heard back for the same reason. As Sanchong says it's not just in Taiwan.

[Toe Save]

I've met so many folks who come in here expecting that Taiwan owes them a living. A guy came in the other day and flat out accused our staff of lying to him. Lying? In Taiwan?

Point is, sure, the locals may be stretching the truth a tad, but if you've been here longer than a cup of coffee, you'll realize their "lies" are not designed out of maliciousness or greed, but in fact, to save everyone's face. The "lie" is accepted, the goal is realized and everyone moves on relatively unscathed.

Hey Toto, you ain't in Kansas anymore. Stop trying to turn Roosevelt Road into The Yellow Brick Road. When you come to Taiwan, please bid farewell to the Road of Yellow Brick.

[StayingPower]

[StayingPower]

[TaoyuanSteve]

It's hard to know what the school's management was thinking and I recommend not bothering to try to analyze their behaviour too much. You've been in Asia before, so you ought to know about the face concept already mentioned.

I think many of us here have been through this passive rejection before and can relate to your feelings. We westerners just to know where we stand. The Chinese, however, think telling you "you're just not who we want" is too direct and will insult your dignity.

Who knows how they decided they wanted to try someone else. I think, like many Chinese management decisions, it was made hastily and without much thought. Locals. I've found lack planning skills and are reactive rather than proactive in their management style.

I like your point about objectivity vs. subjectivity. I think you are on to something with that idea. It may be that your prospective school was looking for a person who met a certain set of physical characteristics rather than for someone who could actually do the job.

Point is, though, keep looking and forget about what schools say. If they want you, the Chinese style is to hire quickly. If they don't, move on.

[Toe Save]

[lipsonto]

Not sure where you're getting your statistics from StayingPower about Korea being one of the most proficient of ESL learners/speakers in Asia. According to an article in the Guardian UK Koreans are the worst English speakers in Asia.

http://education.guardian.co.uk/tefl/story/0,,1972859,00.html [/url]

[lipsonto]

You were saying that the Taiwanese lie to save face, but, they're terrible at it, so, aren't they actually losing face by lying?

Good luck with the Job hunting StayingPower.

[Toe Save]