Job Discussion Forums

[Roger]

Haven't had luck in biblical amounts of late, to be honest. No, I am not starving, and I still turn down the moe odd offer even now, but I am beginning to see signs on the wall...

Walked out of a relatively cosy deal because... well, I posted the reasons here some time ago. I even went to the relevant education bureau who sided with me in my opinion.
I part-timed in several outfits, and still do. To work on an hourly basis offers some advantages such as choice (you can quit more easily), and hourly rates are somewhat higher than monthly salaries. The downside is, of course, that you are walking an extremely slippery road. You find yourself constantly trying to maximise your workload. There goes your freedom!

One such institute that I wanted to test with a view of long-term rapport with their management replaced me over night, informing me of their decision by email, effective for the day after!
My replacement was a young woman with Asia teaching experience. Believe it or not - she lasted but three days, and had a nervous breakdown (or so I was later told) during one of her performances. She was found crying in the toilets! Her problem was the kids were way too difficult to handle.
That's why the school laboured over the question of how to break the bad/good news to me. CLearly, an apology was necessary, but they couldn't bring themselves to saying "sorry!". The recruiter had to do that. Yes, I had been offered up to them by a go-between! This is fast becoming the norm, guys and gals!

Another recruiter had gotten wind of my job hunting. One night, shortly before midnight, a call from Jiangsu. And, ten minutes later, that agent's local client phoned me to arrange a meeting with me the following day. I went to meet the client, who was another training centre operator. I shall call this business henceforth "school A".
When I got off the bus, I couldn't find a telephone, so I went to the local library where I knew a private language institute there, which I shall refer to as "school B", whose telephone I can use any time. I called, and the boss of school A promised to fetch me within one minute.
Two minutes later, the mobile phone of the boss of school b went off, and she handed it to me. "It's your friend," she said. It was the boss of school A. He said he was waiting right outside the library. NOTHING COULD INCITE HIM TO ENTER IT.
I did not understand the reason for this immediately, but gradually, I picked up a few hints. He walked me to his school ten minutes on foot away. While walking there, he talked about the "bad business climate". First of all, he had parted company with a partner of his. AND, THAT PARTNER USED TO HAVE A STAND IN THE LIBRARY, ADVERTISING FOR THEIR BUSINESS. So, the boss of school A was not willing to enter the library for fear of seeing a competitor!
We walked, and he pointed to a shutter on the front of a shop, directly above which was the name plate of another, yes you guessed it: training centre.
I had known this one before - now it was closed. Folded!
When I arrived at the school A, I realised I had been there three years earlier! I had been interviewed by the then partner of its current boss. Only the name had changed - I recognised its interior at once!

The boss was quite eager to take me on board - at a salary just hovering above a public school's deal, minus work visa ("we don't need that - we are friends with the PSB, they sell us business visas for our foreign teachers..." - did I hear some hint there of future trouble if he and I fell out with each other?). And, he made it crystal-clear - no part-timing for other businesses any more.
About this latter point: Maybe I can talk him into agreeing to allowing me to work part-time in towns other than my boss' base! His business licence does not cover other towns than the one in which his office is. My idea is that he is not willing to share me with COMPETITORS - but schools in other locations are NOT his competitors.
Anyway, he also had a few unkind words for his former partner. I am sure i have no interest in working for BOTH of them simultaneously...

But the whole story shows that it is going to be ever more difficult to land a decent job these days. I haven't signed yet, and the fact that he is strongly urging me speaks volumes of his character, to be sure.
But, what can you do?

[struelle]

[Minhang Oz]

No days off, but three out of the five I've finished by 11.30 a.m. And that leaves plenty of time to do useful, or totally useless but enjoyable, things. It's luck of the draw though.

[Jen2003]

I know some schools looking for people for next term. Contact me in January if you are in town.
Jen

[Roger]

hello, jens,

"...contact me if you are in town..."

WHich town?

I am interested in a job in January, provided it's in Guangdong. Preferably with a work visa...

Roger

[woza17]

Hi Roger
I know you don't like Dongguan but maybe you should try the uni here
Cheers Carol