Job Discussion Forums

[Otherguy]

I'm applying to uni jobs (started about a month ago), "cold emailing" so to speak. I have gotten a whole range of replies; a few outright rejections, some thank you's showing interest, a few responses asking for more info, and now three solid leads with which I have had either a phone interview or asked questions (and gotten answers) about a sample contract they sent. These three have made offers though one was clear to say it was a preliminary (short list) offer. Based on how it's been progressing I'm sure I'll get more responses in the near future.

I want to juggle as many irons in the fire as possible so my question is: When is a contract really made? There's probably a thread on here about the steps but I haven't found it yet. For instance, I've seen mention of the "letter of invitation" in some threads. How can I recognize that? One of the latest emails I got started out with a, "We would like to welcome you to (school name) for the 200-2011 academic year..." Is an email acceptance of an offer taken seriously?

I know I could back out at the last minute if I needed to (feign problem with physical exam or whatever) but I don't want to be rude and screw up planning on their end if I don't have to and yet at the same time I want to land the best job. When's the latest I can back out?
Any thoughts?
Thanks!

[The Ever-changing Cleric]

Practically speaking, I'd say that once you've received the documents for the Z visa (work permit/invitation) the school has shown they're serious about hiring you. They've expended energy and funds to get those documents. For many people, this is probably the point of committing yourself, of not backing out. But there are always exceptions.

[Otherguy]

Right, I see that one school is letting me know they will be sending the "Foreign Expert Working Permit Application Record" to fill out. So it sounds like that's where they're getting serious about it. Of course it's easy to get a sense from the email exchanges too but I wanted to make sure.
A Chinese friend I have tells me casually, "Say yes to them all and then take the one you want." But that's tough for me to do. I don't know if it's a cultural thing or not.

[Mister Al]

I know that some will say that saying yes to all and then choosing the most suitable is good advice as that would be the local way perhaps, but you sound as this would make you feel uncomfortable. I'd be the same. That kind of behaviour just makes it more difficult for FT's in the long term and causes someone who offered you work a problem in the short term. And will have a negative impact on your self-esteem by the sounds of it. Who wants that?

Juggle the offers for a while and try to put off employers from pressing you for an answer too soon. Negotiate an acceptance deadline. And negotiate terms as well when you have a definite offer. Make your choice as and when you feel it's the right one.

Even if it turns out to be a wrong one.

[Otherguy]

It's interesting since I started this thread, a college that interviewed me on Skype (it went well) then sent me the work permit form and requests for other documents to fill out but no sample contract or money offer.

So I guess there is some grey area here!

[The Ever-changing Cleric]

[Otherguy]

Yes, thanks, I did just now.

Other questions:

What exactly is the "invitation letter"?

I guess that the job isn't really taken until the contract is signed in person?

[The Ever-changing Cleric]

if you accept a job with a school, then they send you a couple of documents, one of them is an invitation letter which just says you've been invited to work in china and should be issued with a Z visa.

before you get these documents you'll probably be sent a copy of a contract that the school will ask you to sign and fax back to them. send that back to the school, they apply for and send you the visa documents, and then I think its fair to say that the school considers the job taken.

final step for you before arriving in china: take these documents (should be originals i recall) to whatever chinese consulate you want to get the visa at. You need to tell the school which consulate you're getting the visa as the exact location must be on the invitation letter. This usually means (for most people) the one in your own country or the one in Hong Kong.

it's been a few years since i did all this myself since I've been at the same school for five years now.

[Otherguy]

Thanks, that's good to know because I would be going early to sightsee this summer. That means I would have to specify a Chinese consulate location to get the visa at.

[Teatime of Soul]

Try reading up on the process here.

http://middlekingdomlife.com/guide/english-teaching-jobs-china.htm