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Guerciotti
Joined: 13 Feb 2009
Posts: 842
Location: In a sleazy bar killing all the bad guys.
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 Posted: Fri Jul 16, 2010 6:36 am Post subject: 14 month contract from Sept to end of Oct - is this common? |
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I'm looking at a uni contract, term runs from September 1, 2010 to October 31, 2011. The recruiter says it's due to their semester's timing?
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LanGuTou
Joined: 23 Mar 2009
Posts: 621
Location: Shandong
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| Posted: Fri Jul 16, 2010 8:10 am Post subject: |
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No, not at all common for universities to end a semester at the end of October. In fact it looks very strange. Is this a public university?
The issue that is likely to occur relates to the residence permit. They are usually only good for one year or less. I cannot see the PSB renewing the RP just for a few months so I suspect you would end up working part of this contract on a L visa or even having to do a visa run.
It will also make it very difficult for you to find another university teaching job if you decide to stay in China because you will not get the release letter until other universities are already in mid term. |
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Guerciotti
Joined: 13 Feb 2009
Posts: 842
Location: In a sleazy bar killing all the bad guys.
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| Posted: Fri Jul 16, 2010 8:23 am Post subject: |
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| LanGuTou wrote: |
No, not at all common for universities to end a semester at the end of October. In fact it looks very strange. Is this a public university?
The issue that is likely to occur relates to the residence permit. They are usually only good for one year or less. I cannot see the PSB renewing the RP just for a few months so I suspect you would end up working part of this contract on a L visa or even having to do a visa run.
It will also make it very difficult for you to find another university teaching job if you decide to stay in China because you will not get the release letter until other universities are already in mid term. |
Yes, it is public. I think I need to ask that they change it to Jul 31st or the norm. I'd like to teach there, but not with strange K terms. Thank you very much for your reply.
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Miles Smiles
Joined: 07 Jun 2010
Posts: 1294
Location: Heebee Jeebee
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| Posted: Fri Jul 16, 2010 9:13 am Post subject: |
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| Sounds strange to me too. Could be a typo. |
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Teatime of Soul
Joined: 12 Apr 2007
Posts: 905
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| Posted: Fri Jul 16, 2010 12:13 pm Post subject: |
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It is quite odd. Most PSBs will not issue a multi-year FRP to newcomers.
I'd ask for a verification from the school. |
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Guerciotti
Joined: 13 Feb 2009
Posts: 842
Location: In a sleazy bar killing all the bad guys.
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| Posted: Sat Jul 17, 2010 7:49 pm Post subject: |
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| Teatime of Soul wrote: |
It is quite odd. Most PSBs will not issue a multi-year FRP to newcomers.
I'd ask for a verification from the school. |
An update FWIW
The recruiter insists "all the other FTs have this contract." I looked up the school semesters and told her I think they start in September. But I can't read Chinese. I told her I would sign if it was changed to July 1, and she said goodbye.
In all my crawling through university posts, I found only one or two asking for Sept-Oct. Anyway, it's over. So many universities, so little time.
Oh, and thank you for the replies.
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johntpartee
Joined: 02 Mar 2010
Posts: 3258
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| Posted: Sat Jul 17, 2010 10:54 pm Post subject: |
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| Kinda off topic, but I just got my new RP and it's only for six months, even though the contract is for one year. The FAO told me the other foreign teachers' were as well. He suggested that perhaps it's a new government policy. Back on topic, that means you would need THREE RPs for this contract. |
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LanGuTou
Joined: 23 Mar 2009
Posts: 621
Location: Shandong
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| Posted: Sat Jul 17, 2010 11:02 pm Post subject: |
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| johntpartee wrote: |
| Kinda off topic, but I just got my new RP and it's only for six months, even though the contract is for one year. The FAO told me the other foreign teachers' were as well. He suggested that perhaps it's a new government policy. Back on topic, that means you would need THREE RPs for this contract. |
I wonder how much your employers paid for the RP? If it was the 800 rmb usually paid for a one year RP, it is probably more of a locally applied money making venture. I have not heard that this policy is applied nationally and I cannot imagine people in the business sector being too impressed if it was! |
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johntpartee
Joined: 02 Mar 2010
Posts: 3258
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| Posted: Sat Jul 17, 2010 11:13 pm Post subject: |
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| I'm not sure how much they paid, at first they tried to get me to pay it, but I refused, so they changed the contract. It's very possibly a local thing, I don't know. |
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kukiv
Joined: 13 Dec 2009
Posts: 328
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| Posted: Sun Jul 18, 2010 6:33 am Post subject: |
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| Kinda off topic, but I just got my new RP and it's only for six months, even though the contract is for one year. |
Sounds a bit dodgy - I always through RP's made to facilitate stays longer than 6 months. You read all the characters on that RP to make sure its kosher!!!!!! |
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johntpartee
Joined: 02 Mar 2010
Posts: 3258
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| Posted: Sun Jul 18, 2010 11:08 am Post subject: |
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| I'm quite sure. It says (in English) "Expiry (sic) date________" and the date on the line is six months from the date they gave it to me. I don't read Chinese, but all of the characters on the new one are exactly the same as my previous (one year) RP. |
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Teatime of Soul
Joined: 12 Apr 2007
Posts: 905
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| Posted: Sun Jul 18, 2010 1:08 pm Post subject: |
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6 months is 400. I'm guessing they expect early departures and don't want to be paying for the full term.
It appears an extraordinary level of parsimony. |
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Guerciotti
Joined: 13 Feb 2009
Posts: 842
Location: In a sleazy bar killing all the bad guys.
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| Posted: Mon Jul 19, 2010 6:33 am Post subject: |
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| Teatime of Soul wrote: |
6 months is 400. I'm guessing they expect early departures and don't want to be paying for the full term.
It appears an extraordinary level of parsimony. |
True, parsimony can be carried too far.
Now they say they sent the wrong contract, so the new end date is August 31, 2010. I guess I can do that. 
Now if I could clarify the payment terms.
I don't yet have an email addy or anything from the school directly. I wonder if the recruiter is simply protecting himself, or maybe the people at the school are reluctant to communicate directly for lack of English skills.
At any rate it sounds like I'll go there.
Thanks for all the replies, especially permit costs.
G, of Bargain, Haggle, Dicker, & Treat, PLLC |
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johntpartee
Joined: 02 Mar 2010
Posts: 3258
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| Posted: Mon Jul 19, 2010 6:42 am Post subject: |
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| Next time use Dewey, Cheatham & Howe. |
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LanGuTou
Joined: 23 Mar 2009
Posts: 621
Location: Shandong
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| Posted: Mon Jul 19, 2010 7:47 am Post subject: |
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| Guerciotti wrote: |
| Teatime of Soul wrote: |
6 months is 400. I'm guessing they expect early departures and don't want to be paying for the full term.
It appears an extraordinary level of parsimony. |
True, parsimony can be carried too far.
Now they say they sent the wrong contract, so the new end date is August 31, 2010. I guess I can do that.
Now if I could clarify the payment terms.
I don't yet have an email addy or anything from the school directly. I wonder if the recruiter is simply protecting himself, or maybe the people at the school are reluctant to communicate directly for lack of English skills.
At any rate it sounds like I'll go there.
Thanks for all the replies, especially permit costs.
G, of Bargain, Haggle, Dicker, & Treat, PLLC |
Again, be very, very careful with that August 31st finish date. It seems to me that this university is already trying to force your hand re: a second year. The advantage is that such a contract SHOULD include payment over the summer vacation period right up to the end of August.
The problem that you will encounter is, if you dislike the working conditions at this university or you get offered a better deal elsewhere, you will find it more difficult to move. The reason for that is you must wait until the end of the contract for a recommendation and/or release letter. It will be too late for other schools and universities to process your application before the start of the next semester. It is highly likely that they will overlook you and recruit someone else instead.
Just be careful of what this recruiter is up to!  |
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