| View previous topic :: View next topic |
| Author |
Message |
Leon Purvis
Joined: 27 Feb 2006
Posts: 420
Location: Nowhere Near Beijing
|
 Posted: Fri Dec 07, 2007 8:50 pm Post subject: |
 |
|
| Ten grand at a public uni? Bah! |
|
| Back to top |
|
 |
flutterbayou
Joined: 01 Apr 2006
Posts: 244
|
| Posted: Sun Dec 09, 2007 6:35 am Post subject: Early interview ? |
|
|
[quote="jwbhomer"]
| timtastic wrote: |
| Wow, they already got back to me. Interviewing tomorrow even! |
Timtastic, please take what you read here with grains of iodized salt.
An immediate job interview doesn't necessarily connotate that someone has done a runner. In China, organizations generally don't plan anything ahead of time; they tend to do today what needs to be ready at 5 o clock today.
They have received a cv from an applicant that has drawn their attention - that's YOU!
They next call you to hear your voice because they want to eliminate those who look good on paper but sound 'not standard' over the phone. Now, if this university sends you a contract in a hurry, say YES. YES does not necessarily mean acceptance here; it means that you are willing to negotiate.
Once you have said yes, you can begin to develop a nice relationship over correspondence. Perhaps you can have another foreign teacher write to you about the school without offending anyone.
It is my guess that this is a joint venture that would have you teach for more than 13-16 hours per week, and that some of the teachers are leaving after a 6 month contract. They want you in January because they want staff in place before the beginning of the Spring Festival. In fact, it seems this group IS planning a bit in advance, which implies a sense of organization.
One thing I suggest to newbies is to ask for a snapshot of the accommodations. Accommodations are clear indicators of how well you will be treated.
Another wise conversation piece is the topic of resources. Find out what materials the uni provides.
One more thing on private colleges that serve a student population who did not score well on college entrance exams: some people are late bloomers. I've had a number of these kids mature a year or two later and end up getting their BA's in Australia, then their MBA's in the USA, so I'd caution against making generalities.
The best of good to you.
Flutter |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
vikuk
Joined: 23 May 2007
Posts: 1842
|
| Posted: Sun Dec 09, 2007 9:03 am Post subject: |
|
|
| Quote: |
| Perhaps you can have another foreign teacher write to you about the school without offending anyone. |
If the school won't give you contact details of other teachers - then you can really start to whiff the fishy regarding that job!!!!!!
Also watch out for schools inserting homemade good reviews - simple repeated basic English grammar mistakes - like the repeated use of the term "accomodations" - would start to make me want to take a closer look for proof of authenticity!!!! |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Lorean
Joined: 21 Dec 2006
Posts: 476
Location: Beijing
|
| Posted: Sun Dec 09, 2007 9:04 am Post subject: |
|
|
| Quote: |
| One more thing on private colleges that serve a student population who did not score well on college entrance exams: some people are late bloomers. I've had a number of these kids mature a year or two later and end up getting their BA's in Australia, then their MBA's in the USA, so I'd caution against making generalities. |
Tell me about it.
A Chinese friend of mine failed his college entrance exams. Thankfully, his parent's money got him into a Canadian University, but did not stop him from failing his first semester. Flash forward four years later, he graduated with honors and was accepted into a Masters program. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
timtastic
Joined: 05 Oct 2007
Posts: 14
Location: Beijing
|
| Posted: Sun Dec 09, 2007 10:08 am Post subject: |
|
|
I had my interview yesterday, for anyone who is interested.
I arrived about 15 minutes early, and the interviewer wasn't ready for me yet. He showed me to a room where I could wait for him, and then I sat there for at least 45 minutes waiting for him. The interview lasted for a grand total of FIVE MINUTES. It seemed to me that he wasn't too focused in what he was doing, because he spent most of the time looking at my resume, as if he hadn't seen it before.
I'm not sure what to make of this. We ended the interview at the pre-appointed time for the end (was supposed to be a 30 minute interview). Is it possible that they wanted to just get a basic idea of a bunch of candidates and weed them down to what they wanted? It seems unlikely that is the case, given they wanted an immediate start. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
flutterbayou
Joined: 01 Apr 2006
Posts: 244
|
| Posted: Sun Dec 09, 2007 10:16 am Post subject: |
|
|
The person who first looked at your resume was not the same person who interviewed you.
Didn't they give you time to ask questions? Did you ask the interviewer what the purpose of the meeting was? Did you ask whether there would be another follow-up?
I don't mean to talk down to you - truly - but the next time you set up an interview, think instead that you are interviewing them.
You will leave the place on your own terms.
From what you wrote, my guess is that they spent more time than planned with the person before you. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
vikuk
Joined: 23 May 2007
Posts: 1842
|
| Posted: Sun Dec 09, 2007 10:29 am Post subject: |
|
|
Timtastic - the botch up regarding your interview seems to be in the best of local style (you must already be learning something about that)!!!!
| Quote: |
I don't mean to talk down to you - truly - but the next time you set up an interview, think instead that you are interviewing them.
You will leave the place on your own terms. |
as for asking searching questions - well give that a try - if nothing else that ploy can always be good for a laugh.
Most important is getting in contact with the other FT's - then you'll get the real low-down on conditions, pay and why the job has been made vacant at an unusual time!!!! |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
timtastic
Joined: 05 Oct 2007
Posts: 14
Location: Beijing
|
| Posted: Sun Dec 09, 2007 10:52 am Post subject: |
|
|
| What's the verdict on asking for a probationary period before I sign the final contract? I really don't want to get involved with a school that has a harsh penalty for breaching the contract in case I really don't want the job. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
latefordinner
Joined: 19 Aug 2003
Posts: 973
|
| Posted: Sun Dec 09, 2007 11:00 am Post subject: |
|
|
| Timtastic, if there was something in the interview that impressed you, or if, as seems more liekly, you're still attacted by their initial offer, then by all means give them a probationary period so that they can demonstrate to you that they are better than the person who attempted to interview you. And if they pass that period without too many mess-ups, maybe, just maybe it's worth developing a relationship with them. I'm guessing not, but I put more emphasis on interviews than most, and by my lights they failed yours quite badly. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
flutterbayou
Joined: 01 Apr 2006
Posts: 244
|
| Posted: Mon Dec 10, 2007 5:42 am Post subject: |
|
|
| latefordinner wrote: |
| I'm guessing not, but I put more emphasis on interviews than most, and by my lights they failed yours quite badly. |
Yes, they did at that. T-Tastic, you might not have brought us up to date on the status of your interview, but I'm wondering if they called you again. You're now talking about wanting a probationary period from them, but your earlier post tells us that the interview was cut short and didn't reach an offer.
So what's up?
BTW - A good contract provides for a probationary time between parties, during which time either parties could terminate the arrangement. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
arioch36
Joined: 21 Jan 2003
Posts: 3589
|
| Posted: Mon Dec 10, 2007 8:15 am Post subject: |
|
|
| Quote: |
flutter
BTW - A good contract provides for a probationary time between parties, during which time either parties could terminate the arrangement.
|
I would never accept a clause. Here in China, it could mean anything. Someone travels half way around the world, gets to their job in China, school finds it doesn't need so many laowai, and guess what, "based on our criteria, we don't think you fit here." Bye bye le! HAsta la vista! And what will the laowai be able to do? Take the school to court? 
contracts all clearly state that either party can end the contract for non performance of duties, which is enough of an out if you need to leave (after getting paid, of course. never make the mistake I made my third semester when I told the school well before the winter vacation that I would not be returning because they did not get me a real working visa. The Flash couldn't of been quick enough, that's how fast my last month of pay disappeared) |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
flutterbayou
Joined: 01 Apr 2006
Posts: 244
|
| Posted: Mon Dec 10, 2007 9:14 am Post subject: |
|
|
These escape clauses are good for teachers who come and find that (1) there are better jobs in the offing, (2) the contracted job isn't what it is cracked up to be, or (3) the teacher arrives and finds something intolerable about the situation.
A Chinese employer might use the escape clause for not liking the way your teeth are parted, but most escape clauses for joint venture positions follow a probationary period of 4-6 weeks, until the teacher is observed in the classroom.
Joint ventures lessen the likelihood of being dropped unscrupulously. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
arioch36
Joined: 21 Jan 2003
Posts: 3589
|
| Posted: Mon Dec 10, 2007 9:27 am Post subject: |
|
|
I don't totally disagree.
But I have seen some schools with their probationary "criterion" which covers alot of mumbo jumbo that the Chinese side really doesn't understand anyways.
I guess the GAC type schools prefer having the laowais be the heavies who rate the teachers, so you have a better clue understanding what criterion they are basing their assessment of you on |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
timtastic
Joined: 05 Oct 2007
Posts: 14
Location: Beijing
|
| Posted: Mon Dec 10, 2007 11:07 am Post subject: |
|
|
| flutterbayou wrote: |
Yes, they did at that. T-Tastic, you might not have brought us up to date on the status of your interview, but I'm wondering if they called you again. |
I emailed them today and was told that I'm still being considered for the job, but my lack of teaching experience (namely, the 6 hours that comes with a CELTA) is what is holding back their decision. The same contact has offered me another teaching job that I'm not at all interested in (4100 RMB/month, 8 hours a week).
If more info helps, it's a state uni job in Beijing in a program that sends students to the US (maybe Canada). There are 30-ish students in a class, housing is provided.
In the meantime, I'm still sending out applications, so I'm not married to this or anything, I just like the offer.
Last edited by timtastic on Tue Dec 11, 2007 1:19 am; edited 1 time in total |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
SocratesSon2
Joined: 19 Nov 2007
Posts: 134
|
| Posted: Mon Dec 10, 2007 6:34 pm Post subject: |
|
|
They are waiting to see if anyone else applies who has experience. If not and the time crunch becomes a problem, then they may hire you. Where is the position for 4,100 anyhow? It it's in Beijing thats not good, but not surprising. Most uni jobs pay this kind of extremely low salary, unfortunately  Oh well, good luck, I hope you get it. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
|
FAQ
Search
Memberlist
Usergroups
Register
Profile
Log in to check your private messages
Log in
