Job Discussion Forums

[PittsburghSound]

Does anyone think that calling schools on the phone would lead to more responses? I sent a good 30 emails out and only received 2 responses--one that said they don't have anything open for the spring semester, and another that said they won't be recruiting for spring semester until January. I think maybe the email addresses listed on websites are no longer in use or maybe my emails get lost in a big inbox.

Has anyone here had success with actually calling a school and speaking with someone on the phone? I realize my timing might be off with the holiday coming up, but I will simply wait until it's over to send more emails or possibly make any calls.

Edit: I'm talking strictly about public universities.

[doogsville]

It could be that whoever is reading your emails doesn't understand English, and isn't passing them on to anyone else. Here's an idea, I don't know if it'll work, but why not try Linkedin. A lot of my Chinese colleagues are members and I see details of people from other Chinese universities, so I assume they can use at least some English. If you can find an English speaking person from the universities you are interested in on Linkedin then you could send them a message asking for the email address of the person who does the recruiting. It's a long shot, but it's better than nothing.

[newmansone]

e-mails are horribly unreliable - assuming you got them from school website. Employee turnover is incredibly high, so someone likely had their name added to the website, but no longer works there. Schools don't really use school named domains either. However, you are quite unlikely to find someone, English speaking, to answer a phone - unless you get a head teacher or FAO. In other words, both are equally unreliable. So, try both. What is the issue? It only makes common sense to try all available options rather than post a question like this think you must choose one or the other. Right????????

[newmansone]

[likwid_777]

[asiannationmc]

[Bud Powell]

Schools don't really use school named domains either.

Every public university I've ever worked for (as well as private schools that I've been farmed out to) uses a domain named after the school.

[Phat0]

[PittsburghSound]

[Non Sequitur]

I've mentioned this before, but the Chinese don't treat emails like Westerners.
We treat them as a kind of missed phone call and respond as soon as practical.
To the Chinese they are like letters in an in-tray, to be attended to whenever (or not) as the case may be.
Add to this the other issues in FAOs that have been mentioned (staff turnover etc) and some reasons emerge.
My view is that unless you have a phone number that has been qualified ie 'we welcome phone enquiries' then stick to emails.
The mantra for any job search is: A B A
A = Always.
B = Be
A = Applying.
Use Dave's to search possible contacts ie 'Anyone working/worked at Dalian Maritime?'

[asiannationmc]

[Non Sequitur]

There seems to be little regard for institutional reputation in the uni sector in China.
If it's an FT making an enquiry make that 'nil regard'.

[davelister]

[Bud Powell]

[water rat]

Whenever I have called up any place anywhere looking for any sort of job they invariably say, "All right. Good. Send us an email so we can get started."