Job Discussion Forums

[guobaoyobro]

Hey all, wondering what you'd do in this instance :

I'm in a training center now, and my contract dates are off the hiring season. I'll end in December.

I'm thinking of taking a break after my 2nd year ends, and traveling for a few months. Personally, if I could travel for 3 months and then settle in to a cushy, low-hour University gig in a 2nd tier city, that would be perfect for my needs.

However, it's a tough call, because if I go out for 3 months, I'm sunk, and it seems like I'd need to start over from scratch. Sure, I have my originals, everything's on board. My current work permit + visa were finagled from SE Asia through FedEx + China Visa Service Center (through the Chicago consulate), but with all these new regulations, something is telling me it won't be so easy next time.

What would you do?

Would my safest bet for continuing work be re-upping my current contract, and putting in notice when I get a different job?

Should I try a different country?

The magic question : If I could somehow take this 3-4 month break I wanted, and still have validity time left on my WORK Visa for China, technically, with the proper exit paperwork, my new school would just need to re-apply for my FEC....correct? It's just the FEC that gets cancelled when you leave?

I want do be realistic and do what I can to reduce burn-out, but if that means having to fly back to the U.S. and get things notarized + apostilled, all that shenanigans, I'd honestly rather keep my head in the sand for a while.

Thoughts?

[SH_Panda]

Many training schools would jump at the chance to keep you a bit longer if you've done well enough.

Perhaps you could extend for a few months?

[fpshangzhou]

Is it possible to extend a residence permit past the contract time, even for a few months through the psb and the employer is willing to do so?


Cheers,

Aaron

[Non Sequitur]

...and then settle in to a cushy, low-hour University gig in a 2nd tier city, that would be perfect for my needs.

A number of posters will be suffering apoplexy at this heresy.
How could you forgo a 20k pm job for a 7k low hours uni gig?
I know this is not what the OP is looking for, but I can't resist pointing out that happiness in China doesn't always rest in chasing the big $$ and nor are FTs dopes for doing so.

[guobaoyobro]

Option A.) The management is nice here. I could probably extend the permit...I'll have to see. Obviously won't bring anything up until closer to the time. I like to play way, way ahead...so I'm just scheming.

Option B.) A second option could possibly be just asking for a straight up 3-4 month extension to the job itself. Could work, but then I won't have the break I want.

Option C.) I could finish my contract, take the break I want, tool around SE Asia, and see what sticks. Online work could be a possibility at that point, for sure. However, I'll just my original degree...no background check, apostilling, etc. I suppose I can just eat the fees and get that sorted while I make my move. I've got the time / money / patience.

As for pay... Ha! Yeah. My goal was to get out of debt. I'll have done that, AND saved a few grand. I make documentaries and like to travel a lot. A UNI gig would be completely and insanely perfect for what I do, since the filming trips I take could be done in summer, and I could edit while I work. "Ease" of (working) life is what I seek now.

I suppose we'll have to see how it all shakes out.

[Non Sequitur]

Look for the opportunity to have Tues-Fri or Mon-Thurs classes at a uni.
Likely not possible on 18 contact hours pw but definitely do-able on 16 or 14 hours.
If you have just one class on a Mon or a Friday ask the class monitor if there is gap in the class schedule on another day.
Don't tell the Teaching Affairs types if you find this is the case. Let it be their discovery. Face and all that.

[guobaoyobro]

You mean, adding the other in, to have both jobs?

Well, with the amount of work I'm doing outside of my main teaching gig, this would never work for me. I'm super busy as is.

Also, It'd be a breach of contract to my current school. Can't, won't ever. Just not my thing, unless I'm gonna get thrown under the bus, even though it may seem silly sometimes.

[jimpellow]

[guobaoyobro]

Good advice. I'll take it.