Job Discussion Forums

svrart · Posted: Fri Jul 29, 2005 2:53 am Post subject: Stranded in Lanzhou, Gansu

Hi,

I just had a very bad experience with a recruiter.

First he pretended to work for the school I was applying for. We sent several emails to each other. Then he asked me to come to Lanzhou and that the school would pick me up. After I bought the tickets and was ready to go, he said he does not work for the school. When I came to Lanzhou with all my luggage there was no one to pick me up. When I called him he said the job was not available and that another school would pick me up. I refused. I am now stranded in Lanzhou and trying to find work. Please be careful who you correspond with - ask directly if he/she works for the school. Dont go without a contract or some document from the school. Looking back I should have seen this. Any way the person's name is WuFengYi and his emails are [email protected].

Now the second part of the email - if you know of any contacts in the Gansu, Xinjiang area please let me know. I am now staying in a hotel and trying to find a new job.

Thanks

Mideatoo · Posted: Fri Jul 29, 2005 4:11 am Post subject:

May I ask you your qualifications, degrees, age?
That would help. Thank you.

svrart · Posted: Fri Jul 29, 2005 4:30 am Post subject:

Hi,

I am an American citizen with a master's degree in engineering. I have 3 years of teaching experience (2 in china). I am 37 years old, male.

Also, mideatoo - who are you? I have been burnt too badly to blindly trust people any more.

Thanks

Mideatoo · Posted: Fri Jul 29, 2005 5:31 am Post subject:

pls see PM

Mideatoo · Posted: Fri Jul 29, 2005 5:36 am Post subject:

eMail me at:
[email protected]

I don't think that the PM is working today.....
Thank you.

Roger · Joined: 19 Jan 2003 Posts: 9138

I know some are going to berate me for being "harsh" on you but I do not intend to come across as that; in light of what has happened to you you certainly can now agree that it was not a wise move to accept an offer from what you term a "recruiter".
You should have applied DIRECT to a public institution of education or a private training centre that has the licence to hire foreign nationals.

I would NOT stay on in LANZHOU if I was you. Head for greener pastures - Xi'an, Sichuan. I am sure you would like Chengdu better than this backwater on the edge of the Tibetan high plateau!

There are not many reasonable and dependable agents in China; one is BUckland, another is known to nolefan in He3bei (PM him!).

Mideatoo · Posted: Fri Jul 29, 2005 8:50 am Post subject:

ANSWERING YOUR PM ROGER, MINE DOESN'T WORK...

Not at all - Actually I would love you to close the team, you have so much to bring and to share with us.

But I cannot put only one egg in my basket...
Whishing you a safe and a nice trip.
You have my mobile.
Thanks!

svrart · Posted: Sat Jul 30, 2005 12:57 am Post subject:

Hi Roger,

I did not even know it was a recruiter. He said he worked for the school all the way till I had my tickets and I was ready to go, then he changed his tune drastically.

I have nothing against recruiters so far as they identify themselves as such.

I like the Gansu, Xinjiang area and intend to stay here. I have visited it before. "Greener pastures" lies in the eyes of the beholder.

SillySally · Joined: 26 Jul 2005 Posts: 167

It does not matter how much sugar coating, the castor oil still leaves a bad taste in everyones' mouth!

Diversity is the key word here! Not everything appeals to everyone in the same exact manner. What a boring place that would make!!

struelle · Joined: 16 May 2003 Posts: 2372 Location: Shanghai

I'd agree with Roger here, but to add I'm glad that you 'reflected' on what happened and are learning from this.

It takes a lot of guts to take a job with minimal prep like that, and it is a risk, but I have to ask: why Lanzhou? If you pack your bags and fly over on a moments notice to China, I'd at least suggest a major city along the coast where you can have back-up plans in case things go wrong. As you probably know by now, Lanzhou is way deep in the interior, and there's not much around it.

I'd go with Roger's advice and make tracks to the nearest major city, or better yet, fly to the coast and find work in a city like Shanghai or Hangzhou.

Steve

SillySally · Joined: 26 Jul 2005 Posts: 167

svrart - do you want a uni job in Urumqi? I know a major uni is looking right now, having just terminated a foreign devil for bad things.

Roger · Joined: 19 Jan 2003 Posts: 9138

Mideatoo,
I have received your PM, Mideatoo, - thanks! I will be back in Guangzhou shortly (and not for a long time, but enough time to get in touch with you).
Roger

Mideatoo · Posted: Sat Jul 30, 2005 8:27 am Post subject:

All my pleasure!!!

PS - Friendship Store????? Roger, are you getting mpaid in US$ Shocked

Babala · Joined: 28 Jan 2005 Posts: 1303 Location: Henan

Sally,
Is it really necessary to refer to FT's as foreign devils? Isn't it bad enough that we get that elsewhere.

SillySally · Joined: 26 Jul 2005 Posts: 167

Babala - that was the uni's reason for recruiting!

The reality is that we will always be foreign devils to the Chinese.

You can convert this to your advantage if you are creative.