Job Discussion Forums

KingKong2008 · Joined: 01 Dec 2007 Posts: 6

So i had this school really interested in hiring me, in the guangdong province. everything was going good, they finally send me the contract couple days ago stating they are very interested in hiring me, i emailed them back sayin i'm interested. and then i get an email saying they are not lookin for any more teachers! what the hell?!?!?!

it was the only school that really seemed interested in me, as i am darker skinned, and i told them i also sing, and they were really happy with that, saying i can use singing as a method to teach english also...

I spent a bunch of time researching this school, contacting current teachers there and asking them about how it is, and got really good reviews... and everythin seemed good...

hmmm... and now i'm not sure what to do.
I know theres tonnes of schools out there, and I did send out lots of applications before, however this was the first one where it seemed my skin color wasnt a big problem for them, and that is the kind of company i'd like to work for...

Some have stated to goto china first and look for a job from there, but i'd find it a lot more comforting knowing there was something there for me to go to.

well, back to square one i guess... if anyone has any useful suggestion/advice, please post... thanks in advance. Smile

if you are working at a good school that is currently hiring for the february start date, and you wouldnt mind a cool Fijian guy from Canada as a coworker, plz let me know... Very Happy

SocratesSon2 · Joined: 19 Nov 2007 Posts: 134

Bottom line, while you were spending time doing all of that research and calling people, someone else came along and applied who was white and perhaps better educated or had experience.

Just because a school is talking to you now, doe's not mean you are hired. You are not really hired until you get there and sign a contract. I have heard of schools hiring a different person between the time you were on the plane, and the time you landed, telling the person, sorry.

Chinese schools see your questions and such as a sign that you might be difficult to deal with. They would much rather hire someone who just takes their word for it and accepts whatever offer they make.

Bottom line, they were desperate, now they are not, it's that simple.

lostinasia · Joined: 11 Apr 2007 Posts: 466

A job is not yours until you start working. Accept it. They have no obligation to you.

Anda · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Posts: 2199 Location: Jiangsu Province

I'd go along with SocratesSon2 except for the last sentence: Bottom line, they were desperate, now they are not, it's that simple.

From what I've seen it's first in with a yes, best dressed. I do a couple of hours of part time work and my boss has a Black American working for him at a different institute to where I work. On some of my recent posts I have warned against spending too much time making up one's mind after an offer comes through. One of the regular crowd that post here on Dave's wrote where he was going to work and had someone ring up and undercut him in wages and they got the job. Case the job first and be ready to say yes as soon as you get an offer.

Stick your resume here on Dave's:

http://www.eslcafe.com/jobs/wanted/#PostMessage

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Brian Caulfield · Joined: 14 Sep 2004 Posts: 1247 Location: China

Sorry to hear of your predicament KK. I think there is a recession here that is affecting students attending universities. Loans are being called in by the banks. Many of my student's parents have borrowed money to attend my school. My contract has not be renewed and I am sure because the school is not sure about enrolment for the next term. Anyway the thing I have learned here is that things will be terrible one day and the next you will be whistling Mr Bluebird on my Shoulder. Hang in there. Chinese always do things at the last moment. Good schools hire people who are qualified and race has little to do with it.

Lorean · Joined: 21 Dec 2006 Posts: 476 Location: Beijing

Almost a year ago, I was negotiating with a University in Beijing.

Their Waishiban dicked me around. Invited me for an interview, then rescinded the offer a week later. TWICE.

And this wasn't just any University, it was one of the top.

I also recall another post where the poster claimed to have signed(!) a contract with QingHua(!) University, only to find the contract 'canceled' before work.

Sinobear · Joined: 24 Aug 2004 Posts: 1269 Location: Purgatory

KingKong 2008:

Disheartening, yes. The reality here is that people can be recruited locally very easily. The days of the true "Foreign Expert", hired based on qualifications and potential, are gone. Gone are the days when FTs were invited here...now any floatsam and jetsam can wash up on the shores and be hired.

Perhaps you should venture forth and come to China and present yourself personally (just after Spring Festival at the earliest, seeing as how schools will only be hiring to replace the runners at that time).

Brian Caulfield is most correct. Schools are cutting back. Rather than having to hire the OS foreigner and pay that expensive return ticket home each year, they hire locally and try to pass off a city-in-China to city-in-China ticket instead.

I don't think race or colour has anything to do with it, at least in a reputable organization...it has to do with being here, right here, right now.

Good luck!

KingKong2008 · Joined: 01 Dec 2007 Posts: 6

thanx guys for your words Smile

it is kind of disheartening, but me not gettin that contract maybe for the best, and maybe another better one will come along my way... haha a lot of maybe's, but thats all i have for now...

and thanks Anda for your PM, you're wonderful, i really appreciate ur help!!! Very Happy

KingKongalicious... Cool

arioch36 · Joined: 21 Jan 2003 Posts: 3589

Maybe not someone whiter, just someone cheaper.

Not sure how a recruiter would help. Same things happens. it's all a matter of chance until you have been in country, tested the waters, and then can have a true idea yourself how to get the job you want, at a "reasonable" price. Just look at this board, the stories of those who came via recruiter, got farmed out to this or that school.

But then, if you are applying to two schools, very interested in one school, no contract signed, and the other school ups its offer, would you sign with the other school? I probably would. When I am searching for schools, I try to get serious offers from at least three or four, and take the best one.

So, bad break, but it's not as if the school actually did anything wrong here. Part of the process.

The Great Wall of Whiner · Joined: 29 Jan 2003 Posts: 4946 Location: Blabbing

Bad news, indeed.

It seems, as others have mentioned, that it was either they found someone cheaper, or found someone whiter.

Happens all the time.

Best of luck to you.

nogreasyhippies · Joined: 10 Jul 2007 Posts: 25

Hmmm, virtually the same thing happened to me when I was looking for jobs. Over the course of a weekend I was firmly offered a job in Hohot, only to lose contact with the recruiter. Then on monday I was told that the job had been given to a Russian for half the money. Still it worked out for the best since I am now working for 1000 more somewhere much warmer. Very Happy

. Good hunting kong.