Job Discussion Forums

[robotmonkey]

SBC, the Sino-British College, in central Shanghai, is a joint venture between the University of Shanghai for Science and Technology (USST) and a consortium of British universities. They pay top-dollar, but their recruitment process is deeply faulty.

I applied to work there in early May, based on a recommendation from a colleague. I was successfully interviewed, and about a week later was told I would be offered the job. However, there was then a problem with a reference, about which the manager told me they MIGHT withdraw the offer. The problem was sorted out, and I was told again I would get an offer. Now though, I am being told they haven't received my references, which I know they have, the referees having shown me that they each sent their reference twice, and HR, without consultation with the academic manager, has withdrawn the offer again.

Another old colleague of mine, who also applied and was 'accepted', is also now being told she may have her offer withdrawn. They are having problems with getting her a visa, even though she has never had any visa trouble before, and is very well qualified, with two post-graduate degrees.

Yet another colleague, who used to work there, resigned at the end of his first contract, despite the school begging him to stay. He was appointed Head of Economics, but was not given an office, a work email address, or any extras on his contract. He also said this was mostly down to HR doing their best to cut costs, and left.

Other teachers who work there have also had all sorts of problems with HR (one of them refers to the HR manager as an evil c**t). At the end of one contract, when it is going to be renewed, they are told they will not be paid for a month over the summer, even though this is included on the original contract.

If you don't mind being messed around, played games with and shoved from pillar to post, go right ahead and try with this joke of a school, but I would very highly recommend against it.

[william wallace]

That's happened to me twice before. If you can take the time and patience and do some investigating, you will likely find some monkey business going on.In my two cases it was simply corruption.
Best of luck,
Willie Wallace

[robotmonkey]

Thanks Willie.

There might be some corruption here too, at least that HR seem to have been told by someone on high in the managing company in the States to cut back on costs as much as possible, but most of all, it seems to be lies and stupidity that have caused this. Communication between HR and the academic management seems to have broken down, and it turns out the manager there made an offer not at all based on his school's system, just based on a hunch, by all accounts.

Oh well, it's not like it's the only good opportunity in Shanghai, far from it...