Job Discussion Forums

[bigtops]

Er, sorry, that subject line is not very clear... Here's my situation: I'm currently teaching at a university in Beijing and am very happy with my situation. The money's more than enough for me, the location's good, my coworkers are fine, my students are great, etc. No complaints from me.

The waiban's office just sent me an email last week saying that I need to inform them by May 15th if I will be returning for the fall semester. Unfortunately, I have already applied for the CSC scholarship, which would allow me to study Mandarin for free, and I won't hear about that until late July. If I get the scholarship, good as my job is, there's no way that I want to teach. Learning Chinese is my main reason for being here.

Last month the woman who recruited me from the English department told me that it would be fine for me to let them know my plans in late-July. In exchange, if I do get the scholarship, I would help them recruit a replacement. This strikes me as easy enough to do, even in July/August, in this economic climate and given my various personal networks.

Now, however, the International Exchanges and Whatever Whatever Department says that that is impossible: May 15th is the date, no exception. So I'm a bit out on a wing. Either I tell them I'm not coming back and risk being shit out of luck come July if I don't get the scholarship, or I re-sign and then have some sort of fiasco if I do get the scholarship and want to pull out of my teaching position.

My question, since I'm relatively new to China and don't know what to expect...

-Do you think I can realistically try to negotiate a contigency into a re-signed contract like, "I will definitely come back if I don't get the scholarship, but if not, I'm out of here and will help you recruit?" I should say that I'm well-liked by the students and other teachers (yes, here they actually send people to observe classes... Big change from my time in Guizhou, hah), but I've got no guanxi with the admin, none of whom I've even met.

-Relatedly, do I have any sort of bargaining chip in the fact that for nearly two months I've been living with the promise given to me by the recruiter, that I would be able to let them know in July? I'm assuming that the people higher up the ladder won't give a damn, and might just make life difficult for this woman, but in no manner that helps me... It's not like I'm trying to teach her a lesson. Any thoughts?

Ah, writing this, it seems like it's a long shot. It will be a big pain come July if I'm sitting in Beijing with no job, no scholarship, no apartment... and a fat stack of applications to ABC English and Englist First.

[Hansen]

OP, "He said, she said," even in western countries rarely works out. Here, regardless, it is not going to work out in your favor. What you were told by the recruiter is meaningless, unless it somehow works to the advantage of the school.

From their point of view, which is completely reasonable, they need to know whether to fill your position. Why should they be left out to dry while you work all your options?

I see your predicament. I also understand the school's point of view. What to do? Make a decision. You have put yourself in a bad position, actually. Is it possible to get news in advance about the scholarship?

Having a good job with which you are happy on so many levels is not often the case. I left a school which I hated and went to a university to study for a year and a half. I then returned to the school. They were glad to rehire me. I completed my contract before leaving. If you mess up with your school, you may have a hard time finding another opportunity which is so agreeable, especially if you anger them and they put the word out that you are bad news.

If it were me, I would continue working. Find a way to study Chinese, while you work. You are gambling on getting the scholarship. Keeping the job and studying on your own or in a part time program is not a gamble.

[The Ever-changing Cleric]