Job Discussion Forums

[Dude Love Japan]

I've recently interviewed for jobs in Shanghai and HK. Either would be great but I'd rather HK, although I expect an answer from Shanghai sooner. If I get hired by Shanghai and begin the application process or even get my visa and then get offered the HK job, would I be able to accept the latter? I'm concerned about visa issues and the whole one country two systems thing. I've emailed my local Chinese Embassy and am still waiting for a reply. For various reasons I think there's a good chance I'll eventually get offered both jobs. Thanks for your kind help.

[hot_water_hillbilly]

Please act professionally and as an adult. If you are going to accept a job then take on the responsibility of having done so. Skipping out on an employer because you found "a better job" elsewhere is sad.

Want to weigh the two options? Then wait until you have both offers in hand and take one of them. Then again, hopefully the employers will have found someone else willing to stick by their decision while you mulled over a few extra dollars a month.

[Dude Love Japan]

I understand; people should keep their word. But it's not my fault I haven't received an answer from HK in months and might only get one 2 weeks before the start date. And having a wife and daughter I have to do what's best for my family and go where the money is. But I totally understand your concern with the moral dilemma; in a perfect world people would always keep their word. But the Shanghai operation is huge and very organized and I don't think one teacher skipping town will cause them noteworthy damage. Any thoughts on the visa matter?

[Kurochan]

Hi --

I've been in this kind of dilemma before. One of my present workmates told me that it is okay to send a school a polite letter asking for an approximate date when you can expect to receive a reply on your application. Maybe you could ask the Hong Kong school that, and they would either give you a date to expect the answer, or tell you that you are already out of the running.

-- Actually, I'd like to hear other people's opinion on whether it is okay to send this kind of letter. I was afraid it'd seem kind of cheeky, but a guy I work with said it is normal and won't be a problem if it is well-worded.

[kev7161]

Yeah, if it's been several months I'd write a letter (or send an e-mail) telling them about my other job offer, state that I'd rather work for their organization, but must make some sort of decision by such-and-such date. If you still don't get a response from Hong Kong or a "we'll let you know when we want to let you know" kind of response from then, I'd accept the other job and then stick with my decision. Contracts are usually for a year only and you can keep in touch with the Hong Kong organization and make plans for the following year while keeping your obligations with the Shanghai place.

[Dude Love Japan]

Thanks everyone for your contribution. The HK employer is the EDB and I'm concerned that if they do end up hiring me and I turn it down I'll ne blacklisted. Any thoughts?

[Perilla]

[choudoufu]

if it's been several months with no contact, why do
you think there's a good chance of getting a job offer?

[Dude Love Japan]

I guess I'm one of the candidates going through hell in the summer to get hired. I think I still have a chane of being hired by the EDB in HK because I drop them a live via email every week of 2 and remind them of my interest and they just keep telling me that schools are still hiring and I'm still in the running. And also because I hear stories about people getting hired the same month; I've no reason to think I'm out of the running.

[jadarite]

This is a FREE market. Recruiters push to get you to sign contracts immediately. I just learned why. They get the contract so you can get an invitation letter. It's different. Usually you have to submit the contract with the paperwork with other countries.

If you know you want to live in Hong Kong, and this is NOT about the position itself, then it doesn't make sense to take a job in Shanghai.

However, if the job is a better offer in Hong Kong, you should NOT feel guilty going to the school in Shanghai and stating "I have a job offer in ___ city. They are allowing me to do ___ and they will do ___ for me. Can you do that or better? If not, I am sorry, but I am going to have to go with them."

I halted the process after one school didn't do anything about the roaches, smelly bathroom water, and sticky kitchen walls in the apartment. In addition they put up unreasonable work schedules and wouldn't consider changes, nor did they tell me about other changes they made until I moved.

Bottom line, get the job YOU want, don't force yourself to be a slave to someone else's system.