Look or Leap?

[con's fly is open]

We're doing our job: more and more people are popping into the Saloon for a beer BEFORE they come to China. As a result, they access the best trove of info on living and working in China that exists in one place; and a ton of links to most everything else that would help. Here's to us!

But there's a side effect: many of our members spend months back home, paralyzed with indecision: "There are good schools and bad- buyer beware. This prridge is too hot, this porridge is too meagre, this porridge is too suspect..." etc. We all rolled our eyes when Jollyjunklass mulled coming over for half a year- but she presaged a trend: folks are sitting at home, trying to control all the variables before they arrive. Gretch and Enigma have had the balls to admit as much, and I suspect many more are also frozen in mid-decision and growing frustrated that the perfect gig just isn't appearing.

There's the rub: at what point should you just take the leap? What's worse: taking a Job From Hell... or wringing your hands over the decison and losing months that you could have already been here?

Saloonies weigh in!

[con's fly is open]

Okay, I'll be provocative with my choice: IF you've got a contact with a couch in China, just line up a shortlist of prospective schools, pack along 3 months' worth of living cash, and just show up.

[Dr. Gonzo]

Always have a plan B, and hopefully some contacts. Know what kind of working and living situation you'd prefer.
For eg, I knew I wanted self contained individual accommodation and a tertiary work place. I got those and the rest was sweet.

[woza17]

Leap has always been my only option in life. If I had to do it again definitely leap for me.

[George61]

I voted for take your time, which is the exact opposite of how I got here. I accepted a job, arrived here, and spent 6 months being m'kayed around by experts. No school. No salary. I lasted 5 months, then found a summer camp, which led to a job, which led to another job, etc, etc.

[Non-Dave]

I did it pretty much the way it says to in the book... and I think I got lucky. I researched, I checked, I asked questions and got some of the answers I wanted, and I didn't take the first offer, I went with the one that sounded most like what I wanted. When I arrived here I ended up in a different place than I was told about, with a different salary and I'm glad I'm here.

I think no matter how well prepared you are at home there is still the big leap of faith into the unknown waiting when you get here - and not everyone can do it. If you can handle rapid change, making decisions and trusting your gut I think you'll do okay.

And anyway you look at it it's an adventure - and there's always the safety net called Raoul's.

[moderntime]

I started my search months before I wanted to leave so I would get an idea of what was out there and what to look out for. I didn't take the first job offered either, but the job I initially accepted turned out to be dodgy. After signing a contract and sending over my medical, I was dropped like a hot potato over something I couldn't control (my Chinese-American looks AFTER they had seen a photo, etc.). Luckily this happened while I was still in the States, but I had already quit my job and prepared to move from New York to my home in California. Then it was another two months of job hunting, and although I was really careful about the first job, the second time around I was paranoid. In the end, it worked out for me as well and I'm quite happy with where I am job-wise.

[Ruth]

I voted for 'take your time and make sure', because that's my nature. I kinda followed that advice before coming to China, but on the other hand it was a real leap of faith for me. If you want the spiritual version, PM me. My husband and I decided mid-summer 2003 to quit our jobs, sell our home and most of our possessions and head - somewhere...

We knew what we wanted (apartment vs. room, both of us getting hired), did research and applied - to one job in Korea and one job in China. China responded in less than 24 hours. The guy seemed upfront and honest. We accepted. Naive? Maybe. He did provide me with an email contact of a current teacher on staff and it was reassuring to correspond with her. The Saloon wasn't born then and I asked that gal all the questions about what to bring that the Saloon now offers to those still in their home countries.

All that said, like Non-Dave, we didn't end up where we thought we were going, but it's all been great.

[Lotus Eater]

I made up my mind that I was coming, decided the date I would be here, then started the job hunt. Was dead lucky because I had a friend in China who said "I am the only person you know in China, live in the same town I am in" and she was good enough to hawk my CV round to a couple of universities for me. I had 4 offers and took her advice as to which one would be good. But if I hadn't had her, I would have been in a different place - but still here. I had already decided that I was coming, so it wasn't dependent on the job - it was which one I could organise to fit my time schedule. So I think it was mostly leap.

[con's fly is open]

I researched for a week then contacted school. They negotiated enthusiastically with me for 2 weeks, then... silence.

So I contacted another: 2 weeks of enthusiasm... then silence. I figured out that dealing with one at a time might seem to me like a straight-up thing to do, but it only resulted in being held as a bckup until they signed someone else.

So I posted my resume up at the Sppon. This was while they were still free, and the smaller schools could peruse along with the franchises, unis and recruiters.

The next day I discovered 30 job offers. I eliminated the lowest payinjg, then the ones I thought were over my head, then got out a map and stroked the desert locations off. I talked to the remaining 8 or 9, and signed with the ones who were both aggressive AND weren't always telling me what I wanted to hear.

In truth, I think everyone's approach should depend on how much money they're bringing in, and how much of a support network they have here in China. The Saloon is great guanxi all by itself; but I think you'd want over 3,500 yuan in your pocket, plus the return airfare, to dare this. Subject to location, quality of contacts, friendly couches, etc.

[nolefan]

I think it all depends on the person.
If you're the kind that can think on your feet and act quickly then by all means, take the leap. It's not as bad as most people make it out to be.
If you're the person that needs to research every detail and every bit of information, then take your time but remember that other people are looking at jobs too. Get a contract before stepping on a plane and have the address of one or two recruiters with you just in case things turn sour.

I was in China about one and a half month after i had started thinking about it. I came using a recruiter that promised me i'd get to visit the schools before signing a contract and he delivered. As soon as i settled down, I gave my wife the go ahead to book her ticket and come over.

I can never understand how people are supposed to get here first and get a flat or hotel on their own dime then look for a job in a foreign country where they don't even speak the language. How can they know where the schools are or the procedure to find a flat, etc......

[con's fly is open]

I'd answer: know folks here already. I came over a few weeks before the Saloon debuted, and I hadn't even discovered the Spoon's forums, so I needed a solid commitment, for exactly the reasons you just laid out.

[Ruth]

Good questions, Nolefan. We were met at the airport and driven to our new home, provided by the school. I was still overwhelmed by the whole experience. Can't imagine being totally on my own here - especially fresh off the plane. Others seem to manage, though.

[nolefan]

Same thing for me Ruth. After two years at the same school living on campus, i decided to get my own flat in the city and that was hard enough... I could not imagine doing that on my own when i arrived with knowing only Ni Hao and Xiexie.

[Mr Nobody]

I jumped in. People here know why and how. However, I did have my fiance here and many previous visits to china, support here, and enough money for 6 months. I also researched a lot on general ideas for a long time, so I knew when I was getting screwed, but did little about actually getting a job.

So, what do you call that?

[con's fly is open]

Ideal. Too ideal to be much help, though.

[rkingman]

Er...guilty as charged in Con's first post, with lurking in the USA, paralyzed with indecision...I first popped into Raoul's over the summer, and feel much more educated now, THANK YOU, but taking that "leap" this winter (January, eeek!) when I don't know any "couches" in the area (or the whole damn hemisphere) is still a bit daunting...job offers abound, but since i'm on my own, i'm nervous about what George mentioned in his scenario! But I think Raoul's definitely helps.

[George61]

Lurking is not as valuable as posting, rkingman. Where are you jumping to? Someone may well be there!

[joe]

I'd leap if I had nothing much left going on at home, and if I were fairly confident I could keep myself together when everything turned out to be something I didn't expect. And I'd leap into a small town. That's what I did in the beginning.

I'd look if I were hoping for some before and after continuity. And I'd head for bigger cities. But I also think you'd miss out on something going that way.

[gengrant]

okay, i am now 2 for 2...researched my arse off for both positions, one back in 2002 and now this one, thought I had done a "decent" job of weeding out the riff-raff...only to be burned again...

but I am interviewing with the one true "international" school here, and if I can get in there, I'm golden...

I say just leap in and find better pickings later, unless you get lucky with your first leap (unlike me)!

[con's fly is open]

What Joe said: small town is safer the first time around: my current school does little to help me, and it's caused me grief.

[Ruth]

Welcome rkingman. Please ask us any questions you have. The compiled experiences here are worth a lot. I learned a lot from reading the experiences of others. This really doesn't prepare you for the real thing, but at least you will be able to know we survived it and you can too. Your life will be richer when you take that leap!

Always good to have another female here, too. The guys outnumber us, but we're classier.

[gengrant]

The guys outnumber us, but we're classier.

now, Ruth...I happen to know for a fact (based on the opinion of several lady friends of mine) that I look pretty darn classy in me kilt, cowboy boots and Stetson^tm hat.

then again, looking classy and being classy are two entirely different animals, aren't they...? darn! guess I just lost this argument!

[Ruth]

looking classy and being classy are two entirely different animals, aren't they...?

Yup. You can dress him up, but you can't take him out. But the kilt is classy, so maybe you are out of the ordinary.