Chinese Contract
“flexibility” and other Problems
Keeping
a "Plan B" and "Plan C" in your back pocket...
In the Western
world, we tend to think of things like contacts as being
written "in stone", inflexible and followed to the
letter. But in China contracts may sometimes
be viewed as being "flexible". Some
employers may see contracts as guidelines rather than as
the hard
and fast rules of an employment agreement.
This can mean
that your employer may not do the things they said they
would do. May ask you to do things you did not
initially agree to do. You may not be compensated
for extra work you do when you think you should be. You may not like
those problems. It may be time to
move on.
Plan B
and Plan C
When you do your
research about your job, keep a second and third choice
in your mind, just in case things don't work out for
Plan A. Keep these in the back of your mind, keep your
resume up to date, and fish to see what is out there
from time to time. With a decent Plan B and Plan C you
won't have to worry about a surprise.
There is also
the possibility that you just won't like the job you
took, or the city you moved to, the people you work
with, or some other unforeseen problem may sour you on
the whole deal. This sometimes happens in your
home country and it can happen in China too.
Your
First Country - Your First Job
Keep open the
possibility of going back home. Don't burn your bridges
to anywhere, ever. You just never know when you might
need to head back where you were last year. I've never
had to back track, but I do try to keep my options
open. I try to leave every employer on good terms, with
them ready for my return. I try to maintain and network
with people from previous employment. And, it all works
both ways - you might need to help a friend come to
where you are some day.
You may
never need your Plan B
I am just
cautious by nature, and the TEFL world is just a little
less stable than other types of employment. I've never
needed my Plan B or C, but they are there, just in
case. It helps me sleep at night.
Not China mind
you, but my first year in Saudi Arabia was quite a
difficult adjustment for me. Though I didn't bail out,
it was nice to have my options already mapped out. It
took a little pressure off the situation, allowed me to
adapt and adjust - and succeed.
It just
makes sense to have a back up plan. That's all.
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"Twenty
years from now you will be more disappointed
by the things that you didn't do than by the
ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines.
Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the
trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream.
Discover." -- Mark Twain |
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