With just about all the classes done, the next couple of months look pretty empty aside from
i) Job hunting
ii) Writing the thesis
iii) Learning Chinese
iv) Traveling
Most of my classmates are planning to head back home and probably stay there until they come back for thesis defense. Those that are planning to stay here have a similar plans, and of course, including getting a job in China.
But an interesting thing to note, is that there are a fair number of people who cannot simply stand being in Beijing (and perhaps China) any longer and are just dying to get out of China. Back to the states, or maybe even Hong Kong (although that's still part of China). But I think in general, the pollution, the attitude and even the facilities of Beijing have left a pretty bad impression on people.
As for myself, I still find a good deal of attraction of staying in China. Although, I have developed a love/hate relationship with winter in particular, I think I could be willing to survive that for the opportunity to be in Beijing. Perhaps coming from where I am, I'm a little bit more tolerant of Beijing's short comings and find them perhaps amusing, or I really haven't had the opportunity to experience Beijing at its worst.
I have come to realize though, that while most companies (banks/consulting/leadership programs) do start recruitment in October, quite a fair number of jobs that you would want require you to start within a month or two. So while it's good to apply for jobs in the mentioned areas, there are a lot more jobs that you can't apply for simply because of timing. Most companies would want you to start immediately because they are non-MBA specific jobs. They will value and take your MBA into consideration, but, the companies do not have MBA graduate programs. So keep this in mind when you start applying for jobs.
-----
Soon, everybody will be leaving and hopefully, getting the jobs that they want. It's been a good 1.5 years? Well, only about a year and 3 months. It's been a good ride. Make the best of your 1st year, it'll be intense but enjoyable. That's the time when you build the friendships.
Good luck and good bye friends....
-----
DJ Volume - Spirit of Yesterday (Nightcore)
I remember the days
I remember the place
'cause I wish you were mine
just a moment in time
say my name in the night
and to you it feels right
'cause into your arms I fall
You decided to leave
just as long as I breathe
it's my very last try
and you tell me "goodbye"
I remember the place
I remember the days
the best time of my life
Refrain:
I call
the spirit of yesterday
spirit of yesterday
I fall
into your arms again
into your arms one day
I call
the spirit of yesterday
spirit of yesterday
I fall
into your arms again
into your arms one day
Monday, November 14, 2011
Monday, November 7, 2011
Heading towards the promised land
As I mentioned earlier before, job applications are now well on their way. I guess it's during this time when you realize who your good friends are and who are just acquintances.
China is well known for being competitive, but when you have a group of classmates graduating at the same time, looking for the same jobs, the competition really gets a bit intense. By and large, unless you're applying for something totally different, people aren't going to sit down with you and help you. After all, if you get the job, it means that they don't get the job. It's a sad occurence, but a very realistic occurence. Remember when you were applying for a place on the MBA program? It's the same thing all over again - a spot given to somebody else means there's one less spot for you to get.
So, as a result, only your good friends are the ones who are willing to lend a helping hand to you - perhaps to look at your resume or help you with a cover letter, or even, write an introduction for you to a friend in a company they know.
----
How have I fared? Pretty badly so far. I've sent out perhaps 30 applications, and only received a solid response from one company. However, by and large, I've been courting this company for a while so the people I've been speaking to are somewhat familiar with me. Hopefully, within a month or two, I'll be able to lock it down.
The consensus is if you're coming to China now, you're a little late to the party. The fat cushy expat jobs are pretty much a thing of the past. Most companies now do local hiring, because the local Chinese are pretty much as good as the foreign expats in most areas, but much cheaper. I would think though, there are a few industries/roles where you can still get that fabled expat package - but you would need to have a lot of relevant work experience, and/or be in a technical role.
But, the party is still going on....
----
China is no place for the weak, unmotivated or for those that care. It's actually a pretty cruel and harsh environment to be in. One in a while, you can take a break, but usually, it's always on the go. Why do I say it's not a place for those that care? Well, sometimes, showing that you care is a weakness and most people wouldn't hesitate to explort it for their own benefit.
When you live in Beijing or Shanghai, it's easy to think that China is progressing faster and further than any other country you've been to. But you musn't forget that China still has a huge rural class, that for a majority of the people, what you spend in a day on food and entertainment would sustain them for a week, or not a month.
It's easy to see the decadence around you, whether at a restaurant, or a road or even in a club. Perhaps, it should be said, especially in a club. When people are popping bottles at RMB1.5k a bottle like they don't care, it's easy to figure that a night out with a group of friends would probably feed and educated a family for half a year.
Of course, most of the time you'll need to suppress that feeling to get on with life here as a foreigner. Possibly, the less introspection you do, the better a time you would have. Nobody really wants to sit down to discuss about what a decadent lifestyle they're having. This probably is true of every country has its poor.
----
So what happens now? Well, hopefully I get a job that lets me stay. Maybe then again, staying isn't a question - you could easily get a local friend's company to hire you so you could get the visa. So perhaps, it's more of, getting a job that I want to do that would afford me a decent life in China. After all, that's the China dream for most of us, and the reason why we came here. Because it was the promised land, except, we're just a little late now. But the lights aren't on yet. So party on.
----
An excellent article to read that puts into perspective how hard China was/and can be for people.
I fought for 18 years to have a cup of coffee with you.
----
Flyin's & Sparky feat. Marie Louise - Take My Breath Away
China is well known for being competitive, but when you have a group of classmates graduating at the same time, looking for the same jobs, the competition really gets a bit intense. By and large, unless you're applying for something totally different, people aren't going to sit down with you and help you. After all, if you get the job, it means that they don't get the job. It's a sad occurence, but a very realistic occurence. Remember when you were applying for a place on the MBA program? It's the same thing all over again - a spot given to somebody else means there's one less spot for you to get.
So, as a result, only your good friends are the ones who are willing to lend a helping hand to you - perhaps to look at your resume or help you with a cover letter, or even, write an introduction for you to a friend in a company they know.
----
How have I fared? Pretty badly so far. I've sent out perhaps 30 applications, and only received a solid response from one company. However, by and large, I've been courting this company for a while so the people I've been speaking to are somewhat familiar with me. Hopefully, within a month or two, I'll be able to lock it down.
The consensus is if you're coming to China now, you're a little late to the party. The fat cushy expat jobs are pretty much a thing of the past. Most companies now do local hiring, because the local Chinese are pretty much as good as the foreign expats in most areas, but much cheaper. I would think though, there are a few industries/roles where you can still get that fabled expat package - but you would need to have a lot of relevant work experience, and/or be in a technical role.
But, the party is still going on....
----
China is no place for the weak, unmotivated or for those that care. It's actually a pretty cruel and harsh environment to be in. One in a while, you can take a break, but usually, it's always on the go. Why do I say it's not a place for those that care? Well, sometimes, showing that you care is a weakness and most people wouldn't hesitate to explort it for their own benefit.
When you live in Beijing or Shanghai, it's easy to think that China is progressing faster and further than any other country you've been to. But you musn't forget that China still has a huge rural class, that for a majority of the people, what you spend in a day on food and entertainment would sustain them for a week, or not a month.
It's easy to see the decadence around you, whether at a restaurant, or a road or even in a club. Perhaps, it should be said, especially in a club. When people are popping bottles at RMB1.5k a bottle like they don't care, it's easy to figure that a night out with a group of friends would probably feed and educated a family for half a year.
Of course, most of the time you'll need to suppress that feeling to get on with life here as a foreigner. Possibly, the less introspection you do, the better a time you would have. Nobody really wants to sit down to discuss about what a decadent lifestyle they're having. This probably is true of every country has its poor.
----
So what happens now? Well, hopefully I get a job that lets me stay. Maybe then again, staying isn't a question - you could easily get a local friend's company to hire you so you could get the visa. So perhaps, it's more of, getting a job that I want to do that would afford me a decent life in China. After all, that's the China dream for most of us, and the reason why we came here. Because it was the promised land, except, we're just a little late now. But the lights aren't on yet. So party on.
----
An excellent article to read that puts into perspective how hard China was/and can be for people.
I fought for 18 years to have a cup of coffee with you.
----
Flyin's & Sparky feat. Marie Louise - Take My Breath Away
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