My Chinese special job-hunter's journey
A few days I accepted the job opporitunity and was asked to have an interview. So I decided to go to this company yesterday.
I got up very earlier than usual. At first, I arrived at my current workplace. Actually I haven't still resigned my current job now. Then I spent 20 minutes on foot to get in the subway station, after 10-minute break.
Unfortunately, there are something wrong with operation system of the subway. Too many people was gathering there and waiting along the track. I guess I have to take a taxi in case of lateness.
But in Chinese society, we want to use the least sources to get what we want. These include time and money, If you tell one person that you take a taxi just to have a job interview which doesn't necessarily belong to you, He or She might say " you are so stupid" in this society.
After I got there, I'd filled out the form about my personal information. But I felt so tried and exhausted that I made some written mistakes in this form. Then I took another form by secret and refilled out it. One worker gave me four papers and asked me to have a test.
The unfortunate thing happens to me again.My manager in my company called me during the process of the test. You know, How nervous and frightened I felt! Because it was the day before the special festival and I thought I would finish this interview very quickly, I determined to come out of my office by secret. I didn't know how I would explain this situation to my manager, so I said " I had something to do and can't go back to my office."
Then I couldn't concentrate on this test, but I have to do it. After this, it's not end. I have to have a face-to-fact interview.
Finally, I have to take a taxi to go back. You know, If you spend money on looking for jobs for special reason, it's Ok. But if it takes you too unnecessary costs for job-hunt, it seems to be stupid and wasteful. Then you could imagine how my colleagues looked at me. At that time, I also felt worried and stressful and only gave a clusmy reason to my boss. It's really like the performance on the stage.
What do you think of this kind of experience which may exist only in China? Maybe you can't imagine that situation when you are out of the office just for looking for jobs. You also don't understand why Chinese people can take risk to do this. You don't know why I guess I would feel stupid when I spent too money on jobs hunting.
Welcome to tell me what's your opinion.
Search from various English teachers...
Corrections · 3
0
I know exactly what you mean about people who will ridicule or criticize you if you do something that seems wasteful or not thrifty. This kind of criticism exists all over the world, I am sure, but it is definitely strong in Chinese society! There are two major differences between Chinese and American society at work in the situation you describe. One is that Chinese tend to be more thrifty (节俭)； the other is that Chinese tend to feel free to frankly criticize and make "helpful" comments to others (所谓的关心)。This is not to say that Americans aren't thrifty or critical! It is only to say that it you see in more in the Chinese world than in the Western world. As for sneaking out of work to apply for another job, that seems to happen everywhere!
0
Dear Katee,
This is a great story! Basically, you express yourself very well, so I am not going to go over every single error. I'm not so sure that going over every error is the most helpful thing to do, so I think I will just focus on one thing: verb tense. I'll stick to issues of simple past and present tense in a narrative. I'll make comments in the comments section.
Mainly past tense is used to narrate a story, but storytellers can use present tense as well. The point is, you have to be consistent with whichever you choose.
- - -
Unfortunately, there was something wrong with operation system of the subway.
Too many people were [actually, this is a S-V agreement problem, not tense] gathering there and waiting along the track.
I guessed I would have to take a taxi in case of lateness.
After I got there, I'd [No need for perfect tense here; if you wanted to say, "Before I got there, I had filled..." that would be a place to use perfect tense.] filled out the form about my personal information.
Another unfortunate thing happened to me.
...so I said "I have something to do and can't go back to my office." [We use present tense here because it's a quote of what you said at that time.]
Then I couldn't concentrate on this test, but I had to do it.
After this, it's not end it still wasn't over. I had to have a face-to-face interview.
Finally, I had to take a taxi to go back.
- - -
I always enjoy your journals because you have interesting stories!
~ Ned
0
well, things happen for some reason. And things of this kind also exist in other countries. What is real important is that how you view the job that you are looking for at that moment. If it is the very job that you wanna engage in, or your desired job, I guess, it is OK for you to risk money. Cuz when you risk money, you don't risk anything of any enduring value. Your fulfillment,your happiness counts most. You'd better not care too much about money. At some point, you lose money, you earn money. That is balanced.But one thing you ought to keep in mind is that you have to make sure you will not regret for what you have done earlier before,whether you do or don't, don't regret. That is the most torturing pain in there if you do regret. On the other hand, I also read you in your expression. As a friend, I would tell you that you here living is not to please others,so do not care about what others might say to you. Your inner voice is the one you should care, and most importantly,listen. Wish you the best luck in your job hunting journey.
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