Ha. Your words really ring true for me. I haven't even gone over yet. I haven't even had a visa decision.jpatokal wrote:Ha. It's all about face -- local companies like having a token ang moh they can trot out to potential clients and investors. "Wah lao, this company is so successful that they can hire a super-expensive foreign talent!" And if they can do so while paying you a local salary, all the betterceej1979 wrote:I think they just have preconceptions about certain nationalities and groups. They possibly think that a white English person, with a degree, working for an English company, is possibly better qualified than a Chinese person, with the exact same degree, working for a similar level company.
I think they just have a bit of an admiration for certain nationalities.
In my first job in Singapore, where I was the only ang moh in the office, I was often brought along to any fire-fighting meetings where my boss had to placate angry clients. Not because I had anything to do with the issue or necessarily knew anything about how to solve it... but because the clients felt more respected when a white Expert(tm) showed up, as opposed to some local guy.
But for the entire recruitment, I've kind of felt that they have been incredibely thrilled that a white English person wants to join their company.
I didn't even apply for a job. I just e-mailed, asking a very loose question about possibly having an e-mail address for one of their publishers, so I could have a quick chat about the general market over there. I didn't even say I was even planning on moving any time soon.
From there it went to the HR guy asking if I wanted to apply for a job they had. I told them I had no plans to go to Singapore to interview, but I would go along with it if something else can be arranged.
From there it went to them asking if I wanted to go and meet the company president, while he was on a UK visit. I couldn't make it unfortunately.
From there it went to them actually sending a guy over from their French office, to their London office to meet me. The interview was little more than a 20 minute chat, about the industry.
You know. I've done some interesting things in my current job, in a very niche industry, but I'm only a 20 something grad, on average money, with 3 years experience.
Then when i had the offer, they were telling me not to worry about rushing my relocation, as they had created this new role in the company just for me, and it will be here for me whenever I decide to move over.
I kept e-mailing my cousin (who already works there) asking what the hell was going on! Why are they treating me like this!
Not that I mind in the slighest (I'm actually a very good networker/salesman/problem solver) but I do think a lot of my job will just be as a bit of a "face" of the company. I can fully see me being hawked around to every conference, meeting, seminar in the region, like you discuss.
And, on the same average money! Seems to be 50k a year treatment, for 19k a year job!
seriously though, I really want it. Hope it comes off
