General Interest > The Melting Pot

Advice Thread..

(1/3) > >>

Che Gookin:
This is a thread for asking for advice on any topic you want.

My problem:

I'm coming towards the end of my management contract here in China. They want me to extend my contract another six months, which is a good thing.

The pros of this situation:

1) I get to stay employed for six more months.
2) I get to build a rather chaotic resume for six more months.
3) I get to see if my super dooper marketing strategies I've pushed them into using work.
4) I wouldn't have to face the American recession just yet.
5) I could easily start taking some classes via distance learning through a community college back in the states. I'm thinking of picking up some psychology courses towards a counseling oriented degree of sorts.
6) I can save up even more filthy lucre for my eventual return to the US.

Cons:

1) I'm not home.
2) I'll be in a city in China where all my coworkers are new to me. Nearly 100 percent turn over in foreign staff next semester.
3) My Gf will be departing as well.
4) I like the job, but it doesn't really ring my bell that much. Just not what I want to do with my life.
5) The work isn't in the field I want it to be in.

It is a bit of a tricky situation. I'm not making that much here in China. This means when I move back I'm going to be moving back on a very tight budget. If I don't find work quickly I could be screwed over pretty badly. Finding work is something I certainly worry about in an economy that is running a near 10 percent unemployment. I don't mind taking crap jobs to re-establish myself either, just not sure how easy it'll be for me to find a crap job at this point in time.

Whooter:
At first glance the pros out weigh the cons.  I think the key is to decide where you want to be this time next year.  Write it down on paper (its important to write it down) and then decide which one of the pros and cons will help you reach that point.

You are young enough so I would lean towards staying.  I think it is an advantage being in a field that you don’t want to be in ( for a short term).  You will learn more outside your field than you would inside it as long as you are challenged and learning new stuff.
I knew someone who earned his MBA from Harvard and decided to spend a year working in assembly for entry level (minimum) wages.  He worked for 6 months putting stuff together and another 6 months as a floor supervisor or lead tech.  These were the type of people he would someday be managing and wanted to get to understand their struggles and what motivates them.  Many years later he said it was the best time he ever spent.  He thinks people can learn a ton from doing something outside what they will eventually be doing for a future career.  It doesn’t have to be a step down, just different.

Stay, have fun, your girlfriend is gone, learn new things, expand your resume, learn from the fruits of your marketing strategies, do something drastic, out of the box,  your last 6 months, take some courses, practice dealing with new coworkers  (which can really be tough), save a few more  Renminbi?



...

Che Gookin:
That's pretty decent insight on the MBA bloke's part. And you are right about learning more outside your field. To implement the marketing strategies I had to put a huge amount of thought into them beforehand, which required some serious critical analysis of our current marketing plan.

meh.. flawed on so many levels.

Product is too expensive..
Semester starts too far away for most parents to want to wait..

All sorts of issues.

I'm pondering long and hard on doing an Addictions Counseling certification. Not so much that I want to get into being a 12 step coordinator, but because the certificate courses delve heavily into one on one counseling and group counseling. Something I've done alot of on both counts and enjoyed immensely. Despite contrary believe, and my gf supports this notion as she's the one who put me onto it, I am.. so she claims.. a very empathetic person.

I feel emotions very deeply at a core level. Though, my experience working with kids has developed a serious poker face. You can't show your anger or you get eaten alive so to speak.

anyway, just rambling. I'll write it all up like you suggested.

Whooter:
Your girlfriend may be right.  From what I have seen your strongest quality is that you own up to your mistakes and don’t try to blame anyone else or make excuses.  In this age of constant communication and doing conference calls while in the bathroom and getting yelled at on the beach and rewriting presentations  while changing diapers.  No one.. I mean no one wants to hear “I didn’t get it done because”……   your boss doesn’t really care if you were too drunk to get the project done or you were assisting your wife delivering a baby.  If it didn’t get done it didn’t get done, just say it, as long as it doesn’t happen too often.  Good bosses hate excuses.... "Oh my wife was having a baby".  Most bosses would rather hear that you got drunk and woke up in another city at least it shows character.

I learned this when I was very young and it applies even more so today.  People like to hire people who don’t make excuses, although it is near impossible to communicate this trait during an interview, sometimes they may ask what was your biggest challenge or failure and you can weave it in during a prepared answer.

Not sure why I said all that, but its my 2 cents again.



...

Che Gookin:
I have the getting drunk and waking up in another city part down quite well.

Navigation

[0] Message Index

[#] Next page