Firstly, an admin note: I have updated my settings to receive an email whenever anyone takes the time to comment on the blog, I'll now respond straight away. All comments are appreciated and I can now demonstrate my appreciation by replying quickly.
So, to follow up on my post at the end of September concerning unemployment - it's over!
I have a great new job.
I don't want to get into the details yet because I need to take a few weeks to figure out what level of division between personal and professional I need to take. It's no major secret, but obviously the Internet is a public forum and some issues are for discussion on a more selected basis.
In generalities however it is in the same field I was working in before I left the UK, but happily a little bit further up the ladder. I really enjoyed that job. It wasn't anything earth-shattering, but it was interesting, I got to travel and my boss always gave me opportunities to take on more responsibilities and develop my career. The pay and benefits were very good as is the case in the public sector in the UK - enjoy them if you've got a job in that sector and don't harp on about the private sector - you're on to a good (although perhaps precarious) thing. I'd had that job for three years though and was certainly at a stage where I was looking to push on, gain more experience and take on more responsibility.
As things turned out, I gave it up for no fixed job. German in Zhong Guo got the job here and it wasn't a difficult decision to give it all up to come with her. She's now missus Geordie in Zhong Guo, so I feel my choice was vindicated. I've never felt a moments regret since making that decision.
In the first place, since at that time we weren't married, I needed a visa. I accepted that I would be the junior partner financially, but I also wanted to earn enough to pay a loan that I'd taken out before we got together. I'm all for integrating our finances, but that didn't seem fair.
With some heavy duty searching, I was able to find a job that fitted both these criteria. Like any job there were some frustrating times as I adjusted to the new system. Ultimately however, that university job grew into something really beneficial and gave me some invaluable management experience and exposure to the nature of bureaucracy in a large Chinese organisation. In the second year of that job I was able to take on some more responsibility and instigate some real change in the development and delivery of the teaching, which was, I think really focused on giving the students more of the practical skills they need to succeed in both British universities and the international work place.
I should also mention the fantastic experience I gained working at a new and dynamic NGO focused on the green economy and micro finance. An opportunity that came up at a party and developed into a totally different, but equally invaluable perspective on working in China.
For different reasons at different times I left both of these jobs, but with no regrets and I recognise 100% that without these two roles, I wouldn't have had either the confidence or the experience to apply for the job I'm about to start.
So, the point of the post is this: I thought I was taking a backwards step (career-wise at least) whereas in fact it has resulted in the best job I've ever had and the opportunity for real progress.
I know that not everyone has the luxury I've enjoyed over the last few months of being able to take the time to find the perfect job and in the meantime, not be too stressed about money, somewhere to live and particularly relevant in China - a visa to stay here.
If I could offer anything from this whole experience though it would be that any new opportunity can be put to positive effect. It sounds trite, but it's true to my experience over the last two years. You may not take a decision or make a move for reasons related to work, but what you learn can still help.
