Ask Headmaster Ken

Dear Ken,

I had a successful phone interview with a University in Beijing, and they said that they must wait until next week to get approval from the foreign affairs office before they can offer me the position. Is this normal? What criteria might force an application to be rejected? I have no large skeletons in my closet, and see no reason why the application would be rejected. However, I may be foregoing another opportunity by waiting for this school to make a determination. I don't have enough information to make a decision.

This time delay is quite normal at public universities especially when the initial contact (or interview) was made by a department head instead of the foreign affairs office. Technically speaking, the FAO must approve the final salary and contract.

If there is a nothing unusual about the hiring terms, e.g., a much higher salary than is generally the case, this is little more than a formality. However, if the department head was overzealous in trying to bring in a foreign teacher, there will be all sorts of behind-the-scenes politicking and maneuvering which could end against the teacher (but even in such a case, a counteroffer would be forthcoming).

You didn't mention the title of the person you spoke with, but if it was a department head and he or she expressed clear interest in you, you should have little or nothing to worry about.