Ultrathread I: Thread of the Year - 2014

[Misanthrope]

Has nothing to do with hospitality experience. Has everything to do with where you want to go.

I'm not sure what you mean. I've been asked to name my price, and I don't want to pitch too low.

 

[Misanthrope]

How many hours a week?

I make $23/hour weekdays, 27.50 saturday, 32 sunday, 46 public holidays.

Assuming that's say 8 hours a day for you, it'd be $4850 a month. I'm not a manager, but I do close the club alot of the shifts (but then i get a few extra little perks chucked in for hours/laundry/closing).

Bar manager makes a fair bit more I suspect. But this is Australian wages as well, which I gather are amongst the best in the world (which makes sense, given how high cost of living is).

Looking at anywhere between 9 and 12 hours a day, six days a week. They don't do penalty rates or any of that shit here, but I reckon I'd want a salary in the ballpark you mention given the fact I'd essentially live at the bar.

 

[Drew-Sta]

30k RMB seems right given the responsibility. I'd pitch 40k and let him come down to 30k. Never pitch what you want, always go higher.

I'd also pitch for one weekend off a month. You'll go nuts if you don't.

Be very careful Bushy. The job is going to cost you a lot more than what is on offer. You are turning your social life into your job, and all the people I've seen do that have run aground.

 

[Bazal]

Those hours are shitful IMO. 72 hour weeks at the top end? I'd be looking at asking at least $35 an hour tbh....

 

[Drew-Sta]

Also, a three month trial would be a good idea too, where you can both cut your losses after 3 months if it isn't working. Gives you an out.

 

[Misanthrope]

30k RMB seems right given the responsibility. I'd pitch 40k and let him come down to 30k. Never pitch what you want, always go higher.

I'd also pitch for one weekend off a month. You'll go nuts if you don't.

Be very careful Bushy. The job is going to cost you a lot more than what is on offer. You are turning your social life into your job, and all the people I've seen do that have run aground.

Yeah, I'm not keen, really. My social life here is why I want to stay, and trading that in for a 'social life' based solely out of a bar that is mostly frequented by men doesn't strike me as a dream compromise.

Plus, both interviewers told me "No sex with customers".

I reckon I'll ask for 40,000 and one weekend off a month and he'll shoot it down. Not because he's an asshole, but because that is well above Chinese salaries.

Hell, it's 4 times what I earn teaching.

Those hours are shitful IMO. 72 hour weeks at the top end? I'd be looking at asking at least $35 an hour tbh....

Yeah, it's not exactly singing to me. I'm more curious to see the going rate now. I daresay I'll be back in Oz this August as anticipated.

If I really wanted to stay, I could find a teaching job with decent pay and more sane hours.

 

[Dutchy]

I'll be paying half your salary. :lol:

 

[Misanthrope]

I'll be paying half your salary. :lol:

:lol:

Knowing his prices, you're probably right ;-)

 

[Dutchy]

At least I'll never be kicked out haha.

 

[Bazal]

I'd kick you out for shits and gigs tbh

 

[KeepingTheFaith]

Plus, both interviewers told me "No sex with customers".

End discussion.

 

[Misanthrope]

It was very nearly a deal breaker for me.

I don't find their Chinese staff attractive, but there's been more than a few girls I've crossed paths with at the bar who I'd like to f**k.

Hell, I met Michigan there.

 

[Parra]

I'm not sure what you mean. I've been asked to name my price, and I don't want to pitch too low.

If that is all that matters then double your minimum.


Really, work out what you are worth to the business and go for it if that is what you want. Aim for a reasonable salary (say minimum +50% because you are good) and then negotiate a decent bonus. Shows that you back yourself and that you have a stake in the success of the business. As an employee, you always have a stake in the success of the business, but asking for a bonus rather than a high salary makes it so.

 

[Drew-Sta]

Yeah, I'm not keen, really. My social life here is why I want to stay, and trading that in for a 'social life' based solely out of a bar that is mostly frequented by men doesn't strike me as a dream compromise.

Plus, both interviewers told me "No sex with customers".

I reckon I'll ask for 40,000 and one weekend off a month and he'll shoot it down. Not because he's an asshole, but because that is well above Chinese salaries.

Hell, it's 4 times what I earn teaching.



Yeah, it's not exactly singing to me. I'm more curious to see the going rate now. I daresay I'll be back in Oz this August as anticipated.

If I really wanted to stay, I could find a teaching job with decent pay and more sane hours.

I wouldn't do it mate. If the one thing you want to stay for is unable to properly accessed because of the job, then you're going to end up hating it.

Run a mile mate. There's far better adventures in store. This seems too much like a red flag to me.

 

[miguel de cervantes]

I reckon I'll ask for 40,000 and one weekend off a month and he'll shoot it down. Not because he's an asshole, but because that is well above Chinese salaries.

What advantages do you have over a Chinese bar manager?

 

[Dutchy]

Bigger dick

 

[Twizzle]

Like Baz says, look at your hours then how much you want an hour.

That is a shit load of hours, you could end up working for f**k all per hour if you just look at a monthly amount.

 

[sensesmaybenumbed]

I wouldn't do it mate. If the one thing you want to stay for is unable to properly accessed because of the job, then you're going to end up hating it.

Run a mile mate. There's far better adventures in store. This seems too much like a red flag to me.

Agreed

Bigger dick

But no sexy with customers... The owner though?

Like Baz says, look at your hours then how much you want an hour.

That is a shit load of hours, you could end up working for f**k all per hour if you just look at a monthly amount.

Run, mis, run like miss Anne Thrope was after you.

 

[Misanthrope]

What advantages do you have over a Chinese bar manager?

1). My connection to the local expat community. There are few foreigners better connected, and zero Chinese people.
2). I'm white. That might not sound like much, but here, white people are trendy. Bars pay for our drinks to come drink in them.
3). The Chinese idea of hospitality is pretty outlandish and can be downright offensive to foreign clientèle.

Bigger dick

This too.

Like Baz says, look at your hours then how much you want an hour.

That is a shit load of hours, you could end up working for f**k all per hour if you just look at a monthly amount.

Yeah, I'd be hard pressed to take the job for five nights a week at the rate that seems to be standard here.

A friend who works for the Hilton here has said 20,000rmb + accommodation at a minimum, but he's also said it's hard to find an employer (especially one with a Chinese business partner) who will pay that.

I wouldn't do it mate. If the one thing you want to stay for is unable to properly accessed because of the job, then you're going to end up hating it.

Run a mile mate. There's far better adventures in store. This seems too much like a red flag to me.

This is my biggest reason for wanting to just say no. I want to stay, but that's because of my social life here, the freedom it affords me to write, and my role in NKN as an events and promotions guy.

I'd be giving up all three of these, and I'm not sure even 60,000RMB ($10,000 a month) would be worth that just to stay in a city and a country I don't have a great affection for.

 

[Drew-Sta]

This is my biggest reason for wanting to just say no. I want to stay, but that's because of my social life here, the freedom it affords me to write, and my role in NKN as an events and promotions guy.

I'd be giving up all three of these, and I'm not sure even 60,000RMB ($10,000 a month) would be worth that just to stay in a city and a country I don't have a great affection for.

Bingo.

If I may say - one of the hardest things we face is working out when 'the end' has happened for a phase in our life. Our understanding of 'endings' is so twisted by movies that we think that unless there's some great momentous occasion to signal the end, we must stay on until the time is right. Endings to times in our life are far different; I find them more subtle.

When we were coming back from Tonga, the desire to stay was very strong. We had a few opportunities crop up that could have kept both of us there. But I had a nagging idea that we needed to go.

We finally organised a bonfire on the western side of the island as a 'final fling'; something I'd been wanting to do for months. When we finally got to the island, with firewood stacked in the boot, we got there to see one of the most dramatic sunsets I've ever seen.

I knew, I just knew, at that point that I had 'left' and that was my ending, even though we had two weeks left before our flight.

It was subtle, and I still don't think my wife worked it out that that was when we were to go, but I walked away after one of the most delightful nights of my life knowing that it was time to leave.

Slight overshare, perhaps, but I would hate to see you stay on only to have all of your China adventure ruined by an attempt to 'keep the fire going'.

If you're interested, this was the sunset: