Even when you consider the current economic situation, you’d think that they’d have seen it coming.
Over 100 outlets charging a high amount for Chinese herbal products and even more for acupuncture treatment, with at least two major rivals in the UK. Changes come quickly for small businesses, but surely someone must have realised that bankruptcy was a possibility?
Well, for DR. China, who were until very recently the largest Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) chain, the answer is: seemingly not.
It was less than six weeks ago when Pip interviewed for a position of manager of one of these branches,and she was only three weeks into her training down in Plymouth when we heard the news. Just as well I didn’t hand in my notice, really. I couldn’t anyway – not until I knew where she was going to be based after her training. Now we know. Nowhere.
Obviously, any company faced with have to make its workforce redundant applies a first in-first out policy, so Pip’s return to Newcastle was a foregone conclusion, but it doesn’t stop there.
Several of Dr China’s staff are losing their jobs, the majority of which are qualified doctors. Wether or not they can find work in the NHS is a difficult matter, as government-linked organisations can be prickly towards Chinese nationals (even highly qualified ones). Pip herself had been denied a position working for the job centre in the post room. I know the workings of both the department and post rooms in general, and doubt that she posed so great a security risk as to not even make stage one of the recruitment process.
Still, water under the bridge, move on and all that…
So now Pip’s job hunting again, and while there are several possibilities, the same depression that came over her the last time is starting to resurface.
The reason is simple: No matter how many places we apply, how many perfect application letters and constantly updated, edited and revised CVs are posted and emailed, she received one offer for an interview, and that was with a Chinese company; Dr China.
But TCM is no longer a viable option for employment, so what happens when the offers don’t come in? Bar and cafe work is fine as a stop-gap, but not exactly a preferred way of life for one halfway round the planet from home, and qualified way beyond the level of those who teach your children every school day, so the other option is a relocation to China.
Hopefully, I’d be able to find work teaching English without any real problems. In an ideal world, I’d rather write for a newspaper (or travel magazines, if any editors are reading this a they pass!) but that remains to be seen, and is, without a doubt, a topic for one of the next incoming instilments, so watch this space.
Also, if any of you have been affected by the current economic meltdown, do please get in touch and share your stories – I might even showcase some highlights from the best of them!
Until next time…
P.S. – The writing continues, but albeit at a slower pace, since my return to work. Needless to say, my free time is presently consumed with trying to find suitable employment for Pip. Anyone have need for a talented young lady with an Msc in Psychological Research and fluent in Mandarin? Anyone?
