Unreality TV

By Yan Shuang Source:Global Times Published: 2012-8-7 23:40:03

An applicant goes under the spotlight during a screening of Tianjin TV's reality show Only You. Photo: CFP
An applicant goes under the spotlight during a screening of Tianjin TV's reality show Only You. Photo: CFP

After enduring a grueling interview process screened on reality TV, Guo Hong was ready to take up a promising new job with high-profile tech company Xiaomi, which is at the cutting edge of the smartphone revolution in China.

He was shocked to discover he'd been turned down for the lucrative position, despite defeating the other contestants. Although he did not have a written contract, he filed a lawsuit against the Xiaomi Corporation, in a case that has raised doubts over the "reality" of job-hunting reality shows.

The case will begin mediation at a local court in Beijing on Friday. However, analysts are already suggesting that reality TV is not the best place to find work, given how far networks are willing to go to gain ratings.

Dream job snatched

Guo, a Beijing-based communications engineer, was cast in Going to Win, a job-hunting program produced by the Fujian-based Southeast TV in March. The program, featuring 12 human resource specialists and bosses from different enterprises, interviewed four job applicants each show.

The participants are described as "elite job applicants" with extensive work experience who are seeking higher positions with good salaries. Xiaomi president Lin Bin sent Guo an invitation letter for a job that included a 200,000 yuan ($31,414) annual salary, but later rejected him saying that he did not pass the final interview.

"On the show, he said he had a job especially designed for me, but after two interviews with their HR department and management they told me they didn't have the job for me anymore," Guo told the Global Times.

"We had just reached the point where we intended to hire him, but applicants have to go through a regular interview afterwards," said Lin Bin, who posted the comment on his personal microblog in August as a response to Guo's claim.

In terms of paperwork, all Guo had was his application for the show. However, the program did promise job applicants that they could file a complaint with them if employers broke promises after the show, Guo said.

Guo accused Xiaomi of contract violation and asked for a total of 60,000 yuan in compensation for the delay in employment and the losses it had caused him.

Going to Win posted an official statement on Sina Weibo Thursday, saying they feel the dispute is a "pity" and would like to see the matter solved through friendly negotiations. "We'd like to invite Guo to our program again and hopefully he'll find a good job," said the statement.

The dispute soon triggered massive debates as the public questioned the credibility of both Xiaomi and job-seeking reality shows in general.

Applicants or victims?

There are dozens of reality shows offering job applicants opportunities to talk with employers face to face. Those who pass the tests get the chance to be recruited directly by employers.

But as new shows keep popping up, problems also have emerged. Some job applicants have been found to have lied about their education background or work history to boost their chances. Meanwhile, shows such as Only You produced by Tianjin TV have become famous for making harsh comments about applicants.

"Job-hunting programs are in the end, TV shows. Their top priority is keeping audiences entertained. They make up stories and fake people's identities to attract high audience ratings, since they're more concerned about commercial prospects than the interests of job applicants," said Shi Shusi, a media commentator who has featured as a guest in job-hunting shows.

Some producers are trying to achieve a balance between helping job hunters and making their shows attractive to audiences, Shi said.

But with lax regulation from authorities and pickier audiences, some of the shows have become entirely profit-oriented and neglect the public interest, he noted.

Silver lining?

However, some point out that the shows offer another avenue for job seekers in a tight job market.

He Wenwen works with the Tencent microblog. She has been collaborating with a job-hunting program produced by Tianjin TV, and told the Global Times that the company successfully selected two interns from the TV program applicants and one of them has been officially recruited, although they did not sign a contract or agreement with the show about liabilities beforehand.

She added that they had worked with the TV show to promote their company image and products, as well as find staff.

"Some TV programs do offer quite good opportunities and they don't cheat," said He Wei, one of the interns recruited by Tencent. He said the TV show he participated in did not provide any contract, but he would have preferred to have one to ensure the interests of job applicants.

Having legal consultants on these shows or signing contracts beforehand could help protect applications and prevent disputes, he suggested.

Although Chinese labor laws protect the rights of workers, there are no stipulations regarding the protection of job applicants when they are discussing a contract with an employer, said Hu Weiqin, Guo's lawyer in Beijing.

"The verbal agreement reached between Guo and Xiaomi is legal and should be covered, although they didn't have a written contract," Hu said.

Shi Shusi said stricter restrictions should be enforced regarding reality shows. "Job-hunting shows are supposed to serve the public and the entertainment factor is just a tool to do this. When the latter becomes the priority and the interests of job applicants are endangered, authorities should be alert."

Applicants are less likely to got a job through reality TV shows than via normal channels such as job fairs and professional networks, said Wang Hongcai, an education and employment expert with Xiamen University.

"They shouldn't expect too much from these ad-filled shows. The bosses that are evaluating applicants on their performances aren't always correct or fair, and this may mislead them in terms of future job applications."



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