A cynic looks for work

My freelance earnings have been so patchy of late that I've been thinking I may have to consider finding myself a semi-full-time job to give myself a bit of stability. [Groan]     And I thought I might have struck lucky last week when I ran into a fellow Brit who's leaving China shortly, and thus vacating his rather cushy job as an in-house editor/polisher/"language consultant" for one of the major IT companies (only 20 hours a week, modestly generous pay, and almost NO actual work, he tells me).  He said he'd put in a word for me.   Unfortunately, this acquaintance now tells me that the job placement is going to be handled by a headhunting agency, and he doesn't have any contact names there.   So, that's doomed then.  He's forwarded my CV to them - but nothing ever happens in China without a personal introduction (the guanxi principle: everything is based on 'relationships', not merit or propriety).   I observed ruefully to my new friend: "I've seen how these recruiters and HR people work too many times before.  They'll file your recommendation in the 'Trash' folder.  And then, a day or two before they need to fill the position, they'll ask their cousin or their flatmate or their dentist if they know anyone who might fit the bill."   Ah, China.