Job Discussion Forums

[yurii]

Was the rejection related or unrelated to the CNCC?

[mitsui]

I was not told why I was rejected but I was told to get it. Instead I went to Mong Kok to take the oath instead. Overall it was very time consuming for nothing.
I assume some teachers lied in the past. Getting a statement of service from former employers was very time consuming.
I assume British teachers are favored.

[yurii]

[mitsui]

Those with a PGCE are favored. Americans don't have this degree.
People with this degree may not be British, but certainly could be.

[yurii]

[nimadecaomei]

I think HK uses the PGCE, as it is a former colony (most do besides the US and Canada). I know you can do QTS for the PGCE there. I am not familiar with getting on the NET program, so cannot comment much on that side of the situation. I could see that two candidates being equal they might favor the PGCE qualified teacher, as I doubt many schools are running a US curriculum model.

[yurii]

[mitsui]

There are Americans in the NET program but I bet that they do have prior experience working in China or Hong Kong. I think that is needed.
I don't have that. Obviously, prior study of Chinese looks good.
Many teachers have prior experience in Korea.

Anyway, from what I heard there are a few kinds of schools. I forgot what it was called. But tier 1 were the schools where the students want to go to a good university and so teachers have to help prepare them for the entrance exam, which has the four skills. And that means that Saturdays are a working day, but not every Saturday.

I think having something extra on the resume helps. A teacher I know can teach English and another language (French). Problem is that the students don't care at the lower ranked school, but it does mean Saturday is a day off.

In the interview it was mentioned about living conditions and that some teachers could get claustrophobia living in a high rise. It depends on the person.

If you get in, lucky you. But you must retire at 60.

[yurii]

[mitsui]

I worked in a pprivate school in Tokyo for about 8 years. Ran the drama club, had lots of students who went to cram school. Studied Japanese for years which means I had to learn Chinese characters.
Certified in the US in two states, but I have not taught in the US.

Not good enough. I guess it comes down to which schools have an open position. Some years it ould be between 30-50 jobs.

[Jmbf]

[yurii]

Thanks Jmbf. And is there an influence from the UK in any of this? Such as GCSEs (apart from British international schools)?

[Kowloon]

It's nothing to do with experience, qualifications, job availability or anything else. You are more than suitably qualified, have plenty of requisite experience, and the hiring system is not related to how many jobs might be available. It sounds like, for whatever reason on the day, the interview didn't go as well as you would have hoped and you weren't selected off the back of it.

There are literally thousands of candidates in the NET scheme pool. The interview with the EdB gets you in the pool and nothing more. After entering the pool, teachers apply themselves directly to jobs. At that stage, other factors will start to come into it as the schools have a great deal of autonomy.

[mitsui]

Basically there is no margin for error. They can afford to be picky.
I am certified in English.

I tend to be direct so I assume that is not welcome. I assume HK people are indirect.
I was gently chided to learn Chinese culture as I mixed up the culture of the north with the south. I guess it is northerners, like people from Dalian who are direct.
I admit my ignorance but was told in my rejection e-mail to apply to schools outside the NET program.
The interview was not easy and they fire off question after question.
Another teacher got initially rejected then worked at a Chinese university for two years. He applied again and got a job.

[Kowloon]