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Equilibrium Fundamental Education Centre

 
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C.S.



Joined: 10 May 2012
Posts: 2

PostPosted: Mon May 28, 2012 1:38 pm    Post subject: Equilibrium Fundamental Education Centre Reply with quote

Hi there everyone. Sorry to come running to you looking for advice, like so many others, but I need your help.

I'm in the UK at the moment, recently finished my CELTA course a few and now have an offer of employment from this "Equilibrium Fundamental Education Centre" place. I just can't find any information about the institution that tells me whether it's a decent place to work. Can anyone here help?

As a recent entrant to the TEFL world with no real teaching experience behind me and knowing it's hard to get positions in HK without being there, I don't want to be too snooty about any offer. But obviously I want to know at least VAGUELY what I might be letting myself in for.

Their T&Cs seem fair given I'm a newb - got to work weekends but will get two weekdays off; HK$24,000 salary; regular school hours of 9-6; 12 working days vacation; only the one year non-competition clause made me raise my eyebrows. Those kinds of terms seem pretty standard for someone in my position, don't they?

They're keen to get me out there a.s.a.p. so if anyone knows anything or can point me to somewhere / someone I can ask I'd be really, really grateful.
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Joshua2006



Joined: 04 Jan 2010
Posts: 342

PostPosted: Tue May 29, 2012 12:32 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Well, as for the non-competition clause you wouldn't be jumping into another cram school anyways, so i would just get your foot in the door and take the job. you can leave after a month if you need to....for something better. It seems that having the visa, albeit for somewhere else, makes you much more employable when looking for a job.
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sistercream



Joined: 18 Dec 2010
Posts: 497
Location: Pearl River Delta

PostPosted: Tue May 29, 2012 2:58 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Sorry, I don't know the centre, but one piece of advice I will give is that you not get on the plane until the employment visa is safely stuck in your passport.
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C.S.



Joined: 10 May 2012
Posts: 2

PostPosted: Tue May 29, 2012 11:46 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Thanks, am appreciating what advice you're able to provide.

sistercream wrote:
Sorry, I don't know the centre, but one piece of advice I will give is that you not get on the plane until the employment visa is safely stuck in your passport.


Out of curiosity, why is that such a big deal? They DO want me there before they start processing the visa...
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Veek



Joined: 15 Feb 2011
Posts: 20

PostPosted: Wed May 30, 2012 2:26 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

C.S. wrote:
Thanks, am appreciating what advice you're able to provide.

sistercream wrote:
Sorry, I don't know the centre, but one piece of advice I will give is that you not get on the plane until the employment visa is safely stuck in your passport.


Out of curiosity, why is that such a big deal? They DO want me there before they start processing the visa...


You don't want to be working illegally (I guess you don't have permanent residency) and to protect yourself from unscrupulous employers. You will not be protected by any labour laws as you will be working illegally. Worse case, you can be deported.
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sistercream



Joined: 18 Dec 2010
Posts: 497
Location: Pearl River Delta

PostPosted: Wed May 30, 2012 5:51 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Veek wrote:


You don't want to be working illegally (I guess you don't have permanent residency) and to protect yourself from unscrupulous employers. You will not be protected by any labour laws as you will be working illegally. Worse case, you can be deported.


Precisely. There is any number of unscrupulous employers in this industry who will happily get you to shell out for your air fare, have you work for a month/ trial period/ "until the visa comes through" but never even bother submitting the visa application. Then after 3 months (or whenever your visa-free travel period expires), they'll tell you your services are no longer required, you won't have been paid, and you'll have no legal redress.
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