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Jennifer May
Joined: 07 Jun 2012
Posts: 2
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 Posted: Mon Jun 18, 2012 11:04 pm Post subject: Should you pay for an E.S.L job placement? possible scam? |
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| I just got offered an interview to work where I would like to in Berlin Germany but the job searching company says I have to pay $395 US just to be put in contact with the employer. Scam? Its through '2001 ESL jobs' |
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spiral78
Joined: 05 Apr 2004
Posts: 11534
Location: On a Short Leash
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| Posted: Mon Jun 18, 2012 11:07 pm Post subject: |
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Scam.
Reputable employers in the region don't normally even interview by distance - you need to be standing in the office in person. That's because there are simply lots of teachers around and unless you've got specialist qualifications, no-one will hire you sight-unseen.
Timing is also a red flag: typical contracts are Sept/Oct through June, with very little work around for the summertime.
If you tell us what's being offered, there are likely further red flags there. Jobs in this region don't pay airfare or provide housing, for example, and pay is subsistence level. A CELTA or equivalent cert (not online) is normally a prerequisite for entry-level jobs in this region, so if you haven't got this, it's another red flag.
You can find a lot of current info on working in Germany as a US citizen on the Germany board below, by the way (assuming you are from the US as you quote a US dollar figure above). |
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Jennifer May
Joined: 07 Jun 2012
Posts: 2
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| Posted: Mon Jun 18, 2012 11:19 pm Post subject: |
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yah, they are offering a alot of "too good to be true(s)".
This is what it says:
2 TEFL Teachers needed, Salary: Competitive, Accommodation: Furnished acccommodation provided, Airfare: Airfare provided (return ticket), Duration of Contract: Min. 6 month, Experience Required: No, Age of Students: 3-8, Teaching hours per Week: 35, Salary: 1980 Euro/Month, Benefits: Yes
I think it would be best if i moved to Berlin and started looking, by Aug 7, I will have completed my BED, and I already have a BA in English.
So you think the best time to apply is in the fall? would you think September or January is better? |
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Steinmann
Joined: 17 Mar 2009
Posts: 255
Location: In the frozen north
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spiral78
Joined: 05 Apr 2004
Posts: 11534
Location: On a Short Leash
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| Posted: Mon Jun 18, 2012 11:45 pm Post subject: |
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| Quote: |
| 2 TEFL Teachers needed, Salary: Competitive, Accommodation: Furnished acccommodation provided, Airfare: Airfare provided (return ticket), Duration of Contract: Min. 6 month, Experience Required: No, Age of Students: 3-8, Teaching hours per Week: 35, Salary: 1980 Euro/Month, Benefits: |
Yes
This might be legit if it were in an international school - these normally require that you are a certified teacher in your home country and have at least two years of experience with the age group (which it sounds like you haven't got).
I suspect that the 'job-search' company has copied-and-pasted an ad from a legit school, softened the requirements, and boosted the benefits so that they can net a lot of unsuspecting fish.
No-one in Germany is offering paid round trip airfare, furnished accomodation, and based on a 6 month contract with no experience required.
This is a competitive job market and this is simply unrealistic - way too good to be true.
As for how to get a legit job in Berlin, I strongly suggest you read through the posts on Americans in Germany on the German forum below. It's not that easy, but is possible to get legal work permits. You can't expect to walk into a job paying anything like the salary you cite here, unfortunately.
Last edited by spiral78 on Mon Jun 18, 2012 11:55 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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spiral78
Joined: 05 Apr 2004
Posts: 11534
Location: On a Short Leash
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| Posted: Mon Jun 18, 2012 11:49 pm Post subject: |
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Steinmann, both seem to be legit:
this would be realistic for international school gigs in most places -
from their websites
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Teachers
1. Bachelor's degree or higher
2. One of the following:
- At least two (2) years of current teaching experience in your own K-12 classroom. Note: College/university level teaching and student teaching do not qualify as two years of experience.
- Teaching certification |
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What are the requirements for joining IST's Register of supply/substitute teachers?
You need to be a qualified teacher with at least two year's full time teaching experience
You need to provide three referees who can comment on your classroom practice
You must have the flexibility to travel at short notice and without dependants for periods of between one and ten months.
Most importantly, you need to enjoy exploring, living and working in new countries and cultures. |
The offer the OP here notes requires neither certification nor experience - the sign of a scam.
I'm not one of the believers in 'never' pay anyone anything for a job lead - I think there are some legit agents out there, and these two seem to be among them. I'd guess that the jobs on offer from these companies won't mostly be in the really desirable parts of the world, though  |
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tttompatz
Joined: 06 Mar 2010
Posts: 1951
Location: Talibon, Bohol, Philippines
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| Posted: Tue Jun 19, 2012 2:12 am Post subject: |
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Not sure about ISS... At least they are willing to name some schools they are affiliated with.
But I don't like the "teachersonthemove" ...
=no specifics.... pay your fee on-line and we will get back to you.
=no address, payment through a service agency (not a merchant account)
=no alternative payment methods
=generic dot com website (not a .co.uk website for a UK based company?) based out of Oregon state with a company supposedly registered in the UK - FAREHAM, HAMPSHIRE, UNITED, KINGDOM, PO14 4AR
Makes it hard to verify the legitimacy of the people who want you to send them your money.
They may very well be legit BUT....
I am still a firm believer of NEVER pay a recruiter for a job.
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chezal
Joined: 25 Feb 2009
Posts: 146
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| Posted: Tue Jun 19, 2012 2:51 am Post subject: |
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ISS (International school services) are a legitimate international school recruiting agent. They are like the better known SEARCH associates and run jobs fairs around the world. Both of these organisations generally have some of the better international schools on their books.
From what I've heard from other friends in International schools is that teachers on the move caters for just short term placements. However they seem to be good at getting schools out of a bind quickly. |
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Steinmann
Joined: 17 Mar 2009
Posts: 255
Location: In the frozen north
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| Posted: Tue Jun 19, 2012 7:23 am Post subject: |
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| spiral78 wrote: |
| The offer the OP here notes requires neither certification nor experience - the sign of a scam. |
Good call. Duly noted.
| spiral78 wrote: |
| I think there are some legit agents out there, and these two seem to be among them. I'd guess that the jobs on offer from these companies won't mostly be in the really desirable parts of the world, though. |
Is an undesirable location one where you have to combat boredom and dengue fever or one where you have to wear kevlar in order to make it to work alive? I suppose that there are varying levels of desirability.
| spiral78 wrote: |
| I'm not one of the believers in 'never' pay anyone anything for a job lead... |
I can see where it might be easier to pay some fee to have someone sort out job arrangements. It could save a fella a headache.
| tttompatz wrote: |
| I am still a firm believer of NEVER pay a recruiter for a job. |
I understand the wisdom here, too.
| chezal wrote: |
| ISS (International school services) are a legitimate international school recruiting agent. They are like the better known SEARCH associates and run jobs fairs around the world. Both of these organisations generally have some of the better international schools on their books. |
Search Associates - yes, that's the other company I couldn't remember. It seems as though they might really help a candidate find a position, given that his quals are up to snuff.
| chezal wrote: |
| From what I've heard from other friends in International schools is that teachers on the move caters for just short term placements. However they seem to be good at getting schools out of a bind quickly. |
I imagine that an outfit like this would work well for the right person. I think you'd have to have no problem with being ultra-mobile, though. There must be other challenges to this sort of arrangement that I'm not seeing. |
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johntpartee
Joined: 02 Mar 2010
Posts: 3258
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| Posted: Thu Jun 21, 2012 7:44 am Post subject: |
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| Quote: |
| Should you pay for an E.S.L job placement? |
No.
Yes. Probable, in fact. |
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naturegirl321
Joined: 04 May 2003
Posts: 9041
Location: home sweet home
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