Job Discussion Forums

gaglen · Joined: 27 Apr 2012 Posts: 9 Location: Russia

EF made me pay $170 for a background check, which they claimed was mandatory for getting a job with them. I assume that, having received such a ridiculous amount of money from me, the vetting company checked me with the police. Try another company.

njs7t3 · Joined: 30 Aug 2012 Posts: 60 Location: Moscow, Russia

Gotcha. It's funny...I haven't received anything back from them yet. And their application was so ridiculously simple... Razz

Sashadroogie · Posted: Sun Sep 09, 2012 8:46 am Post subject:

gaglen · Joined: 27 Apr 2012 Posts: 9 Location: Russia

Yeah, well, I've been working at Macschools long enough to know they are always on the lookout for new ways to shaft their staff and I react to their eccentricities quite philosophically. Of course, I have never seen a copy of the vetting report and didn't expect to.
Wanting to live in Russia and having to rely on a school to get a work visa generally means putting up with some nonsensical requirements. Paying $170 for nothing just kind of amused me more than anything.

Sashadroogie · Posted: Mon Sep 10, 2012 5:31 am Post subject:

Hard to know which is worse: this, or the BKC 'visa tax'.

Well done if you can be philosophical about it all. I wouldn't be able to. Can't you move away from the Maccers? Usually solves a great deal of the problems associated with working in Russia longer-term.

gaglen · Joined: 27 Apr 2012 Posts: 9 Location: Russia

Call me a glutton for punishment but I quite like the stability a Mac gives me. I don't want to live in M or SPB and in the provinces these big chain schools usually know more about visa regulations for foreign workers than the local UFMS. Also, these schools are regarded as prestigious, serious educational establishments outside the capitals (naive, innocent fools!!). Add that to the regular pay which is always on time, pleasant local staff if your Russian is good enough for you to chat to them (being female helps as well) and little competition for privates, I'm not sure I'd want to work for a smaller company.

Sashadroogie · Posted: Mon Sep 10, 2012 8:39 pm Post subject:

That all sounds fair enough. Interesting too to get a perspective from outside the big smokes.

Shelby · Joined: 24 Dec 2010 Posts: 66 Location: Russia

I am also in the provinces and I work for a small school. I promise you there are some out there that know everything about visas etc. Downside is we are not allowed to do privates.