Job Discussion Forums

[AnniMiller]

So Language Link have offered me a job and having spoken to someone from the school on Skype this morning, it all seems pretty legit and well-organised.

However, they want me to sign a pre-service agreement now and an official contract once I'm out there. Is there something dodgy about them not giving me an official contract now?!

I really want to make up my mind about this and generally I get a good feeling from the school, but I don't want to take any stupid risks! Anyone got any advice or knowledge on this? Thanks.

[mark_in_saigon]

Contracts, promises, pretty websites, front men (what am I leaving out guys?) don't really mean a lot or matter too much around here. If you have read this site very much, that should be pretty obvious. It is not just one source telling you this, it is the general consensus. Go to the online VN newspapers as well for further confirmation of the landscape. Not meaning to trash the country or people, most of us do love it (and them), or we probably would not be here.

Not to be cute, but if you don't want to take stupid risks, you really should not come over in the first place. Wait till you get out on the major highways on a moto, you need to enjoy the hell out of it cause any moment could be your last. You could pay up and use taxis everywhere and reduce some of the dangers, but regardless, this is not the place you come to avoid risk.

I often find that people coming over are overly focused on a single school or issue, thinking this one issue is of great importance. Most employers will disappoint you, average time on a job is like 3 months or so. I would worry a lot more about other questions, like can you get around okay, how will you do that, housing, having plenty of funds to back up your move, acceptance of the difficulties, who you will use to interface with all the VN for you, understanding your true goals and being certain this is the place to fulfill them. Usually these issues will be of more importance than technical details about work permits, a particular employer or most of the other questions potential newcomers have before coming over.

[skarper]

M-I-S is very right - as per usual on this kind of stuff at least.

You could have a gilt edged signed in blood contract guaranteeing set hours, pay and great benefits only to find they are all cancelled and a new contract handed to you when you're still jet-lagged. What are you going to do about it? Would you even know who to go to to sue for breach of contract?

So - if everything depends on your LL gig working out then don't come here. Chances are they will no mess you around, but if they do there is very little you can do about it.

If you need security, guarantees and whatnot you are heading for the wrong country and probably in the wrong 'career'.

I think LL had a few issues a while back with one long term employee they fell out with and fired. Can't comment on the case since I have only the vaguest impression having met the individual once only and been into LL about twice in total.

They used to have a pretty good reputation but that may have changed. Give them a chance - give Hanoi a chance - if it is Hanoi bring thermal underwear, thick socks, fleeces and a woolly hat cos it's perishing cold already...don't make the mistake I made of giving away all yor warm clothes thinking it was a balmy 30 degrees all year...

[BenE]

Honestly I think you should be ok regardless of what the people above are saying. Language Link don't have a reputation for being the highest paid gig or for having the best hours but they are a reasonably stable place to work in Hanoi. I believe a lot of people posting here are working without a CELTA or degree so are working under the table sans work permit. In this case things are always very unpredictable.

Language Link do provide work permits and working visa unlike many schools so things should be ok. Most teachers I've met seem to finish their contracts and many renew.

[kurtz]

Listen to Ben, you have nothing to worry about.

Some peeps on here don't realize that it's not ALL doom and gloom on the work front. I know a couple of ex-Language Linkers and they had nothing bad to say. It's one of the only legit schools in Hanoi that gives you a work permit and year-long multiple entry visa.

[sigmoid]

My question would be:

Why does LL or any other language school in Viet Nam need to recruit teachers from abroad?

[kurtz]

[1st Sgt Welsh]