Job Discussion Forums

hemlokk · Joined: 18 Jun 2004 Posts: 40 Location: Abu Dhabi

I'm Native Canadian, BA, TESL/TEFL Cert, looking for employment for a year or more, starting in September.

My problem is that most companies that I have looked at - AEON, GEOS, NOVA (I had an interview scheduled in Calgary on Jun30 but it was cancelled due to their filling of all positions until Feb) - most companies do not travel to Calgary, they mostly go to Toronto or Vancouver for interviews. Given this, I am not able to travel to these cities for the "possibility" of getting a job - considering i am broke and working. So what I ask is does anyone know of any companies that offer TELEPHONE interviews, or any other options of major schools that might possibly be traveling to Calgary some time in the next couple months.

Any advice is much appreciated.
It's looking like Korea or Taiwan might be my best options right now.

denise · Joined: 23 Apr 2003 Posts: 3419 Location: finally home-ish

I had three telephone interviews (with three different schools), so yes, there are schools out there that do them. One of the schools (uh, companies?) was Westgate, one was an eikaiwa whose name I can't recall, and one is my current school.

When I was looking for jobs, I looked here at Dave's and at www.tefl.com, and I saw plenty of schools that did phone interviews.

d

Glenski · Joined: 15 Jan 2003 Posts: 12844 Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN

I hope you are aware of the problems involved in doing telephone interviews. Your voice is extremely important to convey your feelings, because they can't see your face. You will not be able to see the employer's face, either, so playing off what he says will be tricky. You won't be able to see any documents about the office unless they are online or faxed to you. Caveat emptor.

frances · Joined: 19 May 2004 Posts: 13 Location: toronto

i just tried the above link, but it didn`t work for me.

Gordon · Joined: 28 Jan 2003 Posts: 5309 Location: Japan

Try www.tefl.com No punctuation.

frances · Joined: 19 May 2004 Posts: 13 Location: toronto

thank you.

denise · Joined: 23 Apr 2003 Posts: 3419 Location: finally home-ish

Oooops--sorry! Thanks, Gordon!

d

kiracle · Joined: 21 Jan 2003 Posts: 65 Location: Gifu, Japan

I think any of the smaller eikawas that advertise here or tefl.com, expect to do only a telephone interview. I'm not sure if a telephone interview is really all that much less revealing than a face-to face interview. In both circumstances both parties will put their best foot forward. If an employer will tell you lies or try to present his school in a much better light than it actually is, he'll do face-to-face or on the telephone.

However, either way, but especially in the case of a telephone interview, I would strongly sugget asking to talk or email a current teacher before you sign anything and stick to it. They can tell you more about the situation you might be gettign yourself into.

Cheers,

kiracle