Job Discussion Forums

[rioux]

I've been offered a university contract and when I asked for some photos of the apartment I will be staying in I was told by both the recruiter and the boss that they don't have any photos of the apartment.

Shouldn't they think this is a must before a teacher signs on?

[NoBillyNO]

most having a cell phone with camera... ask if they have seen it .. and if so could they describe with with a cell phone picture

[rioux]

Thanks.

I mentioned that a few days ago but still nothing....all the while I am being urged just to sign the contract.

I've been verbally assured the apartment is ok but I ask myself why the hesitation just to snap a few photos?

[NoBillyNO]

a Chinese O.K. ......I would continue to ask for a foto....

[Bud Powell]

No photo, no take job.

I made the mistake of taking a job at a school where I had to BEG for photos. The photo was just okay. I overlooked the fact that there was no photo of the bath room. I got there and found a LIGHT SWITCH right next to the shower head!

[kungfuman]

Sounds like they have something to hide? I always got photos of the room when I requested them

[Bud Powell]

In truth, I think that Chinese believe that all westerners live in Trump Towers, and that they're afraid that even their best accommodations won't measure up, so they don't even bother with photos of accommodations.

[Toast]

I would personally pass. Either they're avoiding showing you the pics because they know it is a dump, or they simply can't be bothered taking the 5 minutes to head over to the teacher's apartments, snap a couple of photos and then upload them, meaning their laziness is likely to permeate across the entire contract. Regardless having seen how bad some of these school apartments can actually be I can tell you a year would be a really, really long time to spend to living in one. Not just unpleasant, but could even end up dangerous to your health - mold, faulty wiring, bug issues etc.

[The_Kong]

There's definitely something going on...something fishy.

When I started recruiting teachers the first thing I did was make a website (not nearly as hard or expensive as you may believe) and post pictures of everything, the apartments, the city, the school, the classroom, etc. etc.

The last thing I want is to hire someone and have them arrive and be shocked at the living situation, freak out and pull a runner.

If they're not showing you pictures, especially after you ask for them, they are either too lazy (a bad sign) or trying to obscure what the apartment looks like (a worse sign).

[choudoufu]

have you emailed the current engrish teacher?

when i get emails from prospective hires here, i've got a package of
emails that i can send, including shots of the teacher apartments (mine
when i moved in).