Job Discussion Forums

psychedelicacy · Joined: 05 Oct 2013 Posts: 180 Location: Beijing

I got hired from abroad by RMIT. That was in 2011. I had never worked in Vietnam before.

ExpatLuke · Joined: 11 Feb 2012 Posts: 744

Which proves that hiring from abroad is typically not a good idea. Spend a lot of money on hiring an applicant who looks great on paper. Pay for their visas and work permits. Dump extra money into getting them set up and comfortable. Only to find out after 6 months or so they can't handle daily life in SE Asia.

In my opinion, the ideal applicant is someone who's already established and his been living in the city/county for a few years. Im not sure why so many English centers prefer hiring untested newbies over experienced teachers. Sure they might be cheaper in terms of hourly pay, but you're spending a lot more money replacing them.

skarper · Joined: 12 Oct 2006 Posts: 477

I agree Expatluke - BUT many of these centres suffer from high turnover anyway - whether it's old hands or fresh meat for the EFL grinder.

If they get a newbie they can push them around longer and make them jump thru more hoops for their money.

I can understand their POV even though I don't agree with it.

1st Sgt Welsh · Posted: Thu May 29, 2014 9:41 am Post subject:

It was before my time, but, apparently RMIT used to have a preference for overseas hires years ago when there was a different director in charge of the English Centre. Apparently, the prevailing wisdom was that most teachers already in Vietnam were, by definition, considered washed-up, alcohol-sozzled sexpats who couldn't be trusted to be let loose in a classroom. Anyway, that policy is no longer in effect - I guess because RMIT got sick of having to replace teachers, who fled Vietnam with no notice, after seeing their first cockroach Rolling Eyes

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psychedelicacy · Joined: 05 Oct 2013 Posts: 180 Location: Beijing

I never saw a cockroach in Vietnam, I don't think. Well, I did see a luminous green lizard on my kitchen floor once, but as I had lived in the Middle East previously, which has even bigger, scarier lizards than Vietnam, I wasn't bothered.

I didn't enjoy Vietnam because it's nothing more or less than a rubbish dump and it made me ill - mentally and physically. But still, RMIT are very good and I recommend them, assuming of course one can handle living in what is essentially a third world country.

kurtz · Joined: 12 Mar 2008 Posts: 518 Location: Phaic Tan

It makes perfect sense to hire those familiar with Vietnam, or those who have lived in Vietnam previously; even though Hanoi and HCMC throw up some challenges to living in other parts of the country.

I wouldn't say just because one didn't enjoy Vietnam, one can't enjoy other countries in SE Asia.

ExpatLuke · Joined: 11 Feb 2012 Posts: 744