Job Discussion Forums

MrChongqing · Joined: 30 Jul 2016 Posts: 5

Do not work for Aoji Education Group/Aoji International School/Aoji International Studies.

They do not have the legal right to employ foreigners outside of Beijing and they will lie to you about this. If you accept a position with them outside of Beijing you will be working illegally and you will get a visit from the PSB. They will register your place of employment and residence as Beijing in places like Chongqing or Chengdu.

They are currently advertising for their school in "Beijing". They have two campuses. One is in the city, and the other is actually in the countryside. The positions being advertised are nowhere near the urban center of Beijing and are in fact at their countryside school nestled right by a mosquito infested river in the middle of nowhere. The nearest village is a forty-five minute walk away and it is one of the most impoverished run-down places I've seen in Asia.

They will also defraud you of your airfare reimbursement on the grounds that the Chinese language version of the contract specifies that one is only eligible for it if one returns home, and say that it is a "going home allowance" and not an airfare reimbursement. That is NOT what the contract says in English.

The management of this school embodies every negative stereotype that one could conjure up about Chinese management.

Avoid this school.

22Yossarian · Joined: 20 Jan 2013 Posts: 68

I must agree with this.

I left AOJI a little over a year ago. I was working on a two year contract and I resigned 90 days early as per the contract, but I would have worked 12 months and had been eligible for flight benefits, but they fired me a month after I announced my resignation, and I did not receive my flight reimbursement.

Previous flight reimbursements were difficult to receive and took much fighting with management and HR to get.

Also, the English version of my contract said that I would receive 6 weeks of paid leave a year plus 2 weeks for spring festival, but the Chinese version of my contract said 6 weeks including Spring Festival. They allowed me 4 weeks of leave, but for other foreigners they deducted every Chinese public holiday from those 4 weeks, and they ended up with only a few days of paid leave.

That doesn't even get into the students and educational philosophy of the school.

At best, this is a good first job in China, to get you into the country and allow you to network and find a better job.

rocket man · Joined: 19 Dec 2015 Posts: 110 Location: Raleigh NC USA

Just talked with these people about an American Studies position. They said the campus was out near the Capitol Airport. Also said they were affiliated with Kaplan and said they were a "hybrid" training center and international school.

salary stated was 22k before tax with an additional 4500rmb housing allowance.

just trying to get an opinion

Tazz · Joined: 26 Sep 2013 Posts: 512 Location: Jakarta

You read the above two 'experiences' and you are still asking questions?!! A clear example of Chinese venomous intent with regards what a contract actually is/means...the 'going home allowance' should be enough to indicate that unfathomable amounts of BS will ensue. Smile

rocket man · Joined: 19 Dec 2015 Posts: 110 Location: Raleigh NC USA

thought I'd give a little post mortem to this, so I talked to them, told them yeah I was interested but had heard some bad things about them from this site, so I wanted the contact information for some current teachers there so I could talk to them and I wanted to see the contract before I came up to take a look things. Guy says he would get me that information that evening.

That was December 22nd and I've yet to hear from them....

roadwalker · Joined: 24 Aug 2005 Posts: 1750 Location: Ch

twowheel · Joined: 03 Jul 2015 Posts: 753

Alien abductee · Joined: 08 Jun 2014 Posts: 527 Location: Kuala Lumpur

Tazz · Joined: 26 Sep 2013 Posts: 512 Location: Jakarta

Yeah sure, he made the 'right move' in contacting an employer following concerns he had about quite elaborate warnings given by ex-employees on this forum...and what happened after he requested both contact information, from current teachers-and a contract to consider.....? No, internet forums are not the 'gold standard of credibility' but if teachers writing about bad experiences, being lied to and cheated, in this case-can help warn others away from a bad gig. This isn't BS, but information of value.

twowheel · Joined: 03 Jul 2015 Posts: 753

rocket man · Joined: 19 Dec 2015 Posts: 110 Location: Raleigh NC USA

Well their lack of response after me telling them I had seen some bad reports online and wanted to verify stuff from current teachers there really was telling. Every other school I've had an offer from with two other exceptions who had offered me jobs (and there were several over the past year) have been more than willing to supply me with contact information for foreign teachers at the school.

Lesson is if a school doesn't want to give you contact information for current teachers, that is a major flag that there is a problem there.

Whats interesting is also if somebody asks me about my former school or if I was post something about them that would basically say don't go there (and I wouldn't recommend the place after I got shafted) but I can tell you there are at least 6-8 people at that school who would give a report that is 180 degrees what I would say. Who do you believe? Same COULD (emphasis on COULD) be said about this place.

Oh well lesson learned, time to move on.

twowheel · Joined: 03 Jul 2015 Posts: 753

rocket man · Joined: 19 Dec 2015 Posts: 110 Location: Raleigh NC USA

thought I'd add a post post script, having heard nothing from them since Dec 22, the guy comes on my WeChat at around 5P today asking if I ever got the contract, mentioned I never did, said he would re-send it tonight to my second email address, still haven't seen a thing, of course he asks me if I can "start" Feb 6!!!!!

This guy is an idiot!!!!

anyhow need to tell him no thanks.