Job Discussion Forums

Legolarse · Joined: 02 Jul 2005 Posts: 36 Location: UK

I have applied for a job through a recruiter called New Times of Hebei province (http://www.teachinchina.cn/). They seem to offer a reasonable deal but there are a few messages on the scam warning sticky post suggesting people avoid them.

It would be good to hear from more people who have used their services, especially the volunteer posts, or have RELIABLE information about them.

Ta.

nolefan · Joined: 14 Jan 2004 Posts: 1458 Location: on the run

http://www.eslcafe.com/forums/job/viewtopic.php?t=19072

http://www.eslcafe.com/forums/job/viewtopic.php?t=17467

http://www.eslcafe.com/forums/job/viewtopic.php?t=16734

those are links to the good, the bad and the ugly. New Times has a dedicated groups of teachers helping them for a good reason, they treat us well.
Again, take my advice for what it's worth and remember that i do have ongoing business with New Times. Other people that have no relation to new times have ansered your question in the scam thread. Read everything that was said for yourself and you will understand that the two cases where people complained about New Times, their stories kept changing and were filled with unfounded accusations. mysterriously, those two individuals disappeared Rolling Eyes

Again, I'm not saying that New Times is a bunch of saints with halos over their heads, it is a business and they have their own bottom line.... but you can take comfort in the fact that they are there to support you when you need them, especially as a volunteer. Things might go wrong, things will go wrong but they try to help.

good luck

mlalahoi · Joined: 03 Jul 2005 Posts: 54 Location: China

I had a pretty rough experience with them, and so have a few of the other teachers I have met here. FOr the most part they have a reputation around Shijiazhuang for ripping people off and lying a lot. If anyone that DOESN'T work for Mr. Dou wants to respond please do.

coming soon · Joined: 16 Jun 2005 Posts: 47

Hello there.

I used New Times to get my teaching gig here and have nothing but praise for them so far. They picked me up at the airport when I arrived and we spent the night at their Beijing flat. The next day, we headed to Shijizuang (What an awful city) where I stayed for the next few days. I was aware that coming in the middle of the summer, it would be dificult to get a job at a public insitution but they managed to find me one down in Nanjing. I went to the university to check things out and meet the staff before they went on their summer break then we proceeded to sign a contract for next fall. Meanwhile, they also got me a homestay with a Chinese family for the next month and a half plus a part time gig to have a little cash flow.

They have an old guy from Autralia, Roger, answering emails and a full staff in their office. There are only two teachers working for them at the moment, Joe and Sam. I met both of them and they seemed quite happy with Mr. Dou.

The only thing is that they didn't tell me ahead of time that I would have to pay for my medical up front and that the school will reimburse me for it. It was still OK because they asked if I had the cash to do it otherwise they would foot the bill.

I have had no problem with their services

mlalahoi · Joined: 03 Jul 2005 Posts: 54 Location: China

sure, just wait untill you find out that NT has charged the chinese family you are staying with for you to be there, is skimming more than double what you are getting for your part time work, will jack you out of your travel reimbursement and is going to send you out of the city as soon as possible so you don't run into any of the dozens of people they have screwed. I am not saying they are particulary worse than anyone else, but they are far from the knights in shining armour they make themselves out to be. Oh yeah, your F visa they got you is illegal and makes your contract invalid. just don't take them using you as a cash cow for kindness. And the Ft's the office have contracts with dou that profit share, of course they aren't going to say anything bad, they are making money off of you to.
I am not saying that yoiu will definately have a bad experience, just keep your wits about you and realize that you are swimming with sharks

coming soon · Joined: 16 Jun 2005 Posts: 47

There seems to be a bit of misunderstanding and maybe a hint of slander going on here.

New Times did not get me an F visa, I did that on my own back home. The school I signed up with is converting it to a Z visa as we speak.
I do not work for New Times, my contract and thus my airfaire is with my university in Nanjing. I will double check but I don't think New Times has access to my salary or my airfare. I negociated those things with the University directly. I don't see anything wrong with them charging the homestay family for me to be there. As long as I don't have to pay for it, I'm fine.
Again, I've only been here for a bit and they have not given me a single reason to complain. I understand that they are a business and they have their bottom line; as long as their bottom line does not interfere with mine, I'm a happy camper.

I will not rush and say that these guys are knights in shining armor but i just don't see anyway for them to screw me the way things are set up.

mlalahoi · Joined: 03 Jul 2005 Posts: 54 Location: China

I certainly had no intention of slandering the company, if i sounded slanderous I apologize. i just urge EVERY Ft to be cautious with EVERY recruitor they come across. i do not retract my personal experiences, or my statement that that company has a horrible reputation in this city. I do retract any unintentional "attitude" that may have been percieved in my post. It sounds like you have your stuff together and protected yourself before you came here, good for you. However some of the more naive FT's, that are still quite good people, should be aware o the kinds of things that recruitors do, that was my only goal in responding to this thread at all.

coming soon · Joined: 16 Jun 2005 Posts: 47

Don't sweat it.

I might have come off strong as well so I do take the slander comment back. It sounds like you might have had a bad experience with them and I'm sorry to hear that and hope that things have gotten better for you.

I will say that you are right in telling people to do their homework before coming here. I spent months researching companies before I even considered booking a plane ticket and I had a few backup plans when I arrived. If everyone did the same, maybe we won't have as many bad experiences being reported on the boards.

You never know! Maybe I will be one of the people complaining about everything in a few months.

Have a drink on me!