Job Discussion Forums

[Michal]

Anyone out there had any experience with Campus Earth ?
Even just some info about this organization will be most helpful.

Thanks

[InTime]

Nice Website
Possibly ethically challenged
In one case, lousy HR when there's a problem.
Beware the housing "options" and the 2000 RMB "paid to the school for on-campus housing."
Check out
http://www.eslcafe.com/forums/job/viewtopic.php?t=38120&highlight=oncampus+housing

PM me for more.

[prof]

InTime,

You seem to have a lot of experience in China.

Could you inform me of some of the places you have worked at and when you arrived in China.

[Voldermort]

[InTime]

I recently was informed by a FT that he has been deceived by the ABOVE company. Someone PMed, asking me whether or not I've worked w/ABOVE company. I'll take the 5th Amendment on that one.

So...I can feel free to post an EMail I sent to the yet-un-named company I'm feeling deceived/abused by. These experiences demonstrate to us:
*how Chinese employees are often treated by their bosses, and typically have no recourse but to grin and bear it
*how far China's HR policies need to advance
*how there's a great need for ethical/enlightened companies in China
*why so many Chinese would rather work for US/EU companies, rather than Chinese companies.

Here's the letter to the yet-un-named company:

I have asked my fellow foreign teachers at Dave's Forum...about:
(1)paying 2000 RMB for an on-campus room
(2)being forced to live on campus...and pay 2000 RMB for an on-campus room
(3)being told by the agency---and the contract---that the 2000 RMB goes to the school, while the school told me that the room is provided for free.

Kindly NOTE that my fellow Foreign Teachers describe my situation/your company as:
*a scam
*a rip-off

Paying NEARLY 7000 RMB for a FREE ROOM!!!

Frankly, it's an insult to my intelligence, and my professional standards, for you to think that you can do this to me, without me feeling cheated/violated...and without me feeling a need to see that you do not continue to do this to other---less experienced---teachers.

To resolve this situation, I expect a refund of the housing fees I paid. It can be classified as a BONUS. I have talked with my fellow FT about this, and it's OK with him..

If we can reach a settlement, then I'd be glad to reschedule my Yangshuo commitments.
If you choose to do nothing to resolve this, then I will inform the USA Better Business Bureau about this situation, as well as the Foreign Experts Arbitration.

[prof]

[max power]

does anyone have any personal experience with campus earth

[InTime]

I know someone.
PM me.

My friend says "Beware of that option "will pay 2000 RMB to school"After montHs and many EMails back and forth, my friend came all the way from US to Shanghai, where now-C.E (formerly BBAbroad) picked him up at the airport and dropped him off at a good hotel near the office. He awoke hungry, and somewhat out-of-place. The hotel menu was in Chinese, he didn't speak any Chinese. He told me it gave him a very bad feeling...his 1st day in China. CE didn't apparently think of this. It seems they are SLOW on the Learning Corve. It wouldn't take much for one of their Staff People to take him out for breakfast. He told me this CE has never taken him out for any meal. EVERY school.agency I've worked with has taken me out for a meal, at least.

Granted, this is not a major deal, one may think. But to my friend, it was. And it would have been relatively easy for them to have handled it differently.

So...after the non-vreakfast, the Staff Person who didn't take him to breakfast... walked my friend to the office, w/out attempting any small talk...him feeling like he's just another Brick-in-the-Wall...

So...he gets there and it's a different group than the BBA/CE folks who hired him. He's not clear. Different company? The boss talks to him...asking questions, like he'd never seen his C.V. Months of EMails, and this guy doesn't know anything. Then, he asks my friend (a recent Biology graduate)..."And...how much experience do you have..?"

My friend answers honestly..."No classroom teaching experience."

The boos seems surprised/disappointed/shocked/condescending...tells my friend that he's going to have a DEMO Class and Interview at the school, during which the school will decide whether or not he will be hired. He's shi' tting bricks, thinking (being unaware of other China possibilities) "What...I spent all this money...and if they don't like me, I have to go back home again to USA?"

STONED-FACED, the CE/BBA guy advises him: "I suggest you tell them you have 2 years of classroom teaching experience."

My friend is thinking:
"Sure...and they have my C.V....Why didn't they tell me about this BEFORE I came here?"

THEN...they give him the contract...Same contract that CE/BBA had EMailed. In the contract he's been EMailed, and which he Signed/Faxed to them, he'd chosen the Housing Option:
*CE/BBA will secure off-campus housing, up to 2000 RMB/month

BUT...he looked at the Contract and saw that another option had already been typed in:
*will pay school 2000 RMB for housing

He told me, at that point, he was too uptight to bring that up.

He's now living in a ROOM on-campus, paying 2000 RMB/month to..."
CE/BBA insists it goes to the school.
School and TEACHERS INSIST: "oH, NO. tHE SCHOOL does not charge teachers for the room."

Previously the school hired their own teachers and gave them VISA. Now they can't give Visa, so they have to work w/an Agency...which gives Visas to the teachers...which can make the teachers feel vulnerable...like illegal Mexican farm workers in US...

[Sinobear]

Which is why NO ONE SHOULD TRUST A RECRUITER, unless they're independently wealthy and don't care about the wages/accomodations 'cause they're going to live in a 5-star hotel anyway, eat rice (twice), noodles (once), and have a local beer (three sips) and then go home after six months to tell their friends about the "wilds of China" they encountered in downtown Shanghai.

Cheers! And, why I am I so bitter lately?