Job Discussion Forums

[zufall]

Greetings all. This's my first post, so pardon any newbie-ish mistakes.

The issue is thus: I applied to the Westgate program to teach university this Spring. Last Monday, I received confirmation that I was accepted into the program -- this after much delay (they didn't accept references from my Korean co-teachers -- I'm here in Korea doing EPIK now --, had to get them redone by others, etc.. etc.). I replied promptly saying that I accept. Then last Friday, I got an e-mail from the HR head saying that due to "budgetary restrictions imposed by Westgate's clients," they were unable to continue my participation in the program.

So, basically, I just got entirely blown off after waiting for and receiving confirmation of my acceptance into the program, right? I am rather flabbergasted at how sloppy this all seems. I can't imagine why, after taking so long to make a decision on my application and then approving it, they then turned around within the same week and zapped it. Gggrrrrr.

Of course, there may have been some immediate, unexpected change -- for example, some universities pulled out of the program. I just haven't seen this mentioned anywhere else, so it's all very out-of-the-blue.

To add insult to annoyance, I noticed they did a new job posting for their spring university program last Wednesday.

Frustrated.

Comments? Experiences? Solace?

[canuck]

[G Cthulhu]

[zufall]

Ah yeah, thanks to you both. I was just very "WTF" in annoyance after this surprise. Westgate, for all the silliness of its program, just happened to fit in perfectly with the envisioned course of my life for the next few months. Not sure I wanna do a year/etc. in Japan anyway, and teaching university brats would be cool (no MA, so no stab at a real university position).

I'll figure somethin' out.

[JJJJJ]

This response is a little late and the information remains accurate.
First of all, consider yourself blessed. Something better IS in store for you. Westgate employment appears to have become Slave Labor!!! Secondly, check out "Westgate: One woman's experience" posted today 3/4/07. It is on the same page as "Westgate: Good and bad points," just scroll down. From recent letters appearing on the forum, if you were expecting Westgate to renew your contract after three months, it probably wouldn't have happened. With that said, Westgate claims that 70% choose to renew. At the time I completed my three month contract, only those who had little chance of locating a better position elsewhere recontracted. The rest of us couldn't wait to say "Sayonara" although offered the option of another three months. You can find good work in Japan w/o an MA, and clearly one needs to "pay their dues" if being a good teacher is your goal. Consider David Paul's in Hiroshima. Both he and the school have been around forever, are well-respected, and have a great reputation for training teachers while they are on staff. There are other schools similarly supportive. As for Budget Restrictions:
I wouldn't believe it for a second!!!

[JJJJJ]

Follow up to prior response:
I neglected to note: Don't take it personally that Westgate is still running recruitment notices after turning you down after they initially hired you. They always run recruitment notices because they always need teachers. Guess why!!!