Job Discussion Forums

YellowHair · Joined: 29 Apr 2006 Posts: 41 Location: HK

Greetings Board Members:

I will have a PNET selection interview next Thursday, May 3rd in HK and was just curious as to whether anyone would be willing to offer any tips for a first timer.

Thanks in advance.

D

briandwest · Joined: 10 Feb 2006 Posts: 98 Location: Hong Kong

Here is some advice from other posts, in case you haven't seen them:
http://www.eslcafe.com/forums/job/viewtopic.php?t=49890&sid=3512a0189f3fa3aa4a450d1f5cca2058
http://www.eslcafe.com/forums/job/viewtopic.php?t=49455&sid=3512a0189f3fa3aa4a450d1f5cca2058
http://www.eslcafe.com/forums/job/viewtopic.php?t=35687&highlight=interview

dailykimchi · Joined: 08 Nov 2006 Posts: 2 Location: Seoul

Hey keep us updated on how it goes.

YellowHair · Joined: 29 Apr 2006 Posts: 41 Location: HK

I will give as much info as I can about what happens d.kimchi.

Anybody else have an interview next week?

crito · Joined: 30 Apr 2007 Posts: 10

Hi Yellow Hair. Just wondering how your interview went and if you have any tips in regards to the interview. My Gf and I have the interview next Monday so any info would be great.

Also I have a general question for anyone who has been to the interview. Is a suit mandatory or would a shirt and tie with nice dress pants suffice? Also what kind of dress is expected for female inteviewees.

Second, how is my living allowance affected if both my GF and I live together and are PNETS.

Thanks for any help offered.
Mark

YellowHair · Joined: 29 Apr 2006 Posts: 41 Location: HK

Here is the information as promised...

I had to do the written section of the interview first since the interviewers were behind schedule a bit. The topic was something along the lines of "Describe a successful English lesson that you have taught recently."

The interview itself was very relaxed. I was asked general questions about the following:

previous teaching experience
approach to integrating phonics and big books in reading
level of comfort with being the only Westerner at the school
level of comfort with co-teaching and co-lesson planning
general knowledge of the NET Scheme
and various other questions concerning similar topics.

My interviewers (a local HK woman with an Aussie accent and a AT from New Zealand) were very friendly and we even laughed a bit and shared our own teaching experiences in Hong Kong. They were more than willing to answer any of my questions. Overall, it was a very relaxed and comfortable experience.

I feel that I did well on the writing portion considering I managed to fill the front and two/thirds of the back on a topic that I had not prepared to write about.

I was informed that I will find out around two weeks from now whether I will receive an offer of employment.

Best of luck to anyone else that has an interview this year. For all the others that plan to apply at a later time, I hope this information helps you some.

Peace,

D

BeckyBen · Joined: 29 Apr 2007 Posts: 22

I found the interview itself reasonably pleasant and relaxed, I was interviewed at the end of March in HK by a headteacher and an ATT. They were friendly and were interested in my teaching style and how I would get along with colleagues.
The written test was a 300 word speech that I would give to introduce myself to my new collleagues, I spent too long planning and had to write it in a bit of a rush but have heard that I passed.
Only real hint I would give is get your paperwork in order now as some of it like transcripts of your degrees takes a really long time to sort out and they do want it!!

anninhk · Joined: 08 Oct 2005 Posts: 284

If you are living with your girlfriend you will both be able to claim the housing allowance - or special allowance as it is really called - as you will both have a work permit in your own right and not a dependent's visa as you might have if you were married.
I know PNETs who share a flat and they both get the special allowance so you should be in the same situation.

hkteach · Joined: 29 May 2005 Posts: 202 Location: Hong Kong

Congratulations to those who've been accepted as NETs. Despite the negative comments posted here by some of us, it CAN be a worthwhile experience.

To crito - married couples can't both receive the special allowance or even a housing allowance from another employer but seeing you're not married, this ruling does not apply.
Many NETs choose to share accommodation with friends, some because they like the company and others because it helps them save money. There's no problem with this.

If you want to share with your girlfriend it's the same thing.

YellowHair · Joined: 29 Apr 2006 Posts: 41 Location: HK

My interview was held on May 3rd. I asked one of the interviewers when I should expect to hear back from the EMB as to whether I have passed the interview. He replied that I should expect to hear back around 2 weeks later. That would have been the 17th. I have not heard back from the EMB yet and sent them an email on Friday showing that I was concerned as to whether or not I had passed. I have yet to receive a reply from them.

My question has two parts. The first part is whether I am worried too much as to where the gentleman meant exactly two weeks or around two weeks? The second part is in the case that I did not pass the interview, would the EMB actually reply that I did not pass, or would they just stop contacting me?

Please let me know your thoughts concerning this issue. Thanks in advance.

YH

ironopolis · Joined: 01 Apr 2004 Posts: 379

yellow hair, I had my interview in HK mid March and asked exactly the same question as you did. I was told that I'd hear in about 3 weeks. It was actually 5 weeks later that they sent me a e-mail telling me I'd passed. I'd e-mailed them 4 weeks after the interview and got a reply telling me I'd hear soon about 5 days after that. And I did.

I've now heard nothing since despite e-mailing them 3 weeks ago to ask for clarification on a couple of points of the next steps in the process.

Incidentally, I've heard that they were quicker to reply to those who had not passed the interview & written test.

I hope that some of this is re-assuring, although I'm not exactly the most re-assured person about the whole thing myself.

YellowHair · Joined: 29 Apr 2006 Posts: 41 Location: HK

Update:

Well, I just found out today (after calling the EMB for two days straight) that I passed my interview and that they are currently assessing my documents. They said that they will email me if they need any more documents. I still find it odd that they never sent an email out telling me that I had passed and that I only found out by calling them.

I am wondering if anyone has any experience with having your documents assessed after applying whilst already working in HK?

Also, I never informed my current employer that I had applied. I did list them on my resume, but did not list them as a reference. Does anyone think the EMB will contact my current employer (or have any experience with this situation before)? If this happens, I am uncertain how my current employer will respond (especially since I am still under contract to work with them).

hkteach · Joined: 29 May 2005 Posts: 202 Location: Hong Kong

Assessment of docs usually takes several/many weeks (my spouse went through this process not long ago and it took many weeks - about 8 I think, but definitely at least 6. This was not an EMB position though - maybe EMB can get it done more quickly ???)
So, you could be out of contract by the time the EMB get it sorted.

YellowHair · Joined: 29 Apr 2006 Posts: 41 Location: HK

HKT,

I doubt I could be out of contract by the time EMB sorts it out as I still have over 1 year left on my current contract (signed for two years back in Sept.) I will have to break my current contract in order to accept a PNET position. The EMB is aware of this. I informed my employer that I had put in an application with the EMB back at the end of January. They looked at me like I was crazy and said that I still had over a year before my current contract is over (and that I couldnt take any other offers because of this). However, it is stated in my contract that I can end the contract provided that I give two months advanced notice or pay two-months salary as compensation in the event that I do not give the two months notice.

What I am worried about is that I will get an offer for a PNET positioni and then my boss try to keep me from leaving my current position.

Any thoughts?

hkteach · Joined: 29 May 2005 Posts: 202 Location: Hong Kong

Hi yellowhair,
Well that explains your concerns. A penalty clause in your contract makes things a bit tricky.

It's awful to have to make big decisions without all the pieces being in place. If only EMB and schools would get themselves organised to deal with what should be a priority for them. Dream on!!!
A colleague was in your situation (only without penalty clause and he didn't get offers till July) and had to break international school contract.
It's a terrible decision I know but nothing we can do about it except to weigh things up carefully.

A couple of considerations that might help....yesterday I heard of a NET who's just arrived to take up a posiiton. A strange time, considering the HK school year is almost over. Apparently she was made an offer a couple of months ago and accepted on condition that start date was May.

1. Seeing NETs arrive here to take up duty at various times throughout the year, you could probably wait until you get an offer and then give notice. Risk............ without two months' notice you pay a penalty to your present employer.

2. Give notice now and take a gamble that you'll get an offer in the next two months. Risk...... (obvious) you end up quitting your job and don't have a new job to go to. ** recent personal experience suggests that many schools try emailing/phoning candidates in July/August. ... school finished and their staff find time.

3. Sit and wait for the offer and if you HAVE to break contract, consider how much that will cost you in comparison to HK NET salary.
Risk......... the 2 months' penalty you have to pay exceeds your HK NET salary. Maybe unlikely???

I guess these are the very options you're now considering. Sorry I can't be more helpful but I think it's a case of looking at the situation and working out which is the most tolerable/"least undesirable" risk for you.
Will be interested to hear what happens.