Job Discussion Forums

[doubleh]

OK...I KNOW that many posts have appeared regarding the recruiting agency Buckland, and I just conducted a search and read several of them. I noticed a new ad for positions with them on dave's, however, and I still have some questions for any of you out there who may have actual experience with the agency. I see both good and bad opinions regarding Mr. Owen Buckland. He appears indeed still to be running the company Buckland International Educational Group (that is, according to their website), yet there was talk about him selling his company last year. I am wondering if previous comments about his agency are still likely to hold true? Or has the management changed significantly so that previous postings may not apply these days?

Lastly, to me it seems a very primo facet of Buckland is the chance to work in a smaller, more scenic location, eg, Hainan or Guilin. I looked more closely at their application process, though, and learned that Buckland does not grant a particular position to an applicant BEFORE arriving in China; rather, "While in Yangshuo [the applicant] will be able to select a Buckland membership school and location that [s/he] wants to live in and explore in China" (from their website). Now, it is unclear whether Buckland will honor the applicant's selected school/location.

It looks like all applicants take part in a non-paid training/orientation in Yangshuo, during which time they begin the process of determining where they will next teach. I am picturing a scene not unlike some reality show where young girls fight over spiffy clothes before meeting the hunk--- or something brutal like that. Please, if anyone has gone through the application process with Buckland recently, how on earth do they divy up the schools to applicants? First-come, first-serve? Seniority? Why do they not place teachers beforehand? Is there any chance an applicant gets to work at her preferred location? It seems unfair--- to arrange paperwork with the agency, come all the way over for training, only to find perhaps that one doesn't get to go to the smaller, more scenic location of Hainan or Guilin, or wherever.

Thanks for any real Buckland Survivor input out there.

[SheZook]

I sent you a PM regarding this - please don't hesitate to contact me with any other questions!

[milkweedma]

i too am pretty keen on the Buckland lowdown so can you PM me to with relevant stuff? cheers in advance.

[adventuramust]

Okay fine, very late, but I too would like to know more on Buckland especially since they offered me Hainan. I was very clear to all that responded to me that I was only interested in a handful of locations.

Sorry for intrusion.