Job Discussion Forums

[elliot_spencer]

Hey, did you take the job with Shane? I am considering taking one with them as opposed to Hess. The main factor being 5 day a week. My only problem is with HEss they offer a gaurentee of number of hours a week while Shane after the first 6 months dont. WHat are the chances of working over the 80 hours after the first 6 months? Is there plenty of overtime? Or is there not enough hours to go round?

What I have noticed, is that, if for example, someone works with Hess on contract 'A' that is full time language school, afternoon and evenings only, they could look for other kindy work in the morning. Whereas, Shane seem to have a schedule there it's almost impossible to get permanent p/t work with another school.

[bonaruby]

I would definitely NOT recommend Shane. I worked their for a year and hated it. I had a lot of friends working their who had problems getting enough hours and were often strapped for cash. They have a "guarantee system" which means you make at least something during the first six months, but after that who knows. The salary is very low at Shane in my opinion, although they call it "competitive".

I had horrible management at my school, and I never heard a single teacher at any other school praising theirs. There were more runners from Shane schools during my year there than I could keep count of. My managers were unorganized, dishonest and frustrating at the best of times.

I'm sure it's not the worst you could do though. They provide a week of training, and help (a little) with finding a flat. The books are pretty so-so. It might be good experience for a newbie.

[CWanders]

I worked for Hess for a bit and lived with two teachers who worked for Shane.

Shane:
- Shane pays a bit less hourly than most chains.
- With Shane, you have a wage cap for the first sixth months. So, although my flatmates were working 25-32 hours/week they were only being paid for 20/week until their month 7 pay check when they'd receive a lump sum of their over-minimum hours. (We did know one girl who's branch had an hours shortage and she was happy to be paid for 20 hours while working slightly less weekly, but her situation seemed uncommon.)
- One flatmate loved his branches and managers, the other thought they were marginally incompetent (although less downright evil than the Hess branch he'd lasted days at).

Hess:
- pays marginally better than Shane, but far less than you can make elsewhere
- varies A LOT branch to branch... (i.e. not everyone hates their branch) I had the kindergarten of doom but a pleasant enough Buxiban branch. The buxiban couldn't offer me enough hours after my kindy contract ended, so I left Hess entirely.
- I'd estimate that less than 25% of my training group was still working for Hess at the 9 month mark
- I know a few people who consider their Hess experience "alright," but most people describe the corporation as a group of "f#cking a##holes." I know of no one who thought it was a great company to work for.

You'll see similar mud slung at Kojen if you search them too.

[merc_wilson]

So I've worked for SHANE for 8 months and thought my perspective would be somewhat helpful.

I find the Head Office managers to be completely helpful, and respondent, with everything.
The school managers are Taiwanese, and of course their 'ways' of managing vary - frustrating at times, but if I ask for something to be done, it's done.
The guarantee system for the first 6 months was great. I loved it. The money paid was defn enough to live off, and the payout in the seventh month was like heaven! If you treat it like a savings plan, it makes sense.
Hours do vary from school to school, but I find it's easily turned in your favour with a bit of personality. From the start, I approached the school with the 'I want as many hours as you can give me' attitude. And they obliged. As a result, I work an average of 28 hours a week.

Final 'others' - they did all my visa work for me, pointed me in the direction of tealit for accommodation, showed me how to fill out my tax forms and got my ARC for me.

Good luck with the decision.