Job Discussion Forums

partymop · Joined: 18 Feb 2009 Posts: 16

Hi

A friend of mine recently said he got a job offer in Spain. He's American, I think his UG degree is in architecture. He has no TESOL or CELTA qualifications of any kind and his only relevant experience is the last year he spent teaching in a public school in Korea...

He recently got a job offer from a language school in Spain he applied to on the net. I don't know a lot of the details but he said the salary was 3400 Euros a month and said they told him they were going to help him get his VISA. I know this isn't a lot of info, but does this sound even remotely legit to you guys? I mean, I'm trying not to be negative but I'm telling him to be cautious. If not, sign me up! this sounds great. what do you guys think?

spiral78 · Joined: 05 Apr 2004 Posts: 11534 Location: On a Short Leash

Send me the money for visa processing they are going to ask for in Step 2 - I'll have as much chance of getting a visa for an unqualified North American as this scam school has.

Look, the salary is far above the norm, and it's a national law that North Americans generally aren't eligible for visas to teach English. No private language school (or private 'international' school) can get a visa for such a candidate.

spiral78 · Joined: 05 Apr 2004 Posts: 11534 Location: On a Short Leash

Tell him to bite, and then let us know how much money they want him to send to their bank account as a deposit up front Shocked

But don't send any. It's pure scam.

jonniboy · Posted: Mon Feb 23, 2009 9:42 pm Post subject:

This is where a bit of commonsense doesn't go amiss. In Spain where the going rate is 1300 a month without accommodation, health insurance and flight costs and where there are thousands of native English speakers with EU passports, why would they offer three times that amount to an American unseen from abroad? Why would they go through all the hassle of paying for visa costs, even if it were possible, when they can take their pick of any number of native speakers already there on the ground with local refs and L2 skills?

You should also advise him to report the job listing to the owners of whichever site he found it on.

I already posted a thread about scams you can read the relevant sections below.

http://forums.eslcafe.com/job/viewtopic.php?t=68834

6.) Do the terms offered seem realistic for the local market that they operate in? This is where a bit of research is essential. As an example, many scams use companies allegedly based in Spain. In Spain due to the supply issue i.e. a large number of teachers already there on the ground, teachers will generally be lucky to get more than 1300 euro a month net and they will not be provided with flat, private health insurance or return airfare. Working there, as in many countries, will often involve split shifts and evening work. So if a job promises you terms that wildly deviate from that, it�s time to be wary. Remember: if it sounds too good to be true it usually is.

7.) Did you get the job a little too easily? They�ve advertised this job with a high salary, free flat, health insurance, return flights, private chauffeur, masseur and God knows what else and have given it to you without so much as an interview. If an alarm bell doesn't ring at this point then maybe the 'rewarding, satisfying retail career' would suit you better than teaching. Obviously, if the position pays well then the hiring process will normally be tough.

8.) Do they promise visa sponsorship in a country where this is generally difficult to obtain? In 99% of cases schools in Spain, Italy and Western European countries have sufficient teachers already there to fill all vacancies. They will not go out of their way to go through all the cost and bureaucratic hassle of acquiring visas for non-EU teachers who may not show up anyway.

9.) The most crucial one of all: do they ask you to send them money? This can either be for �visa processing� , �a commitment fee� or �a deposit for accommodation.� In all cases they will promise to refund this after you arrive. In all cases this money will disappear faster than you can say �advance fee fraud.� Genuine schools will never ever ask you for this. Send nothing and you will have lost nothing other than the time you�ve spent writing a few e-mail messages.

partymop · Joined: 18 Feb 2009 Posts: 16

see, this is what I told him. I mean wow, E3400 to teach in Spain with no tesol or celta certification and just a bachelor's in an unrelated field seems way to good to be true. I warned him about certain places who will ask for the visa processing fee, so far he says they haven't asked. I guess on top of this, I should mention they were willing to work around his Korean contract so that he can start later. I mean, I hate to sound negative, but there has to be some horrible catch. Alright... I'll relay this info to him. Thanks guys

SirKirby · Joined: 03 Oct 2007 Posts: 261 Location: Barcelona, Spain

Before you put him off, tell him I can offer him a job which pays 3000 Euros a month Laughing

Quite definitely a scam, as are all others like it.

roadwalker · Joined: 24 Aug 2005 Posts: 1750 Location: Ch

Is this the ad: http://www.esljobproject.com/esl_jobs/detail.php?id=7108 ?

Looks like people in Valencia URGENTLY need English instructors. In fact no EU citizenship, TEFL certificate, or experience is necessary. You should have a high school diploma though. But 60 hours a month for 3400 euros is a great gig!

Remember, if it looks too good to be true, don't tell anyone you fell for it.

partymop · Joined: 18 Feb 2009 Posts: 16

well, i emailed the listed site (which doesnt exactly match the contact email) and the contact email of the director, and I'll check it out and post the results.

If this is a scam, I'll post the results and they will feel the wrath of esl forum writers.

If not, Ill lie and say its a scam so none of y'all try to take my next job

jonniboy · Posted: Tue Feb 24, 2009 11:25 am Post subject:

Or you could alternatively check out this link

http://mialrededor.com/46250/Valencia/462502071468/unicrom_s_l.html

which shows a printing company called Unicrom based at that address which clearly isn't a language school. Phone em on +34 963 743 311 if you're in any doubt though God knows why you would be.

I know that street quite well as I used to work near there and the only English school based around there is The British School of Valencia.

partymop · Joined: 18 Feb 2009 Posts: 16

yeah, so in regards to the job on www.esljobproject.com was most definately a scam. they had a wesite and email listing. i emailed both to inquire about the job. The website got back and said that it was a scam and that they never posted this miracle job and have been contacted b4 about this. i will contact the website to take this job off. i still dont know exactly if this is the one my friend went on, but i will relay this to him

esl.jonathan · Joined: 30 Jun 2009 Posts: 1

ESL Job Project started a scams page....

http://www.esljobproject.com/scams-esl-jobs/scam-warnings-esl-jobs.html

If you know of any scams let them know or notify the other sites like http://www.eslteachersboard.com or http://www.eslemployment.com or post here!