Job Discussion Forums

[bootsie]

I was wondering if anyone out there knows: How long does one have to wait to hear if they have landed an interview with the EDB? I sent in my application form a month ago and all I've heard is that they have received it and it is being studied. I'm starting to get nervous!

I have a Bachelor of Arts in Music, a CELTA and 2 years teaching EFL at a public elementary school in South Korea, post CELTA.

What are my chances?
When are the interviews held in HK?
When are the interviews held in New Zealand?
Have I missed out?

Looking forward to hearing from anyone who can help!

[oxi]

[beaker81]

bootsie,

I had my interview in canada earlier in the year and was informed that i passed the interview. I followed up and was told that they are looking for us to leave in mid august and the matching excercise where schools choose candidates will begin soon.

[jenwilltraveltheworld]

I, too, have been selected as a candidate, but for the SNET Scheme, not PNET.

I was confused as to whether I had enough experience, so I called them yesterday and they said they would calculate it all. (I have worked part-time in a university, and they are calculating my fraction of full-time employement.) Anyway, as I was speaking to her, I asked when the schools would contact the teachers and she said around July or August?!?!

"But the position starts in August, doesn't it?"

"Yes, it does."

???

Has this happened to anyone who currently works as a PNET or SNET? Please tell me about your experience!

[anninhk]

You must have never read a posting on this site before!
The process for becoming a NET is long and tortuous.
First, I doubt if any of your teaching will be counted as usually they only count full time work so don't be surprised if it isn't.
In theory most schools don't know whether they want a NET yet. New contracts come out in May and it is only then when schools finalise their needs. Unfortunately, that comes at a very busy period for principals as there are lots of exams and administration work at that time. It is only usually the beginning of July when they get round to thinking about the NET and then if you are contacted and agree to the school you get 3 days to sign the contract. The next step is then the visa. It can take 6 weeks to get that. Sometimes people come here and then get the visa afterwards. That's OK as long as you don't work as you are not officially allowed to work without a visa.
Good Luck! I hope you have a lot of patience.

[Yes Sir I Can Bogey]

Jen will travel, Ann is correct - part-time experience does not count, nor does full-time experience gained anytime after around 4:30pm (I kid you not). Your fraction of full-time employement (or 'employment') will also only count if it was post-qualification.

People have been complaining for many years about the 'recruitment' 'process' and, more specifically, about the short notice at which they have been expected and assumed to be able to come to HK. Working groups have been set up, reports have been prepared, and discussion has taken place in government circles. Nothing has changed though, at least not in the last seven years.

The problem as I see it is that most if not all locals � and this often includes those in the upper echelons of the EDB, principals, and immigration officials � typically still live at home with their mummy and daddy (and usually have only ever had one job in their life) and so simply cannot fathom what it entails to put all of one's affairs in order (one's home, current job, bills, etc.). They think people from 'abroad' (what they openly term 'foreigners', as, 'It does not have any negative connotations in Cantonese', quote/unquote) can just go to the airport and come to HK at the drop of a hat.

Obviously it is not as easy as this, as we all know. Coupled to this is the further problem that, as a rule of thumb, locals here tend to leave everything till the very last moment. This is at least part of the reason why many, many local schools go without a NET for the first term. Many NETs actually take up their post in January.

Ann states above that the schools do not typically know whether they will need a new NET or not till May and that this is a busy time for all those involved. I am afraid to say that I think Ann may have been here a tad too long and may have lost her western skills of critical thinking. After all, this is not the first time/year they have recruited NETs; this is not a surprise that has just been sprung on them out of the blue. Rather, they have simply failed and/or openly refused to change or in any way modify their system ('But this is the way we have always done it'). They could for example quite easily issue new contracts earlier in the year ('Oh, you're not ready to confirm whether you want to work here again next year? Then tough! We're getting someone else'). Second, don't principals have administrative workers, assistants, and the like to assist with 'exams' and 'administrative work'? (And what on earth is all this administrative work? How come other countries in the world do not suffer from this burden?) And, if such 'admin work' is indeed more important than recruiting new staff � especially new NETs from 'abroad' who may very well be in limbo as regards employment in their home state � what does this tell is about their educational priorities?

[jenwilltraveltheworld]

Yes Sir I Can Bogey and Ann,

Thank you so much for your replies!

Regarding the teaching experience, they asked me to have my employers submit the "fraction of full-time employment" I have accumulated while working at the university and college. I submitted this, and she said they would calculate how much it comes out to.

I am quite worried about what the final score will be. I was planning to move in July, but that's definitely not happening now. If anything, maybe August, IF I do indeed get the position...

[once again]

Part time work can be calculated as a fraction of full time employment. I know of one instance where about three years of part time work, of approximately 3.5 hours a day, was measured at just over one and a half years full time.

[Yes Sir I Can Bogey]

Yes, Jen has already stated above � twice, in fact � that she has been informed that her part-time experience can possibly be counted as a fraction of full-time. But, as I stated, the part-time fraction of full-time employment will only count if it was post-qualification.

[once again]

By post qualification, the EDB seems to mean after you got your Degree, and not your teaching qualification. If all the teaching was done after getting a degree, then it should all be counted.

[travelfloosie]

I have not logged on for while, as it has been very busy at school before the Easter hols then of course as soon as school kicked out I sped down to Cornwall to make the most of the lovely weather! No...really it was like summer come early!

Anyway to the point of my post. I have read with eagerness and interest about the state of the P and S NET interviews. I applied well before Christmas and have still only received an acknowledgement about my application reaching HK. I was told to wait and I am still waiting despite having emailed for more information about the state of my application. It's so fustrating! My cousins about 6 of them live in HK and some are invloved in the education system as teachers in kindergarten, primary and secondary, they all report the same you just have to wait but at the same they they all say that schools are crying out for teachers.

Thanks for the previous reply. but can anyone tell me if they have had an interview in London yet, therefore putting me out of my misery, meaning I have missed out for the 2009 intake. I have been teaching primary since qualifying 3 years ago also taking a TEFL parttime with a view to applying to HK as a PNET. What more can one do?

Any kind words are welcome! It seems that HK is ganging up against me!

[RiverMystic]

[once again]

My former collegue has just been accepted onto the NET scheme and all his experience that came after his degree has been counted. This includes experience he gained BEFORE his teaching qualification.

[oxi]

[Yes Sir I Can Bogey]