Job Discussion Forums

C76 · Posted: Thu Mar 18, 2004 7:31 pm Post subject:

I've got another question. How long did it take you (anyone) to get a reply to your original email to EC?

I read something about them not saying anything until May. Maybe I misunderstood. Embarassed

Anxious as usual...

I really would like to go. Especially if I can find a decent company. Cool

refazenda · Posted: Thu Mar 18, 2004 7:52 pm Post subject: I wrote them recently

I wrote them after this thread started. They responded right away, telling me about the error, and refunded my fee the same day. They said at that time that they would get back to me in May. Had I not contacted them, I assume I would not have heard anything until May.

Who else out there paid the fee? Was it refunded to you?

Julieanne · Joined: 18 Mar 2004 Posts: 120

The Director and owner of the school is Canadian and treats the teachers with complete respect. For example I was teaching Adult ESL and when the student cancelled less than 24 hours, I was still paid for the class even if I didn't go. The Director actually protects the teacher over the clients. I worked for another ESL school in Mexico and it was not the same. The school is expanding across the country because ironically, of its great reputation.
Unfortunately, the Director told me that they are going to look at applicants within Mexico first because she was a little turned off about applicants from this site for bashing the school so quickly. She understood everyones concerns that received the wrong e-mail but told me the problem was that 1500 e-mails were sent to her in 2 days and an error draft was sent to only about 50. The error was realized in about a day and was rectified as quickly as possible. Refunds were issued immediately if anyone actually paid. By the way why are people complaining that didn't pay? So you didn't pay and you didn't apply, where is the loss? And people calling her scam without sufficient info. and also calling it scam because she is offering a good salary?!!! Come on people. Don't be so paranoid.
I was angry myself at all this because I know how bad the working conditions can be in some ESL schools and Elementary schools in Mexico and it was unfair to say things about this particular school.

C76 · Posted: Fri Mar 19, 2004 12:01 am Post subject:

In that case, given the deluge of resumes, etc., would it be wise to eventually send a follow-up email?

Even if she isn't going to reply until May, I'm still worried.

refazenda · Posted: Fri Mar 19, 2004 12:54 am Post subject: Follow up email

I have been in the position of having hundreds of applicants for a position. I had a stock response prepared to let applicants know that I received their resume. In that response, however, I explicitly stated that due to the large number of applicants, we would be unable to respond to anyone with whom we were not following up. So despite now being on the other end of the process, I can understand why EC would not be able to contact everyone about the status of their application.

You could always send a follow-up email in a month. By then the deluge of emails would have possibly ended, and you would have a better chance of a response.

ls650 · Joined: 10 May 2003 Posts: 3484 Location: British Columbia

Julieanne · Joined: 18 Mar 2004 Posts: 120

If you had followed it up further you would have known that!

C76 · Posted: Fri Mar 19, 2004 5:57 pm Post subject:

I can understand someone reacting like me--being deer-caught-in-the-headlights shocked. Shocked

But

At the risk of getting beat up, don't you guys think it was a bit mean to scream "Scam!" Embarassed

lozwich · Joined: 25 May 2003 Posts: 1536

Hiyas,

I don't think anyone (well, not me, anyway) was 'screaming' scam, but it looked highly suspicious to be getting paid so much for a job in Mexico, and then when paying for an exam before actually being hired got brought up, well, it did come across as a bit concerning.

My attitude was that we were all talking about this ad, kind of bouncing ideas off each other, because sometimes you just need to talk things through with other people. Sometimes its important to 'jump to conclusions quickly' to avoid complete disaster...

I certainly didn't mean to offend anyone, simply to point out that on the information received, it looked pretty fishy, and for people to be careful. I still think having to pay to sit a Spanish exam in order to get through the immigration process is highly suspect. Like I said, I got through my immigration stuff fine, as did my colleagues who have a lot less Spanish than I do.

Also, unless there's something really weird going on only with my computer, hasn't the whole start of the post disappeared???

Now that the whole matter has been cleared up, I would even consider applying for the jobs myself, if I was planning to stick around in Mexico after July.

Anyway, have a good day.

Lozwich.

lozwich · Joined: 25 May 2003 Posts: 1536

It has! The first few messages of this thread have been deleted! Where have they gone?

No wonder people think that we were reacting rather quickly - all the initial discussion has disappeared into cyberspace!

Shocked

Julieanne · Joined: 18 Mar 2004 Posts: 120

I don't understand. Doesn't anybody get it? Nobody paid! Is anyone reading my posts? The test fee was for people renewing their contract, people already hired. If you received that e-mail it was in error. If you paid, it was returned.
The first posting were deleted because "friggin hippie" posted the banking information, from the e-mail. You don't think that was cause to delete it? Do you think that was fair for the school. They didn't ask for their e-mail to be posted. This whole error lasted one day and still a week later everyone is discussing it. Unbelievable. If you have been reading my posts, ask me about my experience in this school.

C76 · Posted: Fri Mar 19, 2004 10:24 pm Post subject:

Julianne,

I have a question for you re one of your earlier posts.

Re the director's decision to seek teachers in Mexico first:

What about those who responded sincerely to the EC advertisement?

Also, I have a legitimate question about your time @ the school...What time of day do EC's teachers usually work? Just wondering.

Julieanne · Joined: 18 Mar 2004 Posts: 120

My advice would be that anyone interested in working there, to not mention that you saw the ad from this site nor what transpired last week (that would not be a good idea, I think she has had it up to here about all this) and also maybe wait a few weeks to a month and re-apply because the Director had mentioned to me they had to sort through an overwhelming amount of resumes, not just from here but other sources as well.
I had about 5 hours of classes per day. If I wanted to work Saturdays, that was optional and not enforced. Optional if you wanted to earn more money.
Hope this helps! and take my advice don't apply now be patient[/quote]

C76 · Posted: Fri Mar 19, 2004 11:06 pm Post subject:

Just what I was afraid of!

I'm sure that I mentioned seeing the ad for the EC job on Dave's board. That's my standard procedure when I write a cover letter/note. I start off, blah, blah, blah, "I saw your advertisement on/in such-and-such location..." etc., etc. Rolling Eyes

All day I was thinking I should send the director a follow-up declaring my sincerity. Now I guess I'd better get to it. Confused

Julieanne · Joined: 18 Mar 2004 Posts: 120

Not your fault. I am simply saying from this point on don't mention this site or any of the problems that happened and just re-apply, because I know that they had some listings from other sources. Just apply in the way that you are interested if there are any positions open etc. etc. in other words pretend you never saw the posting here. Still I would wait a few weeks.