Job Discussion Forums

[sbjenn27]

I am new to the site and posting for the first time.

Yesterday, I emailed my resume, etc., in response to a job posting in Hanoi. Today, I received an email basically saying they look forward to working with me, asking me to send them a criminal background check and health report, and a contract.

I have intermittent experience teaching over the past 15 years, and taught in South Korea in the early 90s for six months, but teaching has never been my primary profession.

Does this seem unusual? I am skeptical of a job offer without an interview. Any feedback is much appreciated.

[lucreziaborgia]

sbjenn27, You need to reply to your possible employer with questions that you'd ask any potential employer. A telephone interview is usually standard prior to being made an offer. You need to feel free to ask for clarification and confirmation regarding your possible employment contract. As well, you will need to bring the originals of all your documentation to work here and that includes a police check, medical check and qualifications. It is easier to get these while in your country of origin than orginise them after you've arrived in Vietnam.
The health check required to work in Vietnam can be extensive so I advise you to ask your employer to send the requirements to you. All your documentation needs to be authenticated by the provider.
The legal requirements for working here have changed and you need to be aware of them before coming here to work.

[Jerullan]

[BenE]

[mjc_mjc]

Can I ask who the employer/school is?

[sbjenn27]

The employer is the Overseas Education Consultancy. I wrote back to ask a bunch of questions, and as seems necessary and common in Vietnam, you don't sign the contract until you arrive in the country and actually have a face-to-face interview.

Thanks to everyone for the responses.

[lucreziaborgia]

sbjenn77, I was sent my contract by email to sign and return to my employer while I was overseas. After I returned the signed copy of my contract I was emailed a copy of my visa. I was told to present both documents to Immigration at the airport on arrival in Vietnam. Immigration had the same documents as me. This was a simple process but I was employed directly by a school - not a recruiter - and it was also 3 years ago.
I would say that you do not have a firm offer of work and thus should proceed with caution. As I understand it from some people who have arrived recently, they have gone through the same process as me re being offered work as a direct hire from a school or university. I don't know anyone who has gone through a recruiting agency.
You can get a medical check in-country easily but in your situation I would have it done and authenticated in your country of origin. That will save time if you arrive and find you don't have work.

[sbjenn27]

Thanks, lucrezia. I have thought about the possibility that I might go all the way to Hanoi and find myself not employed. The employer has responded to my many emails and questions without delay, which puts me at ease a bit. They've asked for the documents they need from me in order to get my work visa and they have given me a contract to sign.

Also, I have a friend who has lived in Vietnam for three years, so if I find myself jobless and homeless, I'll have some help while I figure things out. So, all in all, it's a risk I'm willing to take.

[Danaa]

[lucreziaborgia]

sbjenn27, you need to be aware that it is not a straightforward process 'to crash with friends' here. You need to be registered with the local police before you can live or stay in a house/hotel or apartment. The owner of whichever has to do this. If you aren't registered the owner and your friend could face some difficulties.
If you are coming to Hanoi you will need cash as there are very few retail outlets that have credit card machines. If you stay in a guesthouse or a small hotel, you will have to pay in cash. Only the more expensive hotels accept credit cards. You will probably have to pay between $12 - $16 a night for a room in central Hanoi. You need to make sure your money is secure and the best way to do that would be to have an account with the HSBC or the ANZ Bank before you arrive. Both banks have offices and ATM machines in Hanoi and HCMC. The fees charged by both are high and you will pay a conversion fee to withdraw money from an overseas account. However, this is preferable to having your money lost or stolen. You cannot open a bank account with a Vietnamese bank (Vietcom Bank is the best) until you are employed. You have to provide your contract (with your employer's stamp), a letter of introduction from your employer (with stamp), your passport and a statement of monthly earnings each time you deposit your salary. Your employer may help in setting up an account with a bank and that is a question I'd be asking the recruiting company with whom you are in negotiations. Some employers will provide electronic transfers to your Vietnamese bank account but that will take time to set up. Once your account is set up, you will be given a bank card that will enable you to access your money at ATM machines and Vietcom Bank has the most ATM machines of all Vietnamese banks.
A lot of employers pay in cash but then you have a problem with securing your money hence a bank account is desirable.
Traveller's Cheques are accepted by most average size businesses but can be a problem. You need secure access to cash and it is better to safe than sorry even if it does cost you banking fees while you're getting established.

[inky]

A few updates to the above information re: Hanoi.

GH prices have gone way up, you're probably looking at closer to $20/night or more for cleanliness and security, wifi, etc. Less money, you take your chances. Many of these inexpensive GH's accept credit cards (probably MOST of them do), or it's an easy chore to go to ANZ at Hoan Kiem Lake and get a cash advance in 10 minutes.

Banking: ANZ and HSBC have offices and numerous ATMs in Hanoi. If you have a local account, there is no fee for ATM withdrawals. As above, you have to have a job to open an account, but it is very easy to open one after you receive your first pay, you can do it yourself in 20 minutes and get an ATM card a few days later; and e-payment of wages is very quick to set up through your employer. Also, VietComBank is one of the worst choices, their service is atrocious, starting with their ridiculous 2-hour lunch breaks and ending with their utter disregard for the concept of customer service. With ANZ or HSBC, it's also very easy to transfer your wages back to your home-country bank if you wish, whereas VietComBank look at you as if you're asking to send money to Mars (which is where it would end up if they did send it).

[lucreziaborgia]

I have used Vietcom Bank for 3 years and never had any trouble with the service or sending money overseas. HSBC requires that 8,000,000VND remains in your account every day and penalties apply should the amount fall below that figure.
ANZ is the most expensive bank in Vietnam.
There are no fees for ATM withdrawals from Vietcom Bank or any other Vietnamese bank to my knowledge.
$20 a night will get you a cut above the usual hotel that English teachers stay in however there are plenty of hotels in Hanoi for less that provide both pleasant and acceptable standards of service. The security issue is up to you. The same thing will happen here as anywhere in the world: if you leave valuables and cash in your room then be prepared to lose it. With most hotels it is possible to negotiate the price if you intend to stay there for a few months.
Even backpacker hostels have wifi and internet so that's not a big deal.
Do not expect top end standards and you won't be disappointed. Would you expect that at a budget hotel in London, Melbourne, New York etc.
In my experience cash is the prefered method of paying accounts at most hotels and guesthouses and few have credit card machines. If they do, they keep them out of sight.
It's easy to open a bank account after you have a job but don't forget the paperwork.

[sbjenn27]

Once again, thanks for the responses, advice, and concern. I'm new to the forums, but not so young. I have a 4-year degree, am finishing up a TEFL certification, and have prior teaching experience in South Korea and in an American public school.

I didn't mean that I plan to crash with my friend, just that I have a friend who can be helpful as I negotiate the ins and outs of living/working in a new country and culture.

I'm doing plenty of research, and you are all helping with that. So, thanks again. Hopefully, I'll be able to write more when I get to Vietnam!

[inky]

By the way, it's very simple and easy to stay with foreign friends here, your friend might want to notify the owner if you're there for more than a few days, you'll just need a copy of your passport and you'll never hear another word about it. It's really not a big deal.

[pschwart]

I'm in talks with the same company, and also found it odd how straightforwardly interested they were. I actually have no experience or teaching qualification, and they still seemed eager to hire me. I'm not sure if it's too good to be true, but I'm really hoping it's not. Please post any more information you have, it would be extremely helpful. In fact, if you wouldn't mind emailing me I would appreciate it greatly.

[email protected]