Job Discussion Forums

[limp788]

I am having problems with job hunting in Vietnam, I am living and working in Cambodia at the moment (teaching). I have a BA in english, TEFL (144hour course) and 3 years of experience. I have been applying for jobs for a 6 weeks now and just seem to be getting no where.

The best response so far has been form English Zone, who asked to complete an application form and a lesson plan which was a month ago, I have sent 2 emails since and no reply. Are the Vietnamese a little shy using emails??

ILA (asked if I had a TEFL (clearly didn;t read the CV or email) I replied yes, but still now answer.)
Apollo (no response)
Cleverlearn (no response)
English Zone (complete app, lesson plan then no response)

and a few others

Little frustrated now, I am thinking of just going over next month and finding something. What are my chances? How quickly do you think I can could something?

[tonyclark]

Hello,
I had the same problem with English Zone.I was contacted by them and sent an application form which I sent to them. Despite 3 emails to them I received no reply regarding the success of my application.I had to send the application twice because they could not find the original.I suspect basic incompetence.
I sent 3 applications to Apollo and never received a reply.
I have the qualifications to teach in Vietnam.I wonder if our resumes are ever read in some schools.
I suggest you set aside 1 week to go to Vietnam and approach the schools directly.
With your qualifications, I think you will be successful soon.
Keep trying.
Tony.

[limp788]

Thanks Tony,

Kind of revealed it wasn't just me.

I think you are probably right, most schools don't even read the emails or look at the CV's properly. English Zone's first contact with me was to ask if I had a TEFL qualification, and if yes, just reply saying "see CV" and fill out an application form, then the next email was complete this lesson plan, based on the 2 attachments. After I sent that back I never heard anything again.
Also, ILA gave me a similar reply. Maybe a crazy tactic but, I've handed in my notice at my current schools, and going over to Vietnam early next month. Fingers crossed.

[blateson]

The Vietnamese certainly aren't averse to using email from time-to-time. I have received emails from the schools I was working at, but those were either for announcements or were expected correspondence. Otherwise though, you are totally right, in my experience in pretty much all of SE Asia they seem to avoid using it most often.

While your situation is different as I've never applied while outside of a country, you would think they would give you some attention since you are right over the border, wouldn't you? It's only 6 hours by bus or one hour by flight.

Still however, this whole "no reply" thing is a pretty big reflection of the way the Vietnamese are and the ways they are increasingly putting on display in more recent times. It's all about keep the foreigner out of "the know", leave them clueless, and use them at the last minute. The real "power" of importance is in the office, with the admin, not the teachers who actually go into the classrooms. Now that we don't need teachers as much, why try to treat them well or impess them? So the reasoning goes.

This is going on even when in person. Several months ago I went around, even to some of the "lower" schools, to pick up some extra hours. Went to about six schools, in most of the places it seemed they were doing you a favor by even allowing you to drop off your resume. No call-back, not even just to say "try later this year" or something. Never heard back from most of them.

One school wouldn't even let me go inside, standing out in the hot sun out front while they checked and came back out to tell me they aren't taking applications.

[Andy123]

Expecting an email response to a CV is unrealistic and the schools that might respond should be viewed with caution.

Best advice, just come and drop off a CV to schools and ask to speak to the manager. That given, you will use up a lot of time as the managers that will talk to you will probably just want to practice their English or stroke their ego by playing boss and have nothing better to do than stare at traffic.

Out of 10 visits you will get an offer. Then decide if it is good or not for you. There is work here but wages are down, prices are up and conditions are not always good.

Beware that there are visa and WP issues. Most current information from one newspaper is that come July no more visa renewals without a WP. Is it really true? Who knows as things change weekly. A WP can be a bloody nightmare if your school is not connected and you don't have all the "correct" paperwork.

Best of luck.

[limp788]

Thanks Andy123,

Doesn't sound as optimistic as some people reckon, but I prefer the truth. Are you in Vietnam now? I am earning 12 dollars an hour here in Cambodia. But such a strain considering all the bloody holidays (28 days), then add in the term breaks. Realistically what do you reckon I can expect to make?

thanks again

Mark

[Andy123]

No matter where you go there will be ups and downs. It depends what you consider to be the most important variable. I know you can do better in Vietnam than Cambodia, that is money wise. There are good things here and some not so good things.

Funny! Most teachers here in Vietnam I speak to want to go to Cambo if the Visa/WP thing becomes worse.

15 to 20 dollars seems to be the norm. If you are looking for money try Korea. I loved it but many hate it. If you live cheaply you can save money but most people I know live pay check to pay check.