Job Discussion Forums

[surreycouple]

Hi

MOD EDIT

Have teachers left because of the work permit situation - there doesnt seem to be many female teachers around??

Thoughts on this?

[snollygoster]

Have noticed the same.
Can only assume the work permit fiasco is the main cause.

[surreycouple]

Yes I agree, I certainly think the lack of information concerning work permits/visas is a big issue.

Has anyone had a visit from the 'Inspection Dept' yet?

[Mattingly]

I know several long termers who recently left because of the uncrertainty.

Too much uncertainty with the work permit and visa situation, and the possibility of being kicked out.

[blateson]

Hmmm, that's strange. The last time I did a job search in hcmc all the schools were overfilled.

Kindergartens however are the least popular age group for your average person. I've heard people mention the difficulties of keeping them under even a bit of control.

[surreycouple]

[surreycouple]

when searcing for jobs in HCMC where do you look?

[Andy123]

According to several HR people I know there are too many teachers. The result? Lower wages and less hours. Fact. Are there jobs? Sure but nothing like in years past.

Female teachers? There has always been a shortage. There may be more of a shortage now I will admit. I think it is simply a less desirable environment than other countries.

I hear from people that they are being offered new jobs with a pay range between 13-16 dollars an hour. Many I hear are also getting two hour teaching blocks instead of the traditional 3-4 hours. Many are happy to get this as there is not much out there.

Schools are well aware of the current situation and are taking advantage of it. Bad for the teacher but good for the school.

[half moon]

[hot_rock]

Like everyone else, I obviously have no facts available to draw upon but I would strongly doubt that the number of teachers is declining. By all accounts wages are going down and you do hear about countless people struggling for hours/working a terrible job/"unable" to find a job (though how hard these people try to amend these situations is always questionable). If the number IS increasing, then the Western recession has a huge amount to do with it; but surely Vietnam's development rate is also something of a factor.

Even more importantly, I believe, is the number of people going to (and hence graduating from) University in the west (I can only speak for the UK actually but I'm sure it's the same elsewhere?). The more people decide against a long/medium-term career at home and instead go to uni (then graduate and want a new 'adventure' rather than 'bedding down' at home), the more will choose EFL; and there are a number of big factors drawing people to Vietnam (obviously; and if you disagree with that then why are you still here?)

Regarding wages; by all accounts they are going in the wrong direction. But do people really 'deserve' $21 AFTER TAX at places like VUS or ILA? Did people ever believe that was really going to sustain itself?!

A bold statement that few will disagree with I hope: if you're qualified (CELTA or whatever), you have a degree (in anything), and ounce of motivation and charm (rarer commodities amongst "ex-pats" here than in the West...), and you don't allow yourself to be screwed over (for too long without attempted improvements) then you will find a decent job, or two, and if you want to work 25+ hours a week, you can do that quite easily with the above qualities.

People (esp. those with qualifications) moaning about working at crap schools for crap money, and the deflation of wages, should simply get a grip of themselves.

[deadlift]

[hot_rock]

here here. I think a lot of people's problem is that they doss around forever upon their arrival, then after two months "finally manage to find a job"(a poor one it turns out ) then never leave it due to all the supposed stress the first time round. The beautiful truth is that, once you have experience, it is ridiculously easy to find a job. Do it by email; scan all your docs onto the email. Write a professional cover letter. Sell yourself. (What's all this crap about CVs only to be two pages long or you will 'bore' the reader? Four pages never did me any harm.)

Send the thing out to 20 schools, edited where necessary, then sit back and relax. Within two weeks you will have at least one interview, maybe 15.

[Captain Willard]

[haller_79]

[Andy123]

It's "hear hear," not "here here or hear here."

"Hear hear" means something like the more contemporary vernacular "I hear you;" it indicates agreement and assent. "Here here" means "not over there there," and that's just kind of silly.