Job Discussion Forums

[wallrose]

Hello all,

I am leaving next week for Moscow to work for BKC-IH. I have read the negative stuff about the company but to be honest, I'm not expecting more than a salary I can manage with and a job I can do.

What I'd like to ask you guys is this: whereabouts are the flats that they provide? I know I'll be working in loads of different locations; is there an opportunity to get to know your colleagues while moving about so much?

And, if there's a future colleague out there, give us a shout! I haven't got many contacts in Moscow...

[Sashadroogie]

The flats are located all over the city, but most are at on the outskirts, usually a good 20 minute walk from the nearest metro station. Usually of mixed quality. You could be lucky, or very unlucky in terms of creature comfort, but at least it is organised for you.

Plenty of time to meet colleagues, both in staff rooms and bars, but there will be many people whose paths you will not cross regularly, such is the scale of operations there.

Good luck!

[maruss]

Believe it or not,they do have some flats which we might call 'acceptable' but these are usually given to senior staff and they have the option of single occupancy,which you are most unlikely to !As Sasha says it is very much the luck of the draw where you end up and with rents in Moscow being so high near the centre you will most likely be in a suburb.The question will then be where do you have to teach each day,at what times-avoid split shifts-and how far is it from where you live?
There are some nasty suburbs which those in the know try to avoid,mainly in the south-east and south but of course the condition of the flat is ultimately what counts....rather than speculate,better to let us know where they put you after you arrive.If the worst comes to the worst there are ways of getting them to move you but lets look on the bright side for now!Keep in touch....

[Houston]

Look at a map of the moscow metro system. Envision yourself at the end of one of the lines, and a ten minute walk from the metro station. That's where your flat is likely to be.

You'll be in an area that is safe enough, just don't flash an iphone or other expensive gadgets while you're walking around. This isn't western paranoia talking, this is actual advice I've received from Russians here.

[wallrose]

Thanks I think I have a slightly better idea of what to expect now. I'll just hope that my flat is acceptable condition...

[maruss]

Once you have tried commuting in Moscow you will learn what that means!At least you MAY just be able to grab a seat on the train if you fight your way into the carriage,especially during the morning peak period!This because swarms of people come by bus from even more remote suburbs and satellite towns which are beyond the station at the end of most metro lines!Remember that winter is coming so a ten minute walk to the metro will be more than enough,I can tell you from experience!The whole thing will really be decided by where you have to work in relation to where your accomodation is,AND, equally important your work schedule!My sincere advice to you is to try to avoid early morning classes because of the transport situation I have just described,especially if you then have other classes later in the day or evening,unless you are lucky enough to get a flat very near where you will be working,otherwise you will end up being away from home for 15 hours per day or even more because it will be impractical to return for a break in between..I never started before 12.00 mid-day and used to finish sometimes at 21.00 but at least I could lie-in in the mornings and avoid the metro crush!What did me in more than anything was the physical exhaustion of travelling around the city for hours every day to get to and from classes,more than anything else,especially in minus 28 C. in January 2006!The job itself was often interesting and enjoyable though and I will add that I always chose adult classes,rather than kids but that's a question of personal preferenced..I was also earning at least $20 per academic hour and making an average of $2.500 per month,but then I was not working for a Mac outfit like BKC!
Hope thse points are useful...

[Sashadroogie]

Oh Maruss, come on, it's not as bad as you are painting the situation. Yes, the metro can be a crush, but this is avoided by going just 20 mins earlier in the morning, for a lot of lines. Yes, split shifts are a pain, but that is not specific to Moscow. The OP will have enough to deal with just settling in without being filled with apprehension, or misapprehension.

I've never been physically exhausted to the degree you describe. The cold on the street has never been a problem either - quite the opposite, the buildings are overheated. Very sweaty.

Wallrose, there isn't much you can do until you arrive there, then you can see how good or bad the flat is and how easy it is get around. Maruss is right about the itinerary though. Try not to get landed with a timetable that has you mapping star signs around the metro, often waving at fellow teachers who pass you as you pointlessly swap locations with them. Again, this will only reveal itself when on the job, so just wait and see for now, and look forward to your new adventure.

Good luck!

[OctoberSkies]

Hey! I'm also coming to Moscow soon. I'd love to connect with you but I think I need a few more posts until I can send a direct message.

[wallrose]

Yeah, I was warned about split shifts and the fact that I'd have to change location in the middle of the day, possibly twice. I try to look at it as an adventure of sorts, as Sashadroogie said. Hopefully it won't be that bad...

As for the weather, I'm actually from Finland, so the temperatures outside will probably not be all that challenging. The insulation indoors is a different deal, of course

[Sashadroogie]

PMs can be an issue. So email at my address: [email protected]

Or something hic. On my profile...hic

[OctoberSkies]

Email sent! Thanks for the help!

[mayumi_kaneyuki]

BKC rents flats all over Moscow within walking distance from the metro stations, and they are situated near our school locations.
All flats are of an average Russian living standard. You can see some photos here
http://www.bkcih-moscow.com/moscow/accommodation .

There is a minimum set of things that you may need, and it should be mentioned in your contract either explained to you via e-mail.
Accommodation staff is open to teachers' wishes to the possible extent, they make renovations (e.g. in case you don't like the wallpapers� color ), scheduled maintenance every time before new teachers come and also every summer.

Flats are really different, and their quality depends on their landlords. But though the standards are basic we always try to improve and at least add some necessary things to that minimum requirements set. Flats are not luxury, but at least you always have a place to stay in upon your arrival, and the basic standards are guaranteed. Of course if you want to find your own accommodation that fits you better you are free to do so. An allowance paid by BKC will be enough in case you have a couple of flat mates you are willing to share with.

[Nexus]

[maruss]

It is interesting how the first two photos show washing machines because BKC were notorious until just a few years ago for not providing these and they used to advise teachers to go and buy a large bowl!!Even most of the poorest Russians in Moscow have a washing machine(some still have the old Soviet era ones which you have to fill-up yourself!)
The photos show an average Soviet era appartment,acceptable enough but bear in mind that this is probably one of the better ones they have and many are far worse......
My main gripe has always been the way they offer to give anyone an allowance who wants to find their own flat-I don't know how much they give nowadays but it used to be far less than it would cost to find the cheapest flat in a remote part of Moscow,so you would end up paying out of your meagre salary towards the rent!As far as I know it is very hard to find a 1-room flat anywhere in Moscow nowadays for much less than 30.000 roubles per month(around $900),then you will have to pay a months deposit as well as the first months rent,plus an agents commission unless you have been very fortunate to find a place without one!Then there is the problem of registration for your visa with the local authorities as many Russian landlords will not do it because they are afraid of complications with the tax people!If the firm can register you at an address then you have solved this problem.
But my main point is that firms like BKC do not pay you enough money to be able to rent a basic flat for yourself,even with their allowance and to me this is unacceptable:it is different if you have a girlfriend,friend etc. that you want to share a flat with and another thing being forced into it as part of the firms conditions!
I have rented on my own there and shared after an emergency when a close friend offered to sub-let me a room in the place she was renting with her grown-up children.Despite my gratitude and her kind intentions it still was not ideal and I wanted to move out after a few weeks.
I know that several other long-timers there will back me on this point!

[Sashadroogie]

Yes, the washing machines. How BKC tried to convince teachers that these were still the luxury items they were in Brezhnev's day. How they squeezed teachers for every kopek's worth in charges for the cheapest machines available...

They still spout all sorts of out-dated nonsense about their flats being the local standard. Perhaps this is true of the lumpen proles, but it certainly not true of our very ordinary middle class students...Their homes are lovely. Draw whatever conclusions you like about what level of society BKC sees its teaching staff as belonging in...

Again, with the salaries being paid by Mac schools, more dissembling. The preferred myth there is that 'you'll earn as much as a member of middle class'. Sorry, but most middle class Russians in Moscow earn more than the measly 800 - 900 bucks which Macs grudgingly dole out - and that's only with regard to their white salary and doesn't even take into account the locals' black/real salary.

Returning to the flats, these are always held up as a justification for the low salaries. 'We can't pay you well and pay for your accommodation...' So, the flats are considered to be part of your benefit package. Yet, were you to take BKC up on their ever-so kind offer of rent allowance and move out on your own, you'll find that that allowance comes nowhere near what you'd expect to receive. Namely, you'll not get the equivalent of what BKC pays for your share of the rented flat. You'll get a few hundred extra dollars at best. (What's the exact figure these days?) In effect you are taking a sizeable pay-cut, which suits BKC no end.

Ah, but what else can you expect from companies that illegally tax staff members, i.e. when Cambridge examining, and charge way over the odds for work permits which they then fail to process properly?