Job Discussion Forums

[Eric]

A language school I applied to and am a little interested wrote to me that I have three days to decide whether I want to work with them or not. This seems to me like a short time to make a big decision. Since I am also applying to other language schools, and this school is not my first pick I sait that I needed a week.

Do many language schools give you three days to make a decision?

[Gordon]

It doesn't surprise me. I had a weekend to decide and this was a university. They probably know you've applied to other places and they probably have other people on a shortlist to offer them a job if you decline. Visas take awhile to get processed too.

[ryuro]

As someone who does a heap of recruiting and hiring I can say that 3 days is fairly typical and not unreasonable for all the reasons previously listed here. good luck!

[shmooj]

[Eric]

I understand the point about visas, and normally I would jump at a job that I have applied for an interviewed for. the reason I did not jump in this case is the school, Lingo, has recieved some bad p.r. on the board here. I read through the sample contract, and it did not have some of the problems mentioned, but all the negative posting about the school made me pause. I also have interviewed twice by a school that got very good p.r. from this board and that I am much more interested in working for.

Just as employers want the best teacher and sift through many applications, I want a good working situation as well. I ended up telling Lingo school that I need a week because I am also interviewing at other schools and need to decide carefully.

Thank you for the feed back and now I now that three days to decide is acceptable.

Eric

[chinagirl]

I have been reading this board for some time and I would avoid Lingo. I have never heard anything good about them. There are better picks.

Chinagirl

[Gordon]

Hi Eric

I was the one who said that Lingo has the 1 million yen clause you have to pay if you leave before the contract is up. I saw it with my own eyes last August when my friend was offered a contract. Perhaps they have taken it out. I hope they have. They also had a clause where they penalized you a lot of money if you were sick (about 3 times your normal daily pay rate) and missed a day of work. Look carefully at this clause and let us know if this is still true. I live in the same city as this school and I've noticed they advertise every 2 months here on Dave's and other websites too. Look very carefully at the contract.

If you do come, we could meet up some time.