Job Discussion Forums

[ComradeBL]

Howdy all!

As I noted over the weekend, my understanding was that both the school & I had spent the past 7 weeks discussing a position and that we were establishing mutually acceptable terms with a start date of 1 Oct, one month after the start of the school term (1 Sept).

I noted on 15 Sept in my last communication that I had an emergency back home (a leaky dishwasher had destroyed my kitchen floors and now I'm working with insurance company/contractor to rebuild my kitchen) and it would be best to start on 15 Oct. Additionally, I know little about the visa process but figured it takes more than a couple of weeks. However, if we MUST start on 1 Oct, I would make it happen.

After dragging their feet this month, I received an email this morning saying that they can't get the visa in 8 days and would have to start on 1 Oct. Now, they want me to come work for a month in Feb to "test the waters" and then if they like me and I like them, come to work permanently at the start of the next academic year.

Truthfully, I do understand their concern. I know they do not want the expense/commitment of hiring clients and have their employee leave under a cover of darkness. However, I find it a bit insulting that they are so untrustworthy so as to assume that when the going gets tough, the tough vanish like a fart in the air. Literally, I have lived & worked in combat war zones. I've put up with the insanity of the Middle East. Not ONCE did I say, "F 'em!" and pack up for home.

At this moment, to me, this entire experience seems like a total waste of time.

Is my experience normal?

[coledavis]

It's normal for some schools, and abnormal for others.
With regards to an earlier question of yours, relating to culture: you might not find much in an oil town. What about Novosibirsk? Plenty of schools and a fair amount of culture.

[maruss]

As we all know,it so often is!You can read my posting on this site about what happened to a friend of mine in Moscow last week-and he had worked for them before!Well at least you didn't go to Surgut to be told you weren't needed!
By the way,talking of Dresden and the former D.D.R. it seems we also have that in common because I have know someone in Pirna since 1971!

[Velocipedaler]

I'm sorry I didn't see this discussion earlier. I worked in neighboring Nefteyugansk for a year, so I'm familiar with Surgut. Also, I'm involved in the hiring process of an additional native speaker at my current school, so I'm somewhat knowledgeable about the invitation process.

I'm confused by one detail: have they sent you a letter of invitation yet? Or, more importantly, have you sent them your passport details so they may obtain a LOI? If the answer is 'no', especially to the second question, I don't understand how you could possibly start on 1 Oct. On average, it takes one month to obtain a LOI for work purposes. If they Telex the LOI to the Russian Embassy in DC, it will take another week or two to obtain the visa. So, the process, from the point of agreeing to work together to arriving in Surgut, should take about six weeks. Is my confusion warranted, or am I missing something here?

Secondly, although it may be irrelevant in this case, the contract between you and the school must be signed before they can begin the process of obtaining the long-term work visa. The process of obtaining the long-term work visa, on average, takes another month. So, this means that the contract must be signed at least one month before the expiration of your initial three-month visa.

Another note: in Russia, establishing "mutually acceptable" terms isn't so much about agreeing how to work together as it is about agreeing how not to screw each other over. It's a nuance, and generally irrelevant as far as conducting business is concerned. Understanding this nuance is helpful, however, in understanding the seemingly convoluted processes in Russia. Keep in mind, as well, that these convoluted processes do not only affect foreigners, it's also a major undertaking on the school's side to employ a foreigner.

As far as Surgut, if the details can be worked out with your potential employer, I would whole-heartedly recommend it (not knowing you personally, of course, this is only a general recommendation of the city). Don't be put off by the climate. Even though it might not get warmer than -20C for a few months, it's not humid there, so this isn't as harsh as the numbers may suggest. I'll take -20C out there over +2C here in St. Petersburg any winter day (but I'm from WI, not NC)! The population of Surgut is a bit over a half-million. Despite what others have said on this forum, it's relatively modern as most of its growth occured since the '60s when the oil industry starting developing, and more recently in the '00s during the capitalism/oil boom. Most of your adult students would be hard-working, white collar professionals who need English to advance their careers.

[ComradeBL]

Hi! Thank you everyone from the input previously.

While not holding my breath, I believe something will work out with the school in Surgut come next academic year. In the meantime I have received an offer to work in Moscow. It is no where near what I was hoping in Surgut, but sounds normal to the high end. How is life in MOW right now and, while I recognize the tern "need" is very subjective, what would you say someone on average would need to live in MOW?

Thanks!