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lacolina
Joined: 22 Feb 2011 Posts: 5
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Posted: Sun Feb 27, 2011 7:21 pm Post subject: Can you recommend a placement program? |
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I am about to graduate with a Bachelor's and my teaching degree. I am hoping to teach abroad in the fall. I have been reading a lot, but I am looking for opinions from real people.
I am looking for a placement program that I could apply to and pay a fee in order to get placed in a job overseas.
I am open to going to almost any country I just want a program that will be easy and not be confusing. Ideally, a program that would help me get a visa and all of those types of things. Making a lot of money isn't important. Any suggestions? I want this to be as painless as possible... |
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tttompatz

Joined: 06 Mar 2010 Posts: 1951 Location: Talibon, Bohol, Philippines
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Posted: Mon Feb 28, 2011 12:14 am Post subject: Re: Can you recommend a placement program? |
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lacolina wrote: |
I am about to graduate with a Bachelor's and my teaching degree. I am hoping to teach abroad in the fall. I have been reading a lot, but I am looking for opinions from real people.
I am looking for a placement program that I could apply to and pay a fee in order to get placed in a job overseas.
I am open to going to almost any country I just want a program that will be easy and not be confusing. Ideally, a program that would help me get a visa and all of those types of things. Making a lot of money isn't important. Any suggestions? I want this to be as painless as possible... |
NEVER, NEVER, NEVER pay a recruiter or placement firm for a position overseas as a teacher.
About recruiters and recruiting websites:
Really, when it comes to a recruiter, who cares?
A recruiter is nothing more than an introduction to an employer.
REPEAT: A recruiter is nothing more than an introduction to an employer.
Hello Mr. English speaker this is Mr school owner/director/DOS.
Mr. school owner/director/DOS, this is Mr. English speaker.
Mr. English speaker, here is the contract. Please read and sign.
School, here is the signed contract. Pay me.
Good bye.
-You are not paying the recruiter anything (or you shouldn't be).
-THEY DO NOT WORK FOR YOU! - They work for the school.
-They owe you nothing once you get there.
-They are not your friend.
-They are not your baby sitter.
-They cannot help you if things go to *beep* after you get there.
Beyond that it is YOUR responsibility to check the school out.
Do NOT trust ANY recruiter. They are like used car salesmen. They will lie and sell their soul to get the signature on the contract. You walk onto their lot and look at what they have on offer. If there is something you see that you like you inquire further and make your own good judgment about whether or not to proceed with the purchase from there.
Do your own DUE DILIGENCE in regards to the school or get burned.
Use the recruiters for what they are; a bridge between you and an employer that you would otherwise be unable to find.
Use more than one and keep going until you find the job you want, in the location you want, with the benefits that you want.
There is no rush and there is certainly no shortage of jobs in ESL globally.
When it comes to the school - again - repeat - Do your own DUE DILIGENCE.
1st - READ the contract over very carefully. If that doesn't scare you away then...
The best you can do is minimize the risk by talking to MORE THAN ONE of the foreign staff and ask POINTED AND SPECIFIC QUESTIONS (*when the boss is NOT listening over their shoulder). Don't accept non-specific answers and broad generalizations.
No foreign staff references to talk (directly and via e-mail when the boss is NOT looking over their shoulder) to = walk away now.
Accept NO EXCUSES for any reason.
BIG NOTE HERE:
A recruiter is NOT an employment or dispatch or temp agency who sends you out to different jobs and charges a portion of your salary as a fee. These are a different breed of animal and deserve their own place to be flamed.
Recruiter firms are a head-hunter who finds an employee for an employee and once that is done they are out of the picture.
ANY/EVERY decent recruiting firm is free for the employee.
And lastly....
Where YOU are FROM will limit your options for legal work abroad.
(eg: US citizens can't usually get legal work in western Europe.
You must be from an anglophone country to get a job in many parts of Asia.)
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spiral78

Joined: 05 Apr 2004 Posts: 11534 Location: On a Short Leash
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Posted: Mon Feb 28, 2011 12:28 am Post subject: |
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Second that. Recruiters and placement agencies in this field have a generally poor rep, and well-deserved.
This is simply NOT an easy job to step into - you'll need to plan to do your own research and make your own decisions. An ability to do this bodes well for one's ability to live comfortably enough in a foreign environment.
Don't overlook ths bit:
Where YOU are FROM will limit your options for legal work abroad.
(eg: US citizens can't usually get legal work in western Europe.
You must be from an anglophone country to get a job in many parts of Asia.)
Any recruiter or 'placement' programme that promises to get you into a place where people with the same passport as your can't legally go is definitely a scam. They're out there...
Choose a country or two where you can
1. work legally and
2. are interested in
and go from there. There are lots of regulars here on Dave's who have worked/are working in most countries you might be interested in. They can help you with the process. |
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naturegirl321

Joined: 04 May 2003 Posts: 9041 Location: home sweet home
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Posted: Mon Feb 28, 2011 12:49 am Post subject: |
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Just apply directly to schools. Recruiters don't really care about you. They care about the money they'll make off you. |
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lacolina
Joined: 22 Feb 2011 Posts: 5
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Posted: Mon Feb 28, 2011 1:24 am Post subject: |
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Yikes! Thanks for the warnings. I guess this is why I'm on the Newbie Forum.
Basically, I am looking for different programs like the JET Programme and the EPIK Program where they help you through the process of getting a visa, help you find housing or provide housing, and give you a job.
(I am from the US, by the way.) |
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