|
Job Discussion Forums
"The Internet's Meeting Place for ESL/EFL Students and Teachers from Around the World!"
|
| View previous topic :: View next topic |
| Author |
Message |
WillTurnerinVanCity
Joined: 18 Feb 2011
Posts: 7
|
 Posted: Fri Mar 04, 2011 8:10 pm Post subject: |
 |
|
| Ikki wrote: |
Well, here's my tale of woe from last year.
Footprints(who already had my CV)contacted me & invited me to apply to NET via them. I was given the impression that Canadians HAD to go through Footprints in order to apply for NET(a dubious assertion, in retrospect). I was tickled pink, given NET's reputation as one of the best paying EFL gigs in E. Asia(albeit one with a rep for admin., etc., unpleasantries). So I had an interview with a Footprints rep. Fine. They asked for a swack of scanned docs. OK, fine.
A couple of weeks go by. Then, all of a sudden, I get an email that I need hard copies of all my docs sent to the powers that be in HK. When, I asked. "Yesterday!" Footprints said. My radar shoulda been beeping then. So I sent them by courier. Another week or so goes by. Then Footprints(I was feeling their footprints all over my downtrodden bod by this point)tells me I have to go to Vancouver(I live in mid-Western Canada)for an interview with actual officials from the HK Ed. Bureau. At this point I should've said you know what this popsicle stand but the Footprints guy said I was practically a "shoo in". I'm not one for snake oil, but I bought it this time! After I got the ad hoc last minute interview time/date, I booked a flight. THEN I get an email the next day telling me the time and date were changed!
What a difference from Japan's superb JET Programme's precise & organized application procedure!
So, I go to the interview. I go through the most illogically grueling, rude and pointless interview of my EFL career. No "warm and fuzzies" coming outta that! Not even a 'thank you' for the shy** I went through to grace them with my presence.
Wait three weeks! Get a frigging FORM letter(from Footprints!)saying I don't get a contract...no explanation, no apology...no respect(unlike JET applicants who are unsuccessful).
Why in the hell did the HK powers that be use a recruiter when the final decisions were up to them? In other words,(insert Basil Fawlty voice) "What is the bloody point?".
In all, I got screwed out of 500 bucks for... snake oil.
Applicants(at least Canuck ones), learn from my experience. |
Hello Ikki,
I'd like to apologize to you, on behalf of Footprints. The service that you received from us last year is not in keeping with our expectations for our staff.
As an organization, it was our responsibility for not recognizing the type of pressure the lead for this project was under, or for not fully understanding that he lacked the necessary resources to handle that particular project to our expectations. We did not realize that the effort and energy that were put forth in some aspects of the job also meant that corners were being cut when it came to customer service.
As for the in-person interview process in Vancouver and Toronto, that is a requirement of NETs, and beyond our control. We had many applicants coming to Vancouver at their own expense, but there really isn't much that we can do about that, as it is NET�s call to make. This year, we have been doing our best to make sure that the applicants are more educated about the process, and have more realistic expectations.
The rescheduling of your interview was a result of a last minute change in the travel itinerary of the NET officials, and was beyond each party's control. If I may add, the Placement Coordinator that I mentioned above - this is where we saw him killing himself for the teachers. He put in a tremendous amount of work over that week, both facilitating this process, responding to the extremely last minute changes in the schedule for applicants, many of whom were traveling great distances to interview. Does this excuse form letters to you, or poor communication in general? Certainly not, and we should have been monitoring this more closely in order to ensure that he was providing all applicants with better information throughout this process.
The interviews were particularly grueling, I will admit. We were also taken aback by the number of well qualified applicants that were not selected to move forward. To my knowledge, we were not informed of factors that lead to the decisions of the NET officials, but, again, that is up to them. To my knowledge, we were simply given a list of those that would be moving forward, and those that would not, and we were not in a position to provide further detail.
To conclude, though it appears that a lot of your frustration is targeted at the NET process itself (the requirement to interview in person in Vancouver, at your own expense, the last minute rescheduling of your interview, the tough interview itself, the lack of feedback, etc.). Please understand that NET, as the employing organization, operates this part of the process at their own discretion, and it is our role to facilitate. However, I would still like to apologize for the form letter that you received from us, and any other deficiencies in our service. Building upon our experience from last year, we have taken steps to ensure that this is not repeated, and thankfully, this year is running along smoothly.
If you have any additional questions, please feel free to contact me at [email protected].
-Will at Footprints |
|
| Back to top |
|
 |
ozman
Joined: 12 Jun 2004
Posts: 133
Location: HONG KONG
|
| Posted: Sat Mar 05, 2011 8:34 pm Post subject: |
|
|
I've been a NET in Hong Kong since 2001. I don't know anything about Footprints but it appears that Footprints doesn't know anything either about the NET scheme. Maybe Footprints should find out who exactly the "organization" is. Maybe Footprints should find out who pays them their commission for finding suitable teachers.
QUOTE:
Please understand that NET, as the employing organization.......
The organization who recruit overseas teachers is the EDB - The Education Bureau of HOng Kong, which is a government department.
Native English teachers who work in schools in Hong Kong are called "NETS".
The scheme is called "the NET Scheme."
It makes no sense to post something which says:-
We had many applicants coming to Vancouver at their own expense, but there really isn't much that we can do about that, as it is NET�s call to make
Hello? The "NETS" are the native English Teachers who work in Hong Kong. The officials from the EDB are not NETS themselves, they are government bureaucrats.
My advice would be to apply direct to the EDB. Just go onto their website and find out the information about the scheme and download the application forms. The EDB interview in many overseas locations and they will let you know when this will be if you are not actually in Hong Kong. Why would you want to go through a recruiter who knows nothing about the scheme, nor anything about who hires prospective NETS?
One thing Footprints did get right - the interview process can be gruelling. Maybe this Footprints mob should assist applicants by helping them to prepare for the interview, but if they don't know who's recruiting or anything about the job, how would they do this? They sound like a bunch of amateurs.
Also if you do pass the interview, you will not be employed directly by the EDB. The EDB only screen and approve applicants. You will need to wait until you are assigned a school and your employer will be the school, not the EDB.
ANYONE can apply direct to the EDB. And it might also be better to apply direct as the EDB will screen your application thoroughly before agreeing to interview you. At least then you won't have wasted money flying to Vancouver or some other place because some "recruiter" put your CV forward. Good luck and give this Footprints mob the flick. They sound like a bunch of cowboys out to make a quick buck. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
WillTurnerinVanCity
Joined: 18 Feb 2011
Posts: 7
|
| Posted: Sun Mar 06, 2011 1:49 am Post subject: |
|
|
| ozman wrote: |
I've been a NET in Hong Kong since 2001. I don't know anything about Footprints but it appears that Footprints doesn't know anything either about the NET scheme. Maybe Footprints should find out who exactly the "organization" is. Maybe Footprints should find out who pays them their commission for finding suitable teachers.
QUOTE:
Please understand that NET, as the employing organization.......
The organization who recruit overseas teachers is the EDB - The Education Bureau of HOng Kong, which is a government department.
Native English teachers who work in schools in Hong Kong are called "NETS".
The scheme is called "the NET Scheme."
It makes no sense to post something which says:-
We had many applicants coming to Vancouver at their own expense, but there really isn't much that we can do about that, as it is NET�s call to make
Hello? The "NETS" are the native English Teachers who work in Hong Kong. The officials from the EDB are not NETS themselves, they are government bureaucrats.
My advice would be to apply direct to the EDB. Just go onto their website and find out the information about the scheme and download the application forms. The EDB interview in many overseas locations and they will let you know when this will be if you are not actually in Hong Kong. Why would you want to go through a recruiter who knows nothing about the scheme, nor anything about who hires prospective NETS?
One thing Footprints did get right - the interview process can be gruelling. Maybe this Footprints mob should assist applicants by helping them to prepare for the interview, but if they don't know who's recruiting or anything about the job, how would they do this? They sound like a bunch of amateurs.
Also if you do pass the interview, you will not be employed directly by the EDB. The EDB only screen and approve applicants. You will need to wait until you are assigned a school and your employer will be the school, not the EDB.
ANYONE can apply direct to the EDB. And it might also be better to apply direct as the EDB will screen your application thoroughly before agreeing to interview you. At least then you won't have wasted money flying to Vancouver or some other place because some "recruiter" put your CV forward. Good luck and give this Footprints mob the flick. They sound like a bunch of cowboys out to make a quick buck. |
Sorry - we just call it "NET" around the office. You are quite right. What I was trying to say is:
"We had many applicants coming to Vancouver at their own expense, but there really isn't much that we can do about that, as it is NET Scheme�s call to make."
With respect to the interviews. This year is the second time we have worked with the NET Scheme, and now that we know that their interviews can be so tough, we have taken steps to better prepare the applicants. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Serious_Fun
Joined: 28 Jun 2005
Posts: 1171
Location: terra incognita
|
| Posted: Sun Mar 06, 2011 11:27 am Post subject: |
|
|
| WillTurnerinVanCity wrote: |
| Sorry - we just call it "NET" around the office. |
oh Will, Will, Will: you are a joker. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
WillTurnerinVanCity
Joined: 18 Feb 2011
Posts: 7
|
| Posted: Sun Mar 06, 2011 3:41 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| Serious_Fun wrote: |
| WillTurnerinVanCity wrote: |
| Sorry - we just call it "NET" around the office. |
oh Will, Will, Will: you are a joker. |
You have to keep a sense of humour on Dave's, no?
Anyway, I wasn't trying to go into the ins and out of the NET Scheme's process, I just wanted to let Ikki know that we are aware of the shortcomings of last year.
We don't control the policies of the NET Scheme, and they get to decide how they would like the process to play out - interviews, timelines, schedules, etc.
Footprints does, however, control how we interact and how we treat the teachers. Ikki was not treated in the way that we expect members of our team to treat our teachers, and for that, Ikki is owed an apology.
-Will |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Ikki
Joined: 31 Jan 2011
Posts: 58
|
| Posted: Thu Mar 10, 2011 8:36 am Post subject: |
|
|
ozman: I met a chap in my hometown a few months ago who had once applied for NET. He applied to the EDB directly and got invited to an interview. He had to go to Vancouver as well...that's the closest locale for an interview in this part of Canuckistan. He didn't make it either.
Will: First, kudos for responding to this thread(though I'm not surprised-I know you've responded in the past on the Korean Forums...I know you have a vested interest in putting forward Footprints' point of view)and for showing more than a modicum of contrition. Certainly, I wouldn't wish the convoluted and ad hoc application procedure I went through on no one. I'm still, even now, still in the dark as to why HK NET bothers with a recruiter anyway. The process was, as you admit, rife with a lack of planning. Nothing was mentioned about any need to send hard copies of docs to HK, until the email that told me I had to do so immediately. 50 bucks goodbye right there for courier fees. The caketaker was the hitherto unannounced interview with HK EDB functionaries(people that I suspect are less fun to be with than any other crew on the face of the earth-but I digress). I got barely 3 days notice to be in Vancouver(I live in West central Canada)for the Inquisition. I moved heaven and earth to get a flight...but so long 400 bucks. THEN I get an email the next day telling me the date & time of the interview has been changed! Again, I pulled out all the stops and got the flight changed...for a surcharge. Bye bye another 50 bucks.
What a total lack of human decency and professionalism! What a contrast with JET, where one receives a month's notice of the interview details(not to mention the fact it's clear from the outset that successful applicants of the first stage must attend an in-person interview). The date, time and venue are carved in stone & NOT subject to change.
At this point I was ready to throw in the towel. The coordinator of the project, CL, more or less convinced me not to do so, as I was practically guaranteed a contract offer(I'm paraphrasing). Well, we know how that turned out.
CL might very well be, as you claimed, to be hard working, sincere and a bit "over his head." I don't have any real reason to doubt that. But at the end of the day, that's not my problem.
MY problem was to be misled(not necessarily with malice)into going through the whole rigmarole for nothing. Look: I'm not God's gift to EFL teaching in public schools...never have been, never will be. But with a BA, BEd, a TEFL Cert. and nine yrs. of EFL experience in E. Asia(including 6 in PS), I'm certainly left wondering a) what members of the League of EFL Super Heroes beat me out in the pursuit of a contract and b)why, at the very least, I wasn't accorded the courtesy of personal letters from Footprints and HK EDB following the end of the recruitment process.
I know Footprints has a reputation as a major recruiter for Canucks teaching abroad-and maybe for good reason. Some yrs. ago, a friend of mine got a PS gig in S. Korea and generally spoke in positive tones about Footprints. Mind you, that was before the Korean visa & application requirements entered the realm of Kafkaesque absurdity-but that's another topic, isn't it?
So, Will, as much as I give you the thumbs up for your posts, 2 points come to mind.
a) your post is reactive rather than proactive. Footprints could've addressed this situation publically long ago
b)there's the matter, as crass & petty it may seem to some(and I truly don't care),of the $500. I almost filed a Small Claims Court suit before I found out(ahh..the Canadian "justice" system)I would have to submit a 50 buck registration fee, fill out reams of paperwork and go through barriers of bureaucracy. With the advice of friends & the local legal education association, I decided it just wasn't worth it.
Dear Dave's readers, I'll leave it at that.... |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
WillTurnerinVanCity
Joined: 18 Feb 2011
Posts: 7
|
| Posted: Thu Mar 10, 2011 8:09 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| Ikki wrote: |
ozman: I met a chap in my hometown a few months ago who had once applied for NET. He applied to the EDB directly and got invited to an interview. He had to go to Vancouver as well...that's the closest locale for an interview in this part of Canuckistan. He didn't make it either.
Will: First, kudos for responding to this thread(though I'm not surprised-I know you've responded in the past on the Korean Forums...I know you have a vested interest in putting forward Footprints' point of view)and for showing more than a modicum of contrition. Certainly, I wouldn't wish the convoluted and ad hoc application procedure I went through on no one. I'm still, even now, still in the dark as to why HK NET bothers with a recruiter anyway. The process was, as you admit, rife with a lack of planning. Nothing was mentioned about any need to send hard copies of docs to HK, until the email that told me I had to do so immediately. 50 bucks goodbye right there for courier fees. The caketaker was the hitherto unannounced interview with HK EDB functionaries(people that I suspect are less fun to be with than any other crew on the face of the earth-but I digress). I got barely 3 days notice to be in Vancouver(I live in West central Canada)for the Inquisition. I moved heaven and earth to get a flight...but so long 400 bucks. THEN I get an email the next day telling me the date & time of the interview has been changed! Again, I pulled out all the stops and got the flight changed...for a surcharge. Bye bye another 50 bucks.
What a total lack of human decency and professionalism! What a contrast with JET, where one receives a month's notice of the interview details(not to mention the fact it's clear from the outset that successful applicants of the first stage must attend an in-person interview). The date, time and venue are carved in stone & NOT subject to change.
At this point I was ready to throw in the towel. The coordinator of the project, CL, more or less convinced me not to do so, as I was practically guaranteed a contract offer(I'm paraphrasing). Well, we know how that turned out.
CL might very well be, as you claimed, to be hard working, sincere and a bit "over his head." I don't have any real reason to doubt that. But at the end of the day, that's not my problem.
MY problem was to be misled(not necessarily with malice)into going through the whole rigmarole for nothing. Look: I'm not God's gift to EFL teaching in public schools...never have been, never will be. But with a BA, BEd, a TEFL Cert. and nine yrs. of EFL experience in E. Asia(including 6 in PS), I'm certainly left wondering a) what members of the League of EFL Super Heroes beat me out in the pursuit of a contract and b)why, at the very least, I wasn't accorded the courtesy of personal letters from Footprints and HK EDB following the end of the recruitment process.
I know Footprints has a reputation as a major recruiter for Canucks teaching abroad-and maybe for good reason. Some yrs. ago, a friend of mine got a PS gig in S. Korea and generally spoke in positive tones about Footprints. Mind you, that was before the Korean visa & application requirements entered the realm of Kafkaesque absurdity-but that's another topic, isn't it?
So, Will, as much as I give you the thumbs up for your posts, 2 points come to mind.
a) your post is reactive rather than proactive. Footprints could've addressed this situation publically long ago
b)there's the matter, as crass & petty it may seem to some(and I truly don't care),of the $500. I almost filed a Small Claims Court suit before I found out(ahh..the Canadian "justice" system)I would have to submit a 50 buck registration fee, fill out reams of paperwork and go through barriers of bureaucracy. With the advice of friends & the local legal education association, I decided it just wasn't worth it.
Dear Dave's readers, I'll leave it at that.... |
Hello Ikki,
I appreciate your perspective.
The EDB is the employer, and they contract various recruiters to facilitate. They set the requirements in terms of the entire process, and we have to work to accommodate that. You were apprised of the requirement to attend the interviews in Vancouver, and you were aware that this would be done at your own expense.
However, the EDB, as the employer, reserves the rights to make hiring decisions, and they also have the right to adjust the process or the schedule as they see fit. They had a last minute change in their travel itinerary, and as a result, there had to be a last minute adjustment to the previously scheduled interviews.
It is unfortunate your ticket-type did not easily adapt to any last minute changes with the EDB�s schedule.
As you have pointed out, you are a well qualified individual. I can understand CL's confidence in you, and why he would have encouraged you to submit your documentation to the EDB. Based upon the submission of your documents demonstrating your qualifications and experience, the EDB saw fit to invite you to move forward to the in-person interview step in the process. I can certainly understand why you would have felt that attending the interviews at your own expense would have been worth the risk.
This was the same process for every applicant, and, respectfully, I don�t get the feeling that you were being misled.
That you were not selected to move forward after your in-person interview was a decision that the EDB made. While frustrating, the EDB has every right to make this choice.
I will apologize, again, for the impersonal notification that you received from CL and from Footprints by extension. Please understand that since CL was not privy to the reasoning behind the EDB�s decision after your interview, there would have been very little personal information for him to convey. This was not meant as a personal slight, and we�ve taken measures to ensure that we are more sensitive to the situations of the applicants.
-Will at Footprints |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Ikki
Joined: 31 Jan 2011
Posts: 58
|
| Posted: Fri Mar 11, 2011 8:31 am Post subject: |
|
|
Sure, Will, EDB has the "right" to adjust schedules(to suit its fancy), run the process on an ad hoc basis, etc. OTOH, applicants like myself have the "right" to state that such nonsense is arrogant, inconsiderate and unprofessional. I know who pays the piper calls the tune but I think if Footprints is working WITH EDB as well as working FOR them, I think it behooves the company to say, in the best face-saving manner possible, "hey, this is just not on."
Again, JET shows the way of how it's done right. Twice I attended JET interviews(rejected first time, accepted second time)and after neither time did I feel less of a human being after leaving the interview. I'm not sure I could say the same after leaving the NET interview and I'm an EFL battle-hardened, thick-skinned old b***ard. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
WillTurnerinVanCity
Joined: 18 Feb 2011
Posts: 7
|
| Posted: Fri Mar 11, 2011 7:27 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| Ikki wrote: |
Sure, Will, EDB has the "right" to adjust schedules(to suit its fancy), run the process on an ad hoc basis, etc. OTOH, applicants like myself have the "right" to state that such nonsense is arrogant, inconsiderate and unprofessional. I know who pays the piper calls the tune but I think if Footprints is working WITH EDB as well as working FOR them, I think it behooves the company to say, in the best face-saving manner possible, "hey, this is just not on."
Again, JET shows the way of how it's done right. Twice I attended JET interviews(rejected first time, accepted second time)and after neither time did I feel less of a human being after leaving the interview. I'm not sure I could say the same after leaving the NET interview and I'm an EFL battle-hardened, thick-skinned old b***ard. |
Expression of your opinions is absolutely your right, and I respect that.
However, there are a lot of people out there who may not recognize that you are airing your own opinions about the EDB process, and the frustration of not being selected for the pool of candidates for this job. They may misinterpret your opinions as being something more than an expression of your own perspective.
My goal, other than to admit and address our own shortcomings in the notice sent to you, was to express an additional point of view, and to provide additional details that pertain to what you have brought up in this thread. Hopefully, the readers are able to use both of our perspectives in order to make up own minds regarding the EDB, and opportunities in Hong Kong, and whether these are options that they would like to pursue. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Ikki
Joined: 31 Jan 2011
Posts: 58
|
| Posted: Mon Mar 14, 2011 1:13 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Will: * sigh*, yes, you've admitted the shortcomings in last year's procedure and I've given you the thumbs up for that. But I hope you're not trying to say I'm "bitter & twisted" simply because I wasn't selected. That's letting Footprints & EDB off the hook way too easily. Good grief, I've had applications rejected before-EFL & non-EFL.
My beef is with the procedure. I know Footprints has recently made it clear that NET applicants must also interview with functionaries from EDB-in Vancouver, Toronto...wherever. Fine. But there is still no provision for a definite timeline where once an interview is scheduled, THAT'S IT. NO CHANGES. And why can't an applicant get several weeks notice of this in advance, a la JET? A chance to do research & figure out how to get there "on the cheap". No justifiable reason.
Many years ago(more than I'd care to admit)I went through the JET application procedure. A royal pain in the a**? You bet. But everything was up front, detailed, organized, and subject to a definite, unchanging timeline. A MONTH'S notice about the interview details. My first go around, I wasn't accepted. Disappointed? You bet. But I never had anything but respect & gratitude for the way I was treated thoughout the whole shebang.
Will...THAT'S my point...and let's leave it at that. I had put the whole NET debacle behind me until I came across this thread...not started by me, after all.
Cheers, Ikki |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Yorky
Joined: 04 Jul 2009
Posts: 19
|
| Posted: Wed Mar 16, 2011 6:09 am Post subject: |
|
|
Those hoping to come to Hong Kong on the EDB Enhanced NET Scheme may find the interviewing process difficult, but I can assure you it can be dreamland compared to what some NETS find when they get into a Hong Kong school.
Footprints credibility comes into question when they continue to act as recruiters for the EDB without addressing the difficulties NETS face in reality. Footprints may consider that once a NET is recruited and they have received their recruitment payment (this used to be HK$8000 per NET several years ago) that their job is finished. A professional recruiting company would take the time to do some follow up to see that at least the advertised conditions of employment were being met. Unfortunately in many schools they are not. Daily hours of work and number of contact hours can vary widely. In some cases there are delays of up to a year before the NET has started receiving the Special Allowance. Length of holidays can also vary widely, some schools giving their NETs as much as 50% less than others. Long delays in reimbursement of travel claims and moving expenses. Qualifications can be reassessed at a later date and salary scale summarily lowered with automatic deductions debited for 'overpayments'. One of the latest shocking events was a NET who was told, without warning that her signed contract was being declared null and void by the school, and that she could only stay on by accepting a new contract without the Special Allowance. She was not able to get any support from the EDB in that situation as they claimed it was solely the school's problem. You could of course be lucky and hit a good school.
I just hope that when you are recruited by Footprints they let you know both sides of the scheme. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Ikki
Joined: 31 Jan 2011
Posts: 58
|
| Posted: Wed Mar 16, 2011 8:42 am Post subject: |
|
|
Yorky: Of course, you've nailed it on the head- perhaps the main beef about recruiters in general. You sign the contract, the company gets paid and it is DONE with you.
I am surprised about the variance in conditions/pay among the schools under the NET scheme. I was under the impression that it was standardized like JET(where every participant from Hokkaido to Okinawa has virtually the same contract). The only real variable on JET is the type of school you get posted to. Moreover, JET has a set-out chain of command to follow if a dispute arises and can't be resolved at the most immediate level. I thought it was the excellent pay & conditions on the NET scheme that motivated the NTs to stay and put up with the considerable BS from their schools and/or EDB. Or so I had heard. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Yorky
Joined: 04 Jul 2009
Posts: 19
|
| Posted: Wed Mar 16, 2011 2:23 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| All NETS on the NET Scheme have the same contract which is designed by the EDB, but the contract is with the school, not the EDB. The EDB issues 'guidelines' for schools which they can follow or ignore at their pleasure. All contracts must include a clause that simply says, that the NET must do anything that the school decides. The deployment of NETS in schools across Hong Kong varies from one school to another. The biggest problem about coming to Hong Kong on the NET Scheme is how to get a 'good' school. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Perilla
Joined: 09 Jul 2010
Posts: 792
Location: Hong Kong
|
| Posted: Thu Mar 17, 2011 4:15 am Post subject: |
|
|
| Yorky wrote: |
| The biggest problem about coming to Hong Kong on the NET Scheme is how to get a 'good' school. |
Indeed. Initially it is basically a lottery - all you can do is hope you get lucky. Then, if you land at a lousy school, transfer asap - most likely at the end of your first two-year contract.
I agree with the general idea of recruiting agencies following up to see how recruits are getting on, but to expect them to have any influence on the ground in HK is ludicrous, unfortunately. The school principal rules the roost. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
ozman
Joined: 12 Jun 2004
Posts: 133
Location: HONG KONG
|
| Posted: Wed Mar 23, 2011 11:28 am Post subject: |
|
|
All that Yorky says is correct. If recruited, your employer is the school. This is the lottery. I've been in HK 8 years and completed 4 contracts at 4 different schools - still searching for a school who might treat me with human decency and respect me as a person rather than a commodity. Yes we are here for the money, but at what cost? Schools, as Yorky says, can direct you to do anything; work any hours; come in weekends; and your pay can be reviewed and you may not receive the special allowance. I could add a whole lot more.
A good point has been made regarding recruiters. A professional recruiter would find out about the job and conditions and make sure potential NETS were fully informed and pre-warned. Footprints need to make themselves familiar with the NET scheme and how the EDB works and the role of autocratic principals rather than just collecting their commission and and sending potential NETS off to god knows what. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
|
|
You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum
|
This page is maintained by the one and only Dave Sperling.
Contact Dave's ESL Cafe
Copyright © 2018 Dave Sperling. All Rights Reserved.
Powered by phpBB © 2001, 2002 phpBB Group
|
FAQ
Search
Memberlist
Usergroups
Register
Profile
Log in to check your private messages
Log in
