Job Discussion Forums

danjaker · Joined: 19 Jun 2011 Posts: 31

Has anyone ever went through the company ChinaESL? Their website is www.chinaesl.com.cn They offer placement, housing, help with visa, one year contract..... I have gotten a contract with them before but was unable to get to the embassy at the time...

wesharris · Joined: 26 Oct 2008 Posts: 177

Typically a recruiter finds you an employer for free; this is pretty much standard across the board. I'm not paying to have a job found for me, the school is typically paying to have a teacher found for them. I'm not sure if I'd want a home-stay, that doesn't rank highly in my book. They're promoting themselves as doing things that most recruiters SHOULD do, i.e. find a teacher a school that pays on time, provides an apartment, and honors the contract. I'd say this is a minimum to accept in China.

Miles Smiles · Joined: 07 Jun 2010 Posts: 1294 Location: Heebee Jeebee

The terms of the contract are set forth by the school (by the time you get the contract). The recruiter doesn't even figure into the contract. Your contract is with the school.

There are stickies on how the visa process works. The recruiter can't "help" you get the visa. The school applies for a letter of invitation from mthe ministry of education (or perhaps another provincial body). That, in turn is sent to you. You then send the L of I to your local consulate along with your passport (and possibly other paperwork such as a physical examination certificate-- this varies) with the required payment. Unless the recruiter will reimburse you for the visa, he can't be of any real help. The recruiter isn't even involved in the process.

Good god. A home stay?! you won't want to live with a family. Find another recruiter.

danjaker · Joined: 19 Jun 2011 Posts: 31

Mmk, mmk... yea I wouldn't stay in a homestay, they do offer apartment's. I have the contract, I wish someone could look it over so I could get a second opinion on it, it's not too long, quite short?

hewlett77 · Joined: 17 Dec 2009 Posts: 95 Location: all over China

Stay away from them (chinaesl) they are sharks. I'm in New Zealand just come back from Beijing having nearly taken then to court.
They operate from a private address, and their contracts are not legal. I know that for a fact as when I threaten them with court action they did not want my hands on my copy of their contract. In the police station they refused to return my passport unless I handed them back my copy of the contract.

danjaker · Joined: 19 Jun 2011 Posts: 31

Really, wow, well I have also received feedback and other offers, its just that chinaesl sounded the best i suppose. If thats the case, it wont hurt to go with someone else....

danjaker · Joined: 19 Jun 2011 Posts: 31

By the way, why did you have a falling out with them???

7969 · Joined: 26 Mar 2003 Posts: 5782 Location: Coastal Guangdong

Take hewlett77's post with a grain of salt. He doesn't have a degree and admittedly worked illegally on L and F visas for whatever companies he worked for in various parts of China (see below links). Once you do that you can be taken advantage of very easily and some employers will do just that. Chinaesl may be shady or they may not be. Do your research up front, get the proper documentation to work in the country legally and you can eliminate or at least minimize your problems. By showing up to work illegally you open the door to exploitation.

no work in shenzhen, maybe time to pack it in

worrying like hell.

Going to court tommrow to get my passport back

danjaker · Joined: 19 Jun 2011 Posts: 31

Hmmm, well I wouldnt hand over my passport, lol. I have to make sure im always available to travel to Colombia, I have a 4 year old there. But, ChinaESL in the past had sent me the contract and then sent a photocopy of their license and whatnot so I could obtain the work visa from the embassy..... So from this I gather that it is ok. I do not have a degree myself, I am currently earning my Bachelors online, and I have some experience teaching in South America but thats all, it seems to be ok with them, I just dont get paid as much as other areas and salries they offer, which is fine. At the time I couldnt go, but I contacted them again. As of now I have the contract they sent me, it seems ok, but thats about all, "seems" ok...

danjaker · Joined: 19 Jun 2011 Posts: 31

Yea, I can see that that hewlett was not exactly prepared for what he was getting into.

The Great Wall of Whiner · Joined: 29 Jan 2003 Posts: 4946 Location: Blabbing

The Great Wall of Whiner · Joined: 29 Jan 2003 Posts: 4946 Location: Blabbing

7969 · Joined: 26 Mar 2003 Posts: 5782 Location: Coastal Guangdong

hewlett77 · Joined: 17 Dec 2009 Posts: 95 Location: all over China

I'm heading back to China soon with 3 offers of employment there, but here in auckland only working on a casaul basis as an ESl Teacher. I will say this again, don't sign any contracts with Chinaesl. Any of you other guys want to still judge me go ahead. I have eggs in the fridge if you need them. Smile

danjaker · Joined: 19 Jun 2011 Posts: 31

Well who do you suggest going through then, you say not to go through chinaesl, but yet again you talk about handing your passport over, not having the correct visa, and moving into someplace before you have work. Now from that i can see problems, but thats not blame on chinaesl, you still havent said what they did...