Job Discussion Forums

[sharter]

Good local salary=you might not have enough cash to eat.

Basic accommodation=it's a shithole.

Within walking distance of the school=forget us providing you with transport or an allowance.

Tax free salary=we don't care about where you are tax domicile; it's your problem mate.

In a region known as 'Little Switzerland' (this is often used by Language Link)=It's a coal mining region with sulphur dioxide meters on the streets.

Free Chinese lessons=we know you'll give up after a week.

The local beer is tasty and cheap=we want funny entertainers not teachers.

Free internet access=we've really got no good selling points you dumb newbie

[spiral78]

Not from recruiters, but from TEFL certification websites, on pages relating to working in Western Europe for non-EU citizens (paraphrased, though if anyone wants to see originals, I can take five minutes and find quite a few examples):

'Once certified, you simply need to obtain a work contract from an employer in the country of your choice and from there it's simple to apply for work visas.'

It's impossible to get a contract without a visa, of course.

'You are eligible to work on a tourist visa.'

NOT!!

[Sashadroogie]

Even worse, "You can work on a Business/Commercial Visa". It's worse because it's half true. You can work (for a foreign company that is sending you to the host country on a business trip) for up to three months legally...

[johnslat]

Dear Sasha,

And in Saudi, which has started bringing in teachers on so-called "business visas," even this isn't the case:

"You can work (for a foreign company that is sending you to the host country on a business trip) for up to three months legally..."

because NO foreign company is sending you to the host country. ANY work you do in the Kingdom on a "business visa" is illegal.

Regards,
John

[spiral78]

Actually, I wonder why it it so ubiquitous, from TEFL cert courses to dodgy schools, that people are urged/led into illegal status????

It's tough enough to be in a foreign country where one may not speak the local language well enough to negotiate if problems arise, without the huge added risk of being there and or working there illegally!!!!!



!!!!! Overemphasis because this particular issue seems very serious to me, and has come up over and over and over, with even some posters here urging others to go for illegal situations!!!!

[denise]

[sharter]

'We are an equal opportunities employer....please send a CV, copies of certificates and passport photo'.=We don't want fat, black, ugly or old people.

[basiltherat]

Flights paid = you get your money back- in local currency and at an inferior exchange rate - if you renew for a 2nd year

The best one and the one I like most is 'Paid Overtime' ..... which gives the impression you are obliged to do overtime. What's more, as though people should do overtime and NOT get paid for it ? Hilarious !


And must be ........

1. Flexible - willing to be exploited
2. Culturally sensitive = willing to leave his dignity in the arrival hall and collect it on the way home
3. Tolerant = willing to put up with beep working conditions

Has anyone ever actually filled in these application forms where you have to answer some ridiculous question like "Describe a time when you worked together with a colleague to solve a problem. Desribe what part you played in the process."

I mean, come on, who are these people who waste their time both writing these nonsensical questions and, frankly, who on earth should spend time reading the answers.

Where are the good ol' days when you applied for a job, went for an interview and, just a day or two later, heard whether you were successful or not.

And where did these '2nd and 3rd interview' and 'you have been short-listed' ideas come from ? Like these people get a real kick out of putting applicants on tenterhooks for a while. Ooooh, how exciting. These people would like to think TEFL is akin to some branch of nanotech.

Best,
Basil