Job Discussion Forums

[sohniye]

[Sashadroogie]

Yikes!

Don't accept this. If they are this stingy now during the sweetness and light stage, expect worse to come when you are actually in Russia and they have you over a barrel.

Drop 'em, is my advice.

S

[Americanartistist]

I would do exactly what Sashadroogie recommends, it sounds like somebody at this school is getting a payback for every client that can give this courier company. I mean why pay to have something delivered that you can email to them, this is just stupid. Most schools I have been associated with in Moscow had me email everything, then when I showed up for the interview, provide original documents. There are alot of fly by night schools that operate like this, if you would give us the name of the school, it would be easier to see what is going on, but from what you say, it sounds like you are being setup big time. You pay to send copies that could be emailed and they tell you, sorry, we can not hire you and make money from the courier service as a kick back. If you were smart, you should tell them that you can email everything and provide originals with apostille seals when you arrive, if they are unwilling, tell them to take a hike.
JD

[sohniye]

[Sashadroogie]

Profit is the name of the only game in town. Classroom issues? Very few people in the admin will know about any of that, most likely.

Sorry Sohniye, but unless I am very much mistaken, you are being too soft with the school and they are pushing you around. Whatever about the exact procedures, the costs should be borne by the school. That's enough of a reason to drop them. Pushing you into their timescale, at your cost...?

Retreat.

[Sashadroogie]

...and when you are finally in Russia, you will learn that nothing, nothing is processed in a timely manner...

[Americanartistist]

all had outside forms of income besides teaching, like every single one of the Russian schools all ran a notary and translation service. I know many of the Mcschools also do translations services. I wish you had explained that you are going through an agency, that explains why you are having to send this info, every school I have ever worked for all wanted this info, more than willing to accept emailed copies, all I had to do was back everything up with real diploma and certificate once I started working. But still I do not understand why they insist on you spending your own money to use a certain carrier, to me that is a warning that something is not right. A school should not worry as long as they get what they need and to demand that you use this certain courier, well it si a first for me and I have been here for a long time, never heard of any school doing this. I agree whole heartly that you are being soft, once you give in like this, you will always be pushed around, take this class, take that class, be on call on your day off, I am willing to bet that if you said something, they would back off some. But its your choice, some of us on this forum have been here a long time and we know just how some Russians are, if you can be pushed, you really should not come here, Russia is not for a weak person and some have learned this the hard way. If you can stand up for yourself, then Russia can be a fantastic country. Just look at Russian history, Russians have always favored strong leaders, the stronger the better, just look at what happened to weak leaders here, it is the exact same thing in business here, each supervisor, director, anybody with authority thinks they have power and they will push you if they can. Just stand up and say this is not right and they usually back down, if they do not, well it is their loss, not yours, there are plenty of English teaching jobs here.
JD

[Sashadroogie]

Yes, that's right. Be strong! Be like a T-34 tank on the eve of Kursk!

Seriously, do not think that normal civility applies here or anywhere in your application process. Don't hold back on your questions. Ask them now, and be as blunt or direct as you need to be. Better to have the whole operation cancelled than to be lost thousands of miles in deepest Siberia only to find out that what you have been talked into is less than you were led to believe...

[Americanartistist]

There is nothing disrespectful about asking whether a school is doing right or wrong, it is often done on this forum. When I first came here, I asked whether or not this or that school had a good reputation. The reason I asked was because I might have connections with this school and if I did, I could find out what the deal is, or I may know somebody connected with the school. There is nothing disrespectful about finding out if a school has a good representation or not, or if the school is acting in accordance to standard practices. The story is slowing coming out, more than likely the school wants to verify the recruiter's statements of your qualifications because in order to be able to issue a letter of invitation this has to be verified and letters of invitation are not cheap around $250 per shot. But still as long as you can back up what you send as copies, that should be OK. I often had to send copies of things with apostille seals and still often do through email, its no big deal, because I am able to back it up.

However, you should never be afraid to ask about a school or name a school, that is the only way to find out things about the school either to the DOS or on a forum like here. You keep silent, you could find yourself is a serious situation. I can tell you some stories about some who rushed into accepting an ESL job. There are many good and honest schools here, but those with questionable practices outnumber the good at 4 to 1, maybe higher. Like I said, I have been here almost 10 years and have connections with quite a few schools, either personally of with contacts and I usually can find out what is going on easily since I teach every now and then at the Moscow Militia University, (I'm an ex-policeman).
JD

[sohniye]

[maruss]

Bearing in mind all the above postings and my own experiences in Russia,this whole thing seems suspect......you are going to work for them,not the other way round and you are virtually being forced to pay money up-front to use a specified courier firm before they have even definitely offered you a job????
Furthermore,being outside Moscow or St Petes. puts you in a vulnerable position in that there may be no other job options if the whole thing goes pear-shaped once you get there and you may not even get paid at all if you decide to quit soon after you start work.Ask yourself how much you know about Russia and conditions there and even more,what do you know about this firm before you decide to go?Have you tried speaking to any other expats who work for them or got any feedback from independent sources?
I don't want to sound over cautious but Russia is not like western countries and the rule of law and regulations are often applied arbitrarily there by those who have power over he ebstothers.
All the best.

[sohniye]