Job Discussion Forums

[ltroshinsky]

I am REALLY frustrated to the point of being really depressed and need some guidance/support etc.

I just turned down a job teaching English at Westhill Institute in Mexico City and don't know if I made the right decision.

The guy who hired me (while talking on the phone during our first really long conversation didn't get back to me with his final decision about which job was open until I hounded him down through email. Then, without an apology for not getting back to me, he just quickly told me which position was available like I was an afterthought (after he had seemed so interested and invested in me during our initial convesation). Then I asked him when he would send me the pre-contract and he said tomorrow, which turned into next week, which turned into me sending him dozens of emails after which he finally sent it.
Meanwhile, since they don't pay for airfare or housing, I had to find my own housing, which was impossible to do on a budget when I was coming down with pets.
So then, after he took over a month to send me the contract, started bugging me about when i was going to sign it. i told him not until i found a place to live for me and my pets. he said he would look for me, and didn't get back to me.
then he finally said i had to sign the contract NOW and he would find me a place before August. so i signed it cuz i felt pressured.
meanwhile, he wouldn't answer questions about just what international health insurance meant, how i was going to pay for food and bills until i got a mexican band account, and why my contract only said "middle school teacher" instead of "Middle school English teacher."
He also told me (after I asked) that the first paycheck wouldn't come until mid september when we start work on august 10. i asked if it would be every two weeks after that and he didn't reply.
At the last minute, this other teacher from the school got in touch with me, saying she had found an apt. that she would like to share with me that would allow pets, but that I needed to "Wire her ny share of the deposit NOW cuz the landlord wouldn't hold it for us otherwsie." i have never met this woman, the landlord, seen pictures of the apt., or seen a lease. now did the man at the school tell me she would contact me.

It didn't help that I would have to open up another credit card account to just get down there and get setteled.

comments? was I being too high maintenance? he accused me of being tentative about "every aspect of living outside the U.S." like I'm a wimp.


I feel I have no options to live abroad, since this went so horribly.

Lisa

[Guy Courchesne]

I think this highlights the difficulty in doing things from a distance. Westhill isn't the best place to work at to begin with but you're also running into the famous Mexican sense of time, butting up against yours.

You should have your questions answered, without a doubt, and if they aren't answered then you should feel free to walk away. That said, you're probably dealing with someone who doesn't understand just how quickly or concisely you want your questions answered.

It does sound like they were trying to help you on housing, more so than other schools would, particularly in dealing with pets.

I'm not surprised that a first paycheck comes in a month after you start. Some places only pay monthly to begin with but this sounds like a normal thing as they set up your paperwork, get your work visa processed, etc, etc. I've never heard of problems with Westhill getting paychecks out on time. One question you may have wanted to ask them - were they going to set up a bank account for you or was it your responsibility after your work visa is in? Either way is fine.

As for the deposit for the apartment, it is common to have to pay a security deposit as you sign a lease. The way I read it, you were concerned about sending money down before you arrive on an apartment you haven't seen, a legitimate worry. On the other side though, it sounds like there was another teacher in Mexico City who also needed to pay part of that deposit and didn't want to do it unless you committed, someone who hasn't seen you. Sounds like everyone needed to make a conference call and build some trust, or set out what was going on, get some pictures, talk about a plan and such.

Are you high maintenance? No, not at all. You were about to move to another country and there is a big checklist of things to do. Tackle them one at a time and you'll be fine if you try this again. The first month is always hectic.

[ltroshinsky]

I hadn't even seen a lease. Would it have been wise for me to wire money without anything but her word?
And don't you think that this guy not answering any of my questions would be problematic for me?
I feel like I missed out on an opportunity and it was my fault.
he got really mad at me for backing out of the deal.

[ltroshinsky]

also, not only did i not see the lease, she wanted the money a month before i would actually move in.

[Guy Courchesne]

No, I didn't say wire money...I suggested a conference call was a good idea. It's totally reasonable to ask to see the lease, some pictures, and get all the info you need beforehand. Then you wire the money if that is what you and the other teacher agree to.

My advice is these situations is always to plan on a hotel or hostel stay for about a week so you can see these places in person. On another thread you mentioned not wanting to board your pets (I think it was you, if not I apologize) for that period and I understand that but I really think it complicates things on housing. You've just experienced some of those difficulties.

Like I said, I think you should have all your questions answered and it's a red flag if you don't. Could it be he didn't have the answers? Could it be that the school is really busy now closing out the year and setting up the next that people are stressed? Are the being evasive? I don't have the answer for you. Did you ever have a phone call with them? Phone calls are often better for getting questions answered says I.

If he got really mad at you for backing out, then maybe you were right to back out. I'm sure it's just as frustrating on his end trying to work with you from a distance, but even you backing out shouldn't provoke anything less than a professional response.

[Guy Courchesne]

[ltroshinsky]

http://www.apestan.com/cases/westhill-institute-distrito-federal-mexico_45813.html

Check out this article. I found it on craigslist under the help wanted education section. i also found another ad saying "No to Westhill," that they promise compensation you don't get and steal teachers' money."

He was really angry because I back out, not stating all the reasons I was angry with him, just saying I couldn't risk running out of funds, and not knowing how I can access money without a bank account. i asked if he would consider me for jobs in the future and got mad and told me i put him out and said no.

when he wasn't replying to questions through email in the beginning i requested another phone conversation, which he didn't reply to.

[Guy Courchesne]

Well then it sounds like you were right to walk away.

[MotherF]

While I agree that it sounds like you were very wise to walk away, as someone who hires and helps new teachers arrive and get settled you were being a little high maintance too.

I think it is VERY unrealistic for a school to find you a place that will accept pets without you even being in the country. Is there anyone who can watch your pets from now until Christmas? You can find a place (con calma) after you arrive and go back for your pets at Christmas.

Apartments go fast, usually aren't even shown until they are ready for the tenent to move in, so the landlords don't really like to hold them. Who ever turns up with the deposit first gets it.

[ltroshinsky]

I wasn't really expecting the school to find me an apt. i just told them i felt tentative about signing the contract without a place to stay first.
if i felt i could trust the school more, I would have been more lenient on this point. But the school sounded so fishy, at least I wanted a secure place to live first. i never told them to find me a place. they offered.

More importantly, I wanted them to tell me the usual HR stuff, like payment, banking, answer my emails, etc.
Also, if it's such a rich school, why can't they put me up somewhere for a week or pay for my airfare?

If it was just me, I could of risked going, not have it turn ok, and that would be that. but i wanted to make sure my pets were safe.

I'm a bit turned off from Mexico now.

[ltroshinsky]

I didn't trust the guy. He was very rude not to get back to me in an appropriate amount of time and then be very demanding about me signing the paper. I felt like he thought i was dispensible before I got there.

[BadBeagleBad]

It�s a lot to have to do from a distance. But most schools are not that great at helping, and that doesn�t help. And to make the move with pets makes it harder. Did you mention that pets you have? I might possibly be willing to have your pets for a short time, I have an empty apartment that I am using as an office. Not with you, true, but they would have the run of the place, and I am right next door. And, of course, you could come and see them whenever you wanted. Something to consider. You probably need to get some of this stuff sorted out before you start looking for another job, or you are likely to run into the same problems again. I agree with the suggestions Guy made. And if you are wanting to come for this school year you are running out of time, so take that into consideration. If you have enough savings you might be better off just coming, many schools will be hiring and you could likely find a job a lot faster if you were on the ground. There really aren�t that many schools that hire from abroad. If you haven�t already, you might want to contact Global ERS, they will at least interview you from abroad, there is no fee to teachers, and no contact with Dave�s policy since they also advertise here. They are reputable and have access to some schools that don�t advertise elsewhere.

[sunrader]

Sorry you're frustrated, but you do seem a little unprepared for this, especially financially. Common wisdom is to go with some money to tide you over while you get settled, and, while some of your experience may have indicated a poor choice of employers, some of it was definitely to be expected, especially everything taking longer than you're used to. You don't say what your credentials are or anything, do you? But, unless you are really super qualified and super lucky, I wouldn't expect you to get anything with help on airfare and such in Mexico.

With the current situation you've described, you just have too many obstacles. Something's got to give. Get more money, get more time, get more freedom, something, so you can go to Mexico and get to know it and find a job. You can move afterwards. Good luck.

[doublethinker]

I don't think you made a bad decision. Westhill has a horrible reputation among those teaching in the colegio circuit.

I really can't stress how important it is to find a job in person here. (With the exception of the American School and maybe a couple others). I never would have found my job if I hadn't been able to show up to an interview the day after I emailed. Most of the teachers I know found decent jobs by being here in person. If I were you I'd save up money, then come down here around April - May next year to look.

[ltroshinsky]

I'm so glad you said you didn't think I made a wrong decision. I feel very depressed and stuck here in the states. Can you be more specific about why Westhill "has a horrible reputation?" For doing what?

I take full responsibility about not being more prepared, and I feel foolish about that. I needed more money to feel secure. I'm broke after spending a foolish amount on an operation for one of my pets.

Like I said, I also wanted to trust the employer more. Can you give more details about Westhill's reputation? Do they screw over their employees? The teachers I talked to that work there didn't say that, but those are the teachers he told to contact me.

I'm the kind of person who will work really hard and put myself out for an employer who I feel respects me.
This guy - Albert Wynder - is American. So you can't give him the "on Mexican time" excuse.

Thanks for all the support.

Lisa