Job Discussion Forums

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[clark.w.griswald]

TS I think that we are effectively arguing the same point, but as ususal you are taking things to a personal level.

[Ki]

Like many others here, my virgin Taiwan experience involved being burned by a recruiter. And although I would suggest that they are certainly not necessary I have to admit that they are not all evil. They are a business and as such are more concerned with puting as many teachers with as many schools as possible, often with little care for teachers' specific requests. Other recruiters merely seek to rip teachers off no matter what.

Some people, no matter what you tell them, will decide that they want to come here with a "job secured" from overseas. Sometimes people aren't even aware that they are dealing with a recruiter at all. It would be best to identify which recruiters are dishonest and which ones are merely businesses, hopefully acting with some code of business ethics.

Don't sign anything from overseas.

Never sign a contract with a recruiter.

[missmoosey]

I didn't get nearly as far into dealings with John dewey as others here have, but here's what happened to me.
I was hunting the internet looking for a job in Taiwan as I made a quick decision to leave my current job in China, and came across loads of adverts from JD. As I've never been to Taiwan, I thought it best to take my chances with a recruiter. I emailed them, sending my resume, scans of my degree and CELTA, and outlined all my experience. I didn't say which job I was interested in, just asked if they could find me something. From reading other posts here, I assumed they would be quick about getting back to me, if not just outright offer me a job. That didn't happen. What did happen is that they repeatedly asked for scans of everything I had already sent them. I patiently sent them all off again with a smiley email. A few days pass with no response, so I re-read all their job info, pick out three, and email them again with my preferences. A few days wait, then I'm asked again for scans of all my documents, and sent the list of schools again.
This continues for 2 weeks. Every two or three days I send my scans and school preferences again, then they reply with a 'thank you, but we need all your scans. And which job would you like to apply for?' At the same time I was applying for loads of other positions and thankfully got a telephone interview which resulted in me getting this fantastic job in Kaohsiung. I emailed JD to tell them to stop processing my application, and guess what their response was? 'Thank you. We need scans of your documents. And what school would you like to apply for?'
My findings? JD/Andrew either can't understand enough English to read my emails, their office is completely automated, or they are just completely useless. Go for the private adverts, avoid recruiters.

[Finn76]

yeh well,

I had a bit of a melt down last week when I had my school telling me they were going to take out 10,000NT from my next pay check for my ARC (which I have had for a few weeks now)... Then when I queried this, they got David from Dewey on the phone who also reiterated telling me "You are wrong, you must pay for your ARC - read the fine print in the contract"... so I got the school to actually GET out a copy of the contract as I didn't have it with me at the time and ... blow me down... I was correct. There in nice big black letters 'The school will pay for the ARC processing etc etc'.

My point being, David from Dewey was willing to get into a heated debate with me, supporting the school (who as usual were being incompetent or greedy - I haven't decided which yet) when no-one had bothered to actually READ the contract they had WRITTEN.

[clark.w.griswald]

As someone who has recommended this company in the past, I am certainly very interested by the negative feedback that is coming in, and it will be interesting to see what that company does to protect it's current good reputation. It seems clear that many of the problems stem from a single person in that company, but if that company chooses not to listen to the complaints that are being made and take action to rectify the problem then this will no doubt reflect badly upon their services and would certainly have a bearing upon my opinion of that company.

[teacha]

[Xenophobe]

I've always done my own paperwork and as far as I can remember the ARC only costs NT$ 1000. I've been in and out of Taiwan since 97 and a few times this fee was paid by my employer. I've paid anywhere from NT $ 700 - 1500 for my medical and the work permit is a cost that the employer must bear. They are not deducting NT $10 000 from your pay cheque, they are stealing NT$ 10 000 from you.

[Ki]

My last job quoted $13,000 for the arc if I didn't finished my contract. I thought that they may have included their own fees for labour used for the application process. (Which would still have been abnormally high anyway).

[renzobenzo1]

i was given the wrong address by these people today for an interview. It cost me 3 hours, 2 bus rides and a taxi. Unacceptable to mix addresses up when giving them to prospective teachers.