Job Discussion Forums

[Scottydawg]

This is a recruiting company with an outlet in New Brunswick, recruiting Canadian teachers for Poland (I'm American). After posting a notice on here that I wanted a post in Poznan or nearby in western Poland, they sent me a copy of their ad that was posted on another site. When I responded to this, I was promptly replied to, and they asked for a resume~~also told me they had six positions in Poznan.

Okay, at this point, I've sent my credentials to their Lubin office, and they should be there today. Once the Canadian recruiter saw my resume, he has since spoken to me as if I was already on board. I think once they get my credentials, they will offer me a contract. Mike, the recruiter told me that they buy up contracts from schools, and that Millennium pays the salary which is a straight 30PLN per hour paid in equal installments each month (3000 for 100 hours for the positions in Poznan). In June, the pay and hours are equalized. If you are under the 100 hours per month for the year, you work that many hours before the final month's pay begins to accrue; If you've worked extra hours during the year, it is added to your final pay.

They arrange an apartment to match the money you want to pay. They only charge you up front $200 for the processing in Poland which they pay back 100PLN per month, plus train fare from Warsaw, if applicable, and you take care of the visa fee at home. I don't know yet about vacation pay. He also assured me that income for foreigners in Poland was still tax free for the first two years.

My question is, does anybody know anything about this company. Until they contacted me, I had not yet run across them on any sites. Also, does anything about the terms I mentioned sound fishy to any veterans? It all seems reasonable to me. I know the pay is not the highest, but also not the lowest, and they put in the contract that you have the right to arrange private students, and I've heard that the going rate in Poznan is 60/hr and up.

I'd appreciate any light that can be thrown on this. Thanks very much.

[Alex Shulgin]

" They only charge you up front $200 for the processing in Poland which they pay back 100PLN per month, plus train fare from Warsaw, if applicable, and you take care of the visa fee at home."

Never give people money up front for anything. I don't know what they mean by processing. They might mean the work permit but I have never, in 8 years in Poland, heard of anybody being charged for their work permit.

Come to think of it I have never heard an organisation which buys up contracts from schools and then pay you themselves. Poles tend to love to cut out the middle man whenever possible!

Income for foreigners in Poland is not tax free for the first two years! Once it was for certain nationalities but no longer.

I don't think I'd want to work for the outfit you describe. There are plenty of other jobs in Poland.

[Scottydawg]

Thanks for your response, Alex. Yes, the fee is for the work permit, and they do say they will pay it back in 8 installments at 100PLN per month added on to the paycheck. Other than that, and transportation to your site from Warsaw, they are not asking for money. This is in contrast to the nonprofit Eastern European Project that did exist here in the US which I've seen on this board charged a $1000 fee to place you.

From what I've read here, it sounds like being paid by the recruiter is no less risky than dealing directly with a privately run school. The tax thing does worry me since I would expect them to have the correct information on that.

It has been very difficult for me to find a job. At this time, a lot of schools don't want to fool with visas for teachers outside the EU. Also, I suspect my age is a problem (52). I sent out resumes to every school within 200km of Poznan~~both for advertised vacancies and every school I could find that exists in the area (about 100). Only about 20% even responded to me. Only 4 or 5 said they would consider me. Several schools I sent resumes in response to ads never responded to me, and yet I kept seeing them repost their ads for vacancies.

I do want to be cautious, but I am pretty much down to my final option. I have asked my friend in Poland to attempt to contact Millennium's Lubin office by phone and see how much she can find out.

Any further thoughts you or others have on this are welcome. Thanks again!

[misteradventure]

It doesn't sound good here either. I'm a brand-spanking new teacher (I fly tomorrow) but I just got my visa today (I'm an American National too).

I had to pay for my own visa (it was a rush job- the only reason there was a fee in the first place!) Otherwise, they charged no fee. See:

http://polishconsulatechicago.org

I think the recruiter is shaving a fair percentage from your salary- you are a subcontractor in the scheme you describe if my guess is right. The school has to pay for your promissory work permit- not you. I suspect that you are being charged and the school is being charged as well. Double-billing is illegal in the US; I suspect there too.

Poland isn't in the EU yet, either. I think someone is telling you stories.

Never having seen your resume, my guess is that you are emphasizing the wrong things. I got an offer only after I wrote a lengthy personal cover letter explaining what I wanted to do and why.

I think I got turned down not because of MY age, but because the young Directors of Studies (past teachers aged 24-30) were intimidated by having a teacher who was older and who had more real-world experience. If you flat out say you want to have a fun job and meet neat people, are you a threat to their jobs?

Have you considered getting a certification? I was going to do the IH CELTA course in Wroclaw until I got a job 3 weeks ago. Having a cert. is lots less risky than hiring a guy off the street. The schools are motivated to try to place you as well.

Also, while you have to apply for your work permit from the states, it's all done by mail. Yes, the courier fees are steep, but you could theoretically send your passport to a friend in the US to apply for you and have them courier it back (e.g. DHL, FedEx, UPS, Airborne, etc.) It's cheaper than a ticket most times, tho. I got mine done in 3 days with a total investment of $65 USD. Add in the cost to send it both ways by courier and you've got your price. You just have to hide out in a hotel for a week. Or a hostel.

Good luck!

[Lucy Snow]

[Scottydawg]

Thanks to you also for your take, misteradventure. A few things in your post I don't quite understand: When you mentioned certification did that refer to something in addition to a TESOL/TEFL Certificate? I believe my qualifications are more than adequate for language schools: BA-Linguistics and English Lit., TESOL Certificate from grad. school, over 30 graduate credits in Education-Language Arts, six years experience teaching ESL in California. Am I overqualified? Also, the company is applying for the work permit, and then I need to get the visa from this country. I don't think it would do to have someone get a visa for you and mail it because you would need to enter the country with it and have it stamped, right?

Yes, I am well aware that Millenium is making money somewhere. Since they are not charging me a placement fee, and they have "bought the contract" from a school and are the ones issuing my pay, I am sure that they are collecting more than they are paying. That way, they don't need to charge the school for recruiting. I am okay with this because what they are offering is sufficient for me, and they are putting me in the city where I want to be. Also, the hiring season is essentially over, and I only got a few nibbles~~none in Poznan. If they, in fact, do deliver what they promise, it is fine with me whatever their profit is above that. I was just hoping to hear if someone else had dealt with them before. I see so many horror stories on this site, I know it is good to gather as much information as possible.

As far as schools not wanting teachers from outside the EU, I base that on the job postings I have seen. A good third of them say this in plain language. I think this is a misperception by the schools that the EU accession somehow makes visas more complicated for other nationals, but however wrong it is, it is there in their minds.

I'd also appreciate hearing anything anyone has to say about the city of Poznan. I'm curious about flats. The Millennium guy says that getting a two-room furnished would be no more than 400PLN, and likely closer to 300--about 500 including utilities. This strikes me as somewhat low compared to what I have heard. Also, I know there are many colleges in Poznan, so I would think I would have little trouble getting as many private students as I wanted. I saw one poster say not to charge less than 65/hr in Poznan; is this about right?

[rd]

Hi,

I am in exactly the same boat as you.. I have been in contact with Millenium, I am looking for a teaching position in Poznan. Have you or anyone else out there heard whether it would be easier to show up in Poznan and look for a job there?? I wonder if the amount of money you would gain from being able to negotiate a better contract would make up for the money you spend sorting out your visa back at home. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
RD

[misteradventure]

Thanks for the briefing on your skills.

I'm willing to bet you are overqualified in their eyes. CELTA is a TEFL cert. much like yours, I'm sure. I would leave out the grad school and minimize the experience. Have you thought about an Asst. Director of Studies position and suggest that maybe you teach for them first?

You can always go for it- once you have the work visa, you can get a new work permit if you happen to change employers.

Pay attention to the info above, rd!

Getting the work visa without a contract is well nigh impossible, I'm told.

As far as flats go, the range is in line with what I've heard from my Polish friends. It's like anywhere else- you get what you pay for. I'm not expecting a jacuzzi and a fireplace, however.

And your observation on EU status is not quite exact. EU membership means they don't have to apply for work visas; it's like someone from New York moving to Washington to work. As Poland is not yet in the EU, it doesn't apply, unless it's a UK-owned school, for example. In that case, all employees would have to be either from a EU country or have a work permit from the UK as salaries, taxes, etc. are figured on the basis of being an employee of a British firm.

I guess it could also be due to not stating how much they will pay for travel costs. It' s cheaper to go to Poland from the EU than from the US, for example.

[Alex Shulgin]

[Scottydawg]

rd, we might end up being colleagues, if Millennium places you in Poznan. Mike told me on the phone he thought that all 6 Poznan positions were in the same school.

I'm still in limbo~~they act like and hint at me having one of those positions almost assured, but no official word yet. My girlfriend called their Lubin office and spoke to Arek, the Polish guy. He told her that the Poznan contracts were going to be discussed and sent out next week. This sounded a little odd to me that they are not expediting since the time is already here that it would probably be impossible to process a visa prior to Oct. 1, which is ostensibly the start date.

I hope these guys know what they are doing.

[Scottydawg]

Well, I've finally been offered a position in Poznan, and I'm going to take it, despite warnings to the contrary here. I realize it is something of a leap of faith, but then I've learned here that that is true pretty much for taking a job with any outfit in Poland that you have not dealt with before or had the opportunity to visit in person.

I do know they are listed in the Lubin phone book because my Polish girlfriend was able to obtain their number and phone them and speak to them. If their only purpose was to con me out of the $200 fee for processing the visa, they could have done that with much less trouble than the lengthy email dialogue they have been holding with me over the past few weeks.

It is evident that they make their profit by collecting a higher amount from the school than the amount they pay the teachers. I accept this because the amount they offer is acceptable to me, and I value the service they are providing me by placing me in the city I want to be when I have otherwise gotten no offers there. I'd feel better if I'd heard from someone else who had dealt with this company before, but since I have no other options, my course is clear: to put myself in their hands and being wary as possible along the way. I'll keep the board updated.

[biffinbridge]

I'm in poznan right now,however just about to start a rotation for an oil company.My studio flat costs 1150 zl/month with the rates.Food is cheap here as is the beer.Stay off the spirits though.Jack Daniels costs 6US$ a shot.Poznan is not cheap anymore.My old friends are still here and most of them reckon you need to earn about 6000 a month to have a good life.You won't save much.3000 a month is c r a p.

[Scottydawg]

Millennium Service had offered me a job in Poznan where I wanted to be. Then, they notify me that the 6 positions they had in Poznan were all at one school and because they had only been able to recruit 3 teachers, the school had pulled out of the contract with them altogether for now. They offered to put me in this small town down near Wroclaw. I can't remember how to spell it (starts with an O). I asked for a location north of Poznan, and they said I could go to Bydgoszcz. I said okay.

They sent me a contract. Then, they asked me how soon I could come to Poland. It turns out, in spite of the lackadaisical way they had not made efforts to avoid delays on their end, they really needed me there by Oct. 1 all along. Note: if they had responded to all my communications immediately, I could have had the work permit visa and been in Poland before or very close to Oct. 1. Now, they want me to come with no visa and work under the radar until they supposedly get me a temporary residency rather than a work permit visa since that can evidently be done in country.

I have told them that I will only do things according to the letter of the law. Can anyone advise me on the temporary residency procedures? How can you get a certificate of no financial obligations and one for no criminal record? (I do have some minor financial obligations but no record.) I read that you must have a need to remain for over 12 months (surpassing the work permit visa) to receive temporary residency. How can they arrange this when they are offering a 9-month contract?

In the meantime, it is now too late to obtain the super discount airfares (21 day advance). I am inclined to write off the fall, find a supercheap airfare for early November, go for two weeks and apply in person only at places I really wish to be, and try to find a spot for the second term (around Feb. 1, I'm told). I know 75% of jobs start Oct. 1 and only 20% Feb. 1 (approximately), but what do you think are the chances of getting in mid-year if I show up in person like this? What's a good cheap hotel in Poznan for a two week stay?

Okay, I know...my post is too long, but I'd be very grateful for any assistance anyone can offer.

Scottydawg

[Alex Shulgin]

edited this one

[Alex Shulgin]