Job Discussion Forums

[allisfaith]

http://www.teach-english-mexico.com/

Has anyone here had experience with this company?

thank you

[Guy Courchesne]

The Mexico City rep for this group posts here on and off. He's a good guy and can give you some insights...

[moonraven]

Stay away from these folks.

In response to an inquiry, they will tell you how "serious" they are. When I see that, a bell goes off.

Just like it does when someone says how "honest" he/she is (you know he/she is going to fleece you) or how "friendly" (start watching your back).

These folks are completely unprofessional--they just try to get a percentage from employers for connecting candidates with jobs that are already posted on ESL job sites.

[Guy Courchesne]

The guy who owns the business lives in Palm Springs. I believe he has reps in different cities around Mexico. I know, through the internet, one of the reps in Mexico City and have met one of their clients, who worked with Innovative English, with whom my wife is the DOS.

Their business is to offer long term support, locating a position and housing. The idea is to have someone in Mexico who helps you the whole time you are here. I don't think the service is for everyone, but some people like the security.

I know they are not a scam. And they don't ask for a percentage of what a teacher earns..they connect you directly to teaching jobs, unless they have recently changed. Sure, the website they have plays it up, but that's normal for selling any service.

[moonraven]

I indicated that they ask for a percentage from the employer--not from the employee. Nothing wrong in that--just that the jobs they offer are available directly--without going through them. That is to say, they are not exclusive.

[Guy Courchesne]

I wonder if they ask for that percentage from the employer every time? It wasn't the case for the teacher who we knew and worked with, although, she didn't work with us through InternetWorks.

I wonder where Rich (the DF rep) is? He's been a little slow to respond to my emails too. CALLING RICH!

[moonraven]

How else could they make any money, Guy?

[Ben Round de Bloc]

They make their money off of the people they place in Mexico at $975 USD per person. They don't charge the employers anything for the service. The employers simply need to provide the service with basic information (pay per hour, types of classes offered, required teacher qualifications, etc.) in exchange for being sent native-English-speaking teachers with whatever qualifications they prefer. Supposedly, the service has weeded out dodgy employers, so clients are lined up to work in reputable schools. The big selling point for the clients is that the service has reps in all major locations to help the clients and function as contact people for the service. When the service sends clients to a location, the reps basically lead them by the hand through the whole process of checking out the schools (probable or possible employers) on the list along with helping find places to live and getting settled in. Sometimes jobs are completely secured prior to arrival, but often they aren't. If you read the info on the web site carefully, you'll notice that there's no guarantee of location, type of school, number of hours, or much else -- just that they guarantee that they'll find you a teaching job. From what I've heard, they do treat their clients well and try to get them something as close to what they want as possible.

[Guy Courchesne]

[richtx1]

[moonraven]

You're getting a lot of free advertising here. Of course you have the right to defend yourself from criticism, BUT--I think you are pushing the envelope.

I have had no experience with your service. The lack of professionalism that was mentioned was brought to my attention by another person.

[richtx1]

Not "pushing the envelope": the OP asked if someone had specific experience with a specific company. I have experience with that company. So does Dave Sperling, btw.

As I said, fee-paid placement services have their place, and for some people are a viable alternative.

If someone asked about your institution, I'd expect you'd say something positive too.

I'm more familiar with placement services that charge the employer in the U.S. than here. It's perfectly legitimate... especially for companies that don't have the resources to conduct job searches

[moonraven]

I think you protest too much.

BTW, you mention his "experience" with the company, but I haven't seen Dave Sperling touting it.

Nobody--and certainly not this bird--said that employment placement services were not legitimate. I managed one myself for a year in the US.

What has been reported to me--by a source that from my own experience I consider to be more reliable than somebody writing more or less anonymously on this forum--and with an obvious vested interest as well--was lack of professionalism.

If I were still in "the biz" and that was being said about my company I would want to know about it....And I wouldn't just be sending up smoke--or tangentially invoking the owner of this website, either. If you are going to violate forum rules by pushing your company--why not give us some information that relates to your professionalism?

[richtx1]

I'd expect people with a serious interest would contact me -- or I'd contact them -- outside this forum... with my "bona fides" and real name, address, contact information, etc.

[moonraven]

Another tangential response.