Job Discussion Forums

Guy Courchesne · Joined: 10 Mar 2003 Posts: 9650 Location: Mexico City

Hi y'all. Refugee from the Mexico forum here with a question.

Anyone heard of these guys as recuriters?

www.goglobalworktravel.co.uk

Trying to help a teacher find work abroad, though she is in a wheelchair, with obvious difficulties in finding work. This recruiter charges for a placement in China...for a fee. Would like for this woman not to be taken by a scam...any thoughts out there?

Ariadne · Joined: 16 Jul 2004 Posts: 960

Hi Guy,

I'd say stay away from recruiters if possible. I have no personal knowledge of the one you mention. Schools usually pay the fees for recruiters, not the teachers. Since your friend is in a wheelchair I think it is even more important that she (?) deal directly with the school. Recruiters will not have all the necessary specific info about the schools they represent. They may have never even seen some of the schools. I think your friend would have the most luck at a fairly new University. China would be a real challenge in a wheelchair. Just walking can be dangerous due to holes, traffic, bikes, and people. Did I mention lots and lots of holes? Riding a bus would be darn near impossible, and taking a cab might not be that much easier. Would your friend have a friend or companion along? I just don't know how they could manage alone. Where I live the apartments for FTs are in buildings without elevators. I think that's pretty normal for China.

Guy Courchesne · Joined: 10 Mar 2003 Posts: 9650 Location: Mexico City

Thanks for the help...I am running out of hope.

nolefan · Joined: 14 Jan 2004 Posts: 1458 Location: on the run

The issue here is not the recruiter but your friend.... her life would be hell in China as there is nothing here to accomodate her needs and help her with daily things. there is a lack of elevators all over the country, stairs everywhere, crappy sidewalks, and the list goes on.

I'm sure that her life is not a piece of cake and she's learned to deal with certain things but China would be hell... I mean it.

Roger · Joined: 19 Jan 2003 Posts: 9138

I would strongly second what's been said above; furthermore there is a tenacious tendency in China to discriminate against the infirm and disabled. There are even laws that prohibit the hiring of people that fall foul of certain body requirements, including height. I reckon if Chinese have trouble combatting discrimination against the disabled foreigners have no hope for a job under such circumstances.
Have you told her of the difficulties in reaching the sixth floor of the average residential building without a lift? Or the stairs in the sidewalks? The classrooms accessible only after negotiating 8 flights of stairs? The buses that don't have low-floors as they do in Europe? the cabbies that never help a passenger fold their chair or put their luggage in the trunk?

Guy Courchesne · Joined: 10 Mar 2003 Posts: 9650 Location: Mexico City

It doesn't surprise me at all as Mexico is pretty much the same.

This woman has asked me to help her locate a job or at least check up on the recruiter for China who said there would be a job for her there, making me suspicious....

Thanks for the help guys and gals. You've probably saved a person some serious heartache