Job Discussion Forums

[Ceej]

So the other day I got a message on my answering machine saying, "Hi, this is (name) from China..mumble mumble ok bye".. A few hours later the phone rang and no one left a message (I like to screen my calls). This happened a few times, but I figured it was just a salesperson. Finally this person calls again and starts to leave a message about how it's hard to get in contact with me, so I pick up. It was someone who had seen my resume online and called me, without emailing first, which seemed unusual.

Anyway, this person is from Jordan's Language School and he wants me to come out ASAP! I put on my resume that I wanted to come with my fiance in february, and he was asking if we could come this week or at least by the 10th!! lol we don't even have our passports yet. I told him I needed some time to save up to pay for our plane tickets, and he said he would buy them in advance and then deduct the cost from our salary! Which was a red flag, considering every job ad I've seen has offered reimbursement for plane tickets.

Then he asked me to finish talking with him on MSN messenger, so I did. He said it was one o'clock AM where he was, and he turned on his webcam while we were talking. He held some drink up to the camera and wrote "Cheers!" and then started smoking. Then he asked me to send him our resumes and photos, which I thought was strange because he somehow had my phone number so how had he not seen my resume yet?

Very strange. Random voicemail from "someone in China", then the whole airfare thing, then the webcam thing! Is this really how it's done?!! I can't say I've ever talked to a potential employer over MSN messenger.. Anyone else had any weird experiences like that?

[tw]

[Roger]

FIrst of all,
you are mistaken in your assumption that they oiwe you a refund for making a trip to China; all you are legally entitled to is a ticket BACK home. Round trip tickets are occasionally offered but rarely delivered ahead of you signing a contract face to face with them, meaning that you will always first have to dig into your purse to come here.

As for the rest of your story don't take much seriously. Yes, this was a recruiter. They poach CVs on Dave's and many other websites. E#ven schools that are looking for a FT won't pay much attention to YOUR published needs - if they feel you are the right person they will want you to meet their conditions, i.e. be available when it suits them.

I have published my CV a few times for free, and every time it attracted a horde of employers or agents that clearly had misread my stated intention; for example if I write I want a part-time job in GUANGDONG it means that, but offers would pour in from Jilin, Shaanxi or even Xinjiang.

THis shows that you must apply for jobs offered and accept you are one in the race; the other way around you will get lots of bogus offers and the wires are more likely to be crossed.

[Ceej]

The airfare thing: I know that schools purchasing your tickets in advance is unusual. I didn't ask for it. The thing that bugged me is he made NO mention of ever paying for ANY of the plane ticket. I'm not looking for schools to pay my ticket in advance, I have just seen that schools offer to pay for a round trip ticket if you complete a year contract, which we would do, so this particular deal doesn't sound that great. Although I guess he could have meant deduct it from my salary at first and then reimburse me later.

You are so right about me putting my phone number up on the net. That was dumb! I've taken it down since then.

Ok, so they ARE a recruiter. I couldn't find too much info on them. I just thought it was so odd to talk to him on a messenger!

I think you're right about not applying for jobs until October..