Job Discussion Forums

Mikhai · Joined: 20 Jan 2005 Posts: 50 Location: South Korea

Does anyone have any experience with Uniserve in Hong Kong? They have offered me positions twice now. I backed out the first time because they kept changing everything on me at the last minute. Now they are doing the same as well. We signed a contract then at the last minute they wanted to change the contract after we agreed on everything. Now they offered me a job and told me to come February 21. Then now they have told me they want me to fly to Hong Kong do an interview with a school and then do a private lesson a week later. Is this standard practice in Hong Kong? I really would like to be in Hong Kong. But I really feel like I am being jerked around with them. Flying to Hong Kong twice without any definites on a job seems like a bit much to me.

bellabella · Joined: 23 Jul 2005 Posts: 63 Location: Hong Kong

unless they are paying for your expenses to come here then don't come. it seems really strange.

once again · Joined: 27 Jan 2003 Posts: 815

I would be very wary of offers like that. If all of that is at your own expense then do not do it.

Mikhai · Joined: 20 Jan 2005 Posts: 50 Location: South Korea

Well we agreed on free acomodation and $13,800 a month for salary. Plus a bonus at the end which was about $13,800 as well. However now he suddenly changes the contract after we settled everything. He wants to pay me $9300 HKD a month for full time work. They even set out how many hours total you have to work during the contract and if you dont have them completed by their standards then you have to work pass the contract's end date for free. They want to give a large bonus at the end and pay me $9300 HKD. He keeps arguing with me that its the norm. However I have never seen this in Hong Kong.

Shakhbut · Joined: 14 May 2005 Posts: 167

Do not accept this! It's as simple as that.
In fact, do not even deal with these people.
S

lambada · Joined: 24 Oct 2006 Posts: 50

Don't have anything to do with it. Better to come to Hong Kong for a look around and see what's available or get a decent job lined up. What quals do you have?

Mikhai · Joined: 20 Jan 2005 Posts: 50 Location: South Korea

I have a Bachelor Degree with Dual Majors in Linguistics and Educational Psychology. I have a DipTESOL and a Teaching Certificate which certifies me to teach ESL and Spanish for Primary to 12th Grade. As well as about 4 years of teaching experience. I really would like to come to Hong Kong. It would be a welcome break from Korea. However, they really keep jerking me round. Its to the point that I don't trust them now.

bellabella · Joined: 23 Jul 2005 Posts: 63 Location: Hong Kong

with your qualifications you are definitly being ripped off. that salary is really unbelievable. the boss is obviously praying on the fact that you don't know anything about teaching in hong kong and how much you should be paid.
your qualifications might even be enough for the net scheme (someone jump in here with a yes or no as i'm not too sure) and the pay for a net teacher is much higher than what you are being offered.

DO NOT TAKE UP EMPLOYMENT WITH THIS COMPANY!!!!

Mikhai · Joined: 20 Jan 2005 Posts: 50 Location: South Korea

They raised the pay to $10,500 a month plus $1000 travel allowance monthly,Paid single accomodation, and contract gratuity of $54,000 at the end. Does this sound better?

lambada · Joined: 24 Oct 2006 Posts: 50

Not really and I tell you now you can not trust these people. The locals will have a ball screwing you into the ground. Laughing

I am sure you will get into the NET scheme but not necessarily via the EMB. Come to Hong Kong around June or July and approach schools directly. The EMB interview process will just bog you down but should be followed up as well asap. You need every single piece of paper, qualification, since the year dot.

lambada · Joined: 24 Oct 2006 Posts: 50

Sorry, that is not at all clear. What I mean to say is that there are two approaches to working as a PNET. Either finding a school directly and letting them do the paperwork or going through the EMB and letting them find you a school. Personally I would avoid the EMB if possible as they are worse than useless. You can never get an answer out of them on most things as they seem terrified of making mistakes.

Mikhai · Joined: 20 Jan 2005 Posts: 50 Location: South Korea

How do you find local public schools which are hiring. I have seen recruitment agencies which are doing recruiting for the EMB. One was a Canadian Company. However none of their email addresses never work. I applied for the Net Scheme last year. However I never heard anything from them. I even sent an email asking about my documents and if they were being considered. I received nothing back.

Mikhai · Joined: 20 Jan 2005 Posts: 50 Location: South Korea

Is there still a possibility of getting into NET for the coming school year? According to the EMB I have missed the deadline.

lambada · Joined: 24 Oct 2006 Posts: 50

Not sure why I'm telling you this as I'll be looking for a job next year as well Laughing

, but around June the schools start to panic and advertise in the SCMP etc for Native English Teachers and you can apply direct to the schools. They then chase up the EMB to provide you with all the goodies then or at any time prior to that. If you don't get offered the standard package, its not a PNET job and it will be woeful! Life is nasty, brutal and probably short for most locals but you don't have to play that game. Nonetheless, in this whole process you are owned, contracted to and sell your soul to the quirks of the Principal of the particular school that you are hired by, regardless of whether the EMB is involved or not. Thus you may get a great school or an awful one or one that starts great and becomes awful. If the employment process is getting to you, or you are trying to rationalise stuff, then you are probably not ready for the HK experience. HK is a cool place, with something for everyone, but I expect very little from my work except that it pays for my life style and occasionally I make a small difference to some kid's life.

Mikhai · Joined: 20 Jan 2005 Posts: 50 Location: South Korea

Do most of the English teachers in Hong Kong live in housing that doesn't include a kitchen. I've been negoiating with them. They've changed most of the things in the contract. Its much better now. Atleast will get me into Hong Kong until I can find something else. However the place they are getting for me to stay looks like a boarding house. It has a small single bed with a foam style pad. You could litterally stand and touch everything in the room from the way the picture looks. What do most of your guys accomodation look like?