Job Discussion Forums

[cliviger]

I'm just wondering the progress of the people currently applying to the NET scheme this year? Apparently they are STILL accessing my papers. I'm hoping this is the norm and I'll end up with a school at the last minute. Thankfully I'm already in Hong Kong. I can only imagine the frustration of the poor folks on the other side of the planet with houses/jobs/lives to sort out.

[travelfloosie]

[Millyz]

Likewise, I'm all but over it. Had a phone interview with said school. They emailed a week later and asked for my photo & now a week later, naught. Maybe I missed, but i hope they'd have the courtesy to let me know.
Best of luck, but don't put your life on hold.

[marksy]

Hi cliviger,

I posted this on August 2nd last year - I don't know if you read it, but apart from the people you should contact at the EDB, I think it is still valid now.

[b][b]"I signed the contract to be an EDB PNET on Tuesday. It's been a long and winding road!

To those who haven't heard from any schools at all yet:

Yes, it's getting late in the day, but I know there are still schools looking for a PNET - I was contacted by one on Tuesday. Let me tell you my experience. I am based in HK, and was working in a Primary School as a PNET, but not through the NET scheme. By the end of June, I hadn't heard from any schools and I was getting a bit jittery (even though Alan Ho at the EDB was reassuring me that my CV was being circulated to schools. He's since left. And from what puiwaihin says, his replacement has too). I decided to get proactive - I wrote my Cover letter, amended my CV and applied by snail mail to every primary school (DSS and Aided) in Kowloon and Hong Kong Island. I didn't send it to any schools in the New Territories because I live on HK Island and I didn't want to commute too far.

The school names, addresses of the schools and principals' names are on these lists:

http://www.edb.gov.hk/index.aspx?langno=1&nodeid=480

http://chsc.edb.hkedcity.net/primary/


For the record, that's 254 schools in Kowloon and HK Island! - a lot of changing of letter-heads, printing of address labels, buying of stamps and envelopes, printing - 4 cartridges, and a lot of time!

There is no way to know which schools are looking for PNETS, that's why I sent off applications to the lot. I would suggest that if you haven't heard anything yet from any schools, why not do the same? Or choose some random schools in areas you might like? Better than sitting at home waiting, isn't it? I would hazard a guess that most schools on HK Island would have a PNET by now, as most PNETS want to live on HK Island. How about trying the schools in the New Territories?

If you're not in HK, that's going to cost a lot of money. How about sending an email addressed to many schools? Or faxing?

For those at different stages of the application process, here is my timeline:

[b]July 7 -[/b] Interview, offered the position. Principal filled in the application form to employ me in his school on the same day and sent it to the EDB.

[b]July 11 [/b]- Sent off the last of my "Certificates of Service" by fax to the EDB. Your application cannot proceed further to Salary Assessment until you have these Certs from all the schools you have worked in, because they need them to work out your Salary before they make you a Provisional offer. These Certs of Service must include:

your full name (as shown in your birth certificate/ marriage certificate/ passport);
length of employment *, with exact dates; (i.e. from dd/mm/yy to dd/mm/yy);
nature of employment (i.e. whether full-time or part-time);
for part-time employment, fraction of full-time experience is needed (e.g. 0.3 full time equivalent);
nature of school (i.e. whether day school or evening school);
subject(s) taught; and
age and levels/grades of students taught.
* CONTINUOUS EMPLOYMENT LESS THAN 3 MONTHS WOULD NOT BE CONSIDERED.

So if you haven't got those ready yet, contact your old schools now.

[b]July 24[/b] - Provisional Offer by the EDB (while waiting, after 2 phone calls to EDB were not returned, I asked my Principal to call them up and after he did the Prov. offer was ready that same day). Contact Tess Tse at the EDB, phone no. 2892 6498. She seems to be in charge now Phoebe Mok, Faye Chan, Alan Ho and others have left. Keep trying if you don't get through but remember to be polite, she's just doing her job in difficult circumstances, and she's lovely).

[b]July 25[/b]- I sent off the Proforma of Acceptance by fax to the EDB and was emailed by them that they had received it the same day. I contacted my Principal, and he sent someone round to the EDB to collect my file.

[b]July 29[/b] - Signed contract.

I have a HKID card and do not require a work visa so have no idea how long that may take.

Hope any of this helps. All the best! Patience is the key (I chewed off half my fingers, but they're growing back now) Wink

Marksy[/b][/b]"

I am sure there are still schools who still need a PNET for the coming year. If you really want a position, don't rely on the EDB to bring schools to you, it may not happen - you're going to have to go to them.

Good luck!

Marksy

[once again]

Thank you for that Marksy. That is one of the most useful posts ever on this site, and should be a sticky.
Well done.

[cliviger]

Thank you Marksy. I took your advice and applied directly to a few schools. Unfortunately I've yet to get a call. Has anyone else received an offer/been contacted by a school yet?

[judoka]

Interviews now being held in New York and San Francisco for an August 2010 start date.

[fishcado]

Marksy: Best reply ever on the PNET scheme. Very insightful!

[Joshua2006]

I think if you put the ground work in you'll get a reward.

I had to do the same thing in Seoul in 2004. I sent 119 'packs' consisting of letters in Korean and English, my CV and also a picture. This was only to one borough but from that I had about 10 replies, one of which I took and ended up staying for three and a half years. It took time to do, but was definitely worth the time and expense at the time.

Are there still independent schools here in Hong Kong or are they all run by the education office as far as employing foreigners is concerned? I know it is becoming increasingly difficult to just walk into schools in Korea so was wondering if it was the same here?