Job Discussion Forums

[annmt]

The other day I had a Skype interview with the president of an American Eagle Institute school (Ken-Yu Chien at the Shulin Boai language center in New Taipei). He does not want to sign the contract while I am in the US and has offered a job-secured agreement. This is fine with me.

However, he wants to talk about contract details once I land in Taiwan... but I don't want to go anywhere until I know specifics about the contract. Like: How much these people will be paying me. Very basic things like that.

Does anyone have any thoughts about this? Is this how it happens with job-secured agreements - you sign that you have a job, but don't get to see the contract until arrival?

[Dr_Zoidberg]

In truth, you don't have the job until your boots are on the ground in Taiwan and you have signed a contract.

Having said that, I find it more than a bit fishy they're not forthcoming with major details such as how much they are willing to pay.

My advice is to keep this option open, but have a look around once you get here. Never commit yourself to a job sight unseen. And once you are here, don't be pressured into signing a contract if you don't feel its terms are something you can live with.

[yamahuh]

I agree with Dr. Z.
Important contractual specifics such as pay, hours, vacation time and end of contract bonuses (if applicable) should not be withheld during initial communications. How do you know if you want the job if they won't tell you how much they are going to ask you to work and how much they are going to pay?

I've never had a job-secured agreement but, frankly, I'd tell him that if he's willing to hold the job for you he should be willing to tell you what the contract entails.

If he won't do that, then thank him for his time...

[annmt]

Turns out it was a communication confusion: The school thought that the recruiter had handled it. I finally asked them directly (which I guess should have been first course of action but didn't feel like letting them know that I didn't know) and received direct answers to all questions.

[yamahuh]

Good job.