Job Discussion Forums

[originaloli]

Hi,

Just arrived in Colombia 3 weeks ago. Been dashing about looking at apartments and attending interviews (along with a trip to Cali and seeing some of this wonderful city) for most of it. In terms of employment availability there are no worries at all - everyone I've interviewed with has offered work the next week. It does worry me a bit that the schools are so desperate they won't even interview properly but I guess I come out of it well. The only problem is deciding who is going to be shady so that's why I'm writing. Offers in from:

Petersons

Ingles Bogota

IH Bogota (subject to interview)

1st Class English

Darlington

Bogota Business English

Raisbeck (no visa help)

Personal Growth/American School Way I rejected due to pay/methodology.

I've done a little due diligence on all of the above but whilst some have reams of complaints against them online, others have very little info available. So, any up-to-date information would be nice on anybody, especially the smaller places I listed. If you're interested, I'm British, CELTA-qualified with 2 years experience, one home and one abroad.

Thanks for any help,

Oli

[originaloli]

Oh, and a couple of folk have offered visa help but only after a couple of months working (presumably illegally) to see how good I am. This sounds like it could be a) a scam, pure and simple, don't pay, teacher has no form of redress or b) not legal per se but these things are flexible in Colombia and it's a way of working in the spirit of the law to save the company undue bother from foreigners who run off partying all the time.

Which is it?

[littlelauren86]

Good questions. I would like to see these answered as well.

[eric blair]

From the list above, I would say that IH is by far the best with regard to organisation, resources, reputation, (and what it looks like on your CV), classes not being cancelled and you not getting paid, professional development opportunities, etc.

I also think that you will find the inteview with IH more professional that what you have experienced elsewhere.

[spanglish]

I'd say IH is the only acceptable option. They're not great, but they'll get you a work visa and pay enough to cover basic living expenses while you get your feet under you. I'd say take the job with them and work till you find something better i.e. a university position or a decent paying high school job. The truth is, there's not much to be had in Colombia that's better than barely decent.

The institutes that offer you a job without a visa aren't a scam; that's just the way things are done in Colombia. When President Santos was running for office, his chief political strategist was from Venezuela and was working illegally on his campaign without a visa. Having said that, anybody that offers you a job without a visa will almost certainly be a bad employer.

[MNguy]

There are a lot of IH shills who troll this message board. Take their advice with a grain of salt. The only one I can honestly advise against is First Class. Ingles Bogota is run by an honest guy.

[Cruiser]

[originaloli]

Thanks for the replies and advice from various people. Think I'll probably end up in Ingles Bogota or IH, hourly. 1st Class have more or less been discarded through negative reviews and pay.

Darlington...have ruled themselves out. I wasn't impressed at interview and it seems they are shadily involved with shenanigans involving Peterson's. When I asked about further information on this, they replied calling me Oscar (the name of the recruiter at Peterson's) and saying that I hadn't been considered for work...despite having sent me an email earlier offering a class. Shady and worth steering well clear of, in my opinion.

So, I know a couple of people are also looking for work, there's some feedback for you and some validation for other people offering advice - feedback from this site has directly coloured my view on 1st Class English, and made me feel better about Ingles Bogota. Posting is really worthwhile, folk.

Any more advice still accepted and appreciated, D-day not till Weds...

[littlelauren86]

[G22]

American School way pays 5,000 pesos and hour, definitely skip them.

[originaloli]

Sorry for the superlate end comment, but,

went with IH. A lot more money than AN Other company, much more professional (�an actual school, with resources!) and although not the best job, by far not the worst.