Search found 40 matches

by counselme
Mon Jan 09, 2017 9:21 pm
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: Whoa...Back It Up!
Replies: 23
Views: 36311

Poor practice

Humm, sounds fishy. Bad practice on their behalf. You need to tell your representative at your agency about the discrepancy.
I would tell the school what you WILL accept and why. If you can't get what was advertised, I'd take that as a red flag. What else is not going to be honoured: accommodation, gratuity, visas, medical, ProD funds, flights home, yearly calendar book ends, holidays? Sure they can say that the quote is out of date, but that is sloopy on their behalf. Seriously. That would be like a candidate lying about their availability: "Well I know I sad I could start in August, but I'll be there in September, ok?" Maybe offer to work half the day at their rate :)

Serioualy though: They are recruiting on a reputable site and need to review the quotes bi annually, at least. I think SA and the other sites should insist on this. What a waste of your time, only to be disappointed. I'm sorry this happened to you and likely others. I think it is a misrepresentation and I would ask for what they posted, their error or not, or apply for another job. They may also be expecting you to come back at them and have a bargaining mentality.

Ultimately, it is an offer and yours to take or say a big "no thanks."
by counselme
Mon Jan 09, 2017 8:49 pm
Forum: Forum 2. Ask Recruiting Questions, Share Information. What's on Your Mind?
Topic: Breaking contract for an offer you really want - issues?
Replies: 20
Views: 34502

Re: Breaking contract for an offer you really want - issues?

Personally, I would NOT break contract. There maybe times when one has to leave a school because it is not honouring it's contract, safety issues or disregard and ill treatment of a teacher. But I wouldn't do it, otherwise.
Is it possible that if you do get offered the dream job, you can let that dream job recruiter know you have accepted this current one and would seriously like to be considered the next round (2years on), but that you just can't let down this current school. I think we all have had an experience where we have accepted a good job and then there is that one you would have preferred now asking to Skype with you! Arghh... what to do....
This recruiting business is a lot about timing isn't it. You don't want to let a good offer slip by in case you don't get another good school, but what about that stella school.... the dream one... they haven't closed the posting yet.... What to do?

Hopefully the one you have accepted, you accepted for a reason: decent pay and benefits and a location and job that you will enjoy and grow in.

If nothing else, thinking of it from the recruiters point of view: they have likely passed up other good candidates for you and rely on you following through. They likely can't get the candidates they let go back. It could be awkward working there if they require you to stay and they know you'd rather be somewhere else, too. I think sometimes there are white lies but breaking contract is more than that. It is really the backbone of what we as candidates and they as recruiters rely on: ethics.
by counselme
Mon Jan 09, 2017 8:36 pm
Forum: Forum 2. Ask Recruiting Questions, Share Information. What's on Your Mind?
Topic: Turkey- a new dawn
Replies: 7
Views: 30968

Turkey- a new dawn

How are teachers feeling about taking a two year contract in Istanbul or Izmir after the last years' violent unrest?
Would you still go? Teachers have been there in 2016 and now, what is your advice to prospective teachers thinking of moving to Turkey?
by counselme
Mon Jan 09, 2017 6:57 pm
Forum: Forum 2. Ask Recruiting Questions, Share Information. What's on Your Mind?
Topic: Best Housing for Singles
Replies: 3
Views: 10226

Re: Best Housing for Singles

Reisgio, Thank you for your response. Nice pool at the end of the day to wash away our cares, makes a big difference, doesn't it :) I haven't figured out how to personally message someone on here, yet, or I would have replied to your question.
Happy New Year.
by counselme
Mon Jan 09, 2017 6:50 pm
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: Fair Prep Bangkok/London/Boston
Replies: 32
Views: 42722

Re: Fair Prep Bangkok/London/Boston

Thames Pirate. I like the idea that ISS has: the virtual fair. Maybe that is the compromise and the way of the future.

Happy New Year.
by counselme
Mon Jan 09, 2017 6:22 pm
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: Fair Prep Bangkok/London/Boston
Replies: 32
Views: 42722

Re: Fair Prep Bangkok/London/Boston

Most of the fairs are held during school session, which is often impossible for teachers to get the time off to attend unless they are relatively local and can be reached over a long weekend. Even if ones' contract allows a few days off to attend, they are often a long way off and very costly. Perhaps the fairs should be held during usual Christmas holidays and then summer holidays for last minute hires so that teachers can travel and attend at their leisure. I haven't attended a fair before, so I don't know much about what they are like. From reading and listening to others, they don't sound appealing. I seem to recall that 50% of candidates walk away without a job. That would be quite deflating compared to an unsuccessful Skype interview in ones' home. I am sure that many a great candidate has never attended a fair. Seems that jobs advertised on the main IT recruitment websites are dropped daily before the fairs are on. That seems to suggest that recruiters are already hiring before the fair and selecting presumably good candidates. I've had recruiters schedule a Skype interview with me while at the fair! I wouldn't attend a fair. When I am on holiday, I don't want to be carrying fine clothes and anticipating interviews and trying not to mix up and memorise each schools' "special mission and vision".
Getting an international job is a bit like a dating game: we're all going to kiss a few frogs before the prince sees our beauty and going to the ball is not necessarily any better than trying online :)
I think that Skype and confidential referencing works well for many candidates.
by counselme
Mon Jan 09, 2017 5:53 pm
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: School Counselor with Social Work degree
Replies: 5
Views: 12684

Re: School Counselor with Social Work degree

Happy New Year Eion,
Thanks for the links.
It would seem that there needs to be a global college counselling course. High School counsellors have the daunting task of knowing many countries' university entrance procedures for the international student; there doesn't seem to be a certificate that encapsulates the knowledge a counsellor needs regarding entrance into Australian, British, European, US, Canadian etc post secondary. Tough job to get on top of. Likely take a career to know it well. Layers over time.
Let's hope that a university comes up with a more universal university entrance training program for secondary international counsellors.
by counselme
Mon Jan 09, 2017 3:05 pm
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: Shanghai: Which District is better
Replies: 22
Views: 39518

Shanghai: Which District is better

Shanghai: Which is the best after school life to be in for singles, for couples for famillies? Which district is the best one to live in? For example, Puxi, Pudong, or others and why do you think so?
:)
by counselme
Mon Jan 09, 2017 1:19 pm
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: Recruiting agencies...Which is best?
Replies: 79
Views: 130365

Recruiting agencies...Which is best?

I thought I would start some discussions on ISR. Seems a bit dormant at times.

Which recruiting agencies do you prefer: Schrole, ISS, SA, TIE online, TeacherHorizons etc.
by counselme
Mon Jan 09, 2017 11:58 am
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: Which City in China Best to Live
Replies: 6
Views: 12045

Which City in China Best to Live

If you had the choice to live in Nanjing, Beijing or Shanghai, where would you live and why or why not?
What is a good housing allowance for a single in each city?
As always, thanks in advance :)
by counselme
Mon Jan 09, 2017 11:53 am
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: UAE-What's a good package?
Replies: 4
Views: 8374

UAE-What's a good package?

There are so many schools in UAE. So many jobs. How to decide what is a good package.
What is a good salary (annual 12 month salary $US). Let's assume comfortable housing, medical, annual travel home is also included. What are the potential savings given travel and reasonable living for a single?

As always, thanks in advance.

Happy New Year, Everyone.
by counselme
Mon Jan 09, 2017 11:44 am
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: Cameroon and Ethiopa
Replies: 68
Views: 169912

Re: Cameroon and Ethiopa

Take a look at the UK travel advisory for Ethiopia before you venture out of the capital city.
by counselme
Mon Jan 09, 2017 11:28 am
Forum: Forum 2. Ask Recruiting Questions, Share Information. What's on Your Mind?
Topic: Salary Ranges?
Replies: 11
Views: 22803

Re: Salary Ranges?

Thames Pirate wrote:
> We make far more here than in our HOR. Where are people working that pays
> so little (or where are the HOR schools that pay so well)?
Canada pays well, has good pension plans and benefits; strong unions. In America, wages go from dismal to good depending on the State. UK is low.
by counselme
Wed Dec 21, 2016 11:03 pm
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: How safe is Egypt at the moment?
Replies: 27
Views: 46916

Re: How safe is Egypt at the moment?

Hi Joe, can you tell me a bit more about your experience in Egypt? Sounds like you didn't think there is much for expats to do there? Thanks for your comments.
by counselme
Wed Dec 21, 2016 3:39 pm
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: How safe is Egypt at the moment?
Replies: 27
Views: 46916

Re: How safe is Egypt at the moment?

Thank you PsyGuy. I am just playing devil's advocate and discussing the issue. It is not personal to my situation. I'm on a different continent. Hope you have a lovely holiday.
Take care,