***Are you preparing for your Phone Interivew???***
After reading countless blogs and not being able to find out about what the phone interview was like I thought I'd give you a heads up about what came up during my interview.
Firstly I need to say that getting them to call at or around the time they advised was a huge problem in itself.
I received an email on Firday for a scheduled interview on Tuesday. After confirming straight away that everything was good to go I waited all day for a phone call at 6pm (4pm BJS time). The phone call never came but at 7.50pm the same night I received a call/voicemail saying they were sorry for the delay and to call them back. My initial response to this was it was an international phone line and they were aomost 2 hours late which led me to believe my impression of the school/company themselves was disappointing. I've never been late for an interview and usually if one partner is late its not a good sign. Anyway, I emailed i-to-i and the contact in Chinawho set up the interview and rescheduled for another day same time. Thinking last night would be different it wasn't. I waited again for the call at 6pm which came at 9.
It lasted 7 minutes and the questions I was asked was -
* Tell me about yourself and why you signed up to teach English?
* How do you feel about being placed in the other areas away from the city?
* What do you know about China/Why do you want to teach here and what have you heard about the classes in China?
* How did you feel about the TEFL course?
Im sure there was another two but I have a totally mind blank atm.
He didn't ask about grammer or how I'd teach a lesson plan. the interviewer was an employee at the partner company in China. I felt I couldn't ask him much about the school and my queries specifally questions that matter include - how safe are the building blocks and how far is it from the school and are the rooms furnished? He could only answer general questions which made it hard to decide if it would be the right school for you. (I know they assign the school on arrival in Beijing but perhaps this is what they can improve on- giving interns a better idea of where they are staying)
Lastly, he advised that I'd hear from them within 2 weeks. Fingers crossed if I get accepted!
Hope this helps! :)And hoping to see you all in August.
From Sunny and cold Sydney! x
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Hi All, Just so you know- I was not successful in my phone interview for apparent unknown reason only the Chinese counterparts know. I really don't understand. English is my first language I have worked in numerous organisation speaking to COOs, CEOs and CFOs and I have a Bachelors degree in an Reputable Australian Universities - I think its a bunch of bollocks. There was no reason my application should have been rejected I completed the course requirements and online assessments well before it was due. I dont think they are professional at all. I honestly believe I was not given a fair chance. Not worth wasting your money espesically if you are Australian wanting to teach English overseas. I did the course as it was a requirement of the internship program. I think people should know that it is not right. How many other people have signed up only to be knocked back by a 'third party' and then still have to pay for the course? Its a scam to pay for the course with the hope of travelling to china. I would not recommend i-to-i to anyone. Thanks
Hi, This is great insite i submitted all of my application the other day and am waiting to hear back from them. How long did it take for you to hear back from them? I am getting a little nervous as the deadline for applications is the 28th May and I am still waiting to hear back!! Which area did you opt for in your application?
Good Luck with your job, let us know when you hear back from them!
I think Rin is right, one of the main reasons for the phone interview is to make sure you have a western accent. If your worried why not get in touch with the following people who are on the internship now, they should be able to tell you how their interviews were:
http://www.tefl-chalkboard.com/roberts121
http://www.tefl-chalkboard.com/rozel09
Good Luck!
Hi :)
I am not going on the internship, but, my phone interview with a Chinese school was very similar!!
I was asked... Are you white? This was the first question. I had already sent a photo, so they should have known this! I was asked Why do you want to teach in China? And I was asked Have I ever visited China before? I was given a few minutes to ask any questions I had, to which as kbumanglag above said, they didn't really seem to know the answers. The important ones being about the accommodation, the school, if there was a curriculum, etc. And that was pretty much it. I had two of these 'interviews' with two different schools and a follow up on Skype with the second school. The follow up was actually with the school FAO and she was really nice and a lot more helpful. Needless to say, I didn't go with the first school, though It seems that this is the way things are in China... At least for me anyway!
I figure, after my first contract, when I am actually within China looking for my next job, I will have a better time. As I can actually visit the school and speak in person with the teachers and stuff.
P.S. I was also told that the phone interview is normally to make sure you sound western enough without a massively strong accent or anything.
Wow thanks, that does give me some new insight.... I'd really like to go with "i to i"
but I do have some doubts.... I have read a lot here as well and to be honest they do not sound
very organised and a lot of the stuff you have to do/complete by your self....
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