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Q: Has anyone dealt with Satifirst human resources (teacher agency) in the past?
I've been seeking English teaching work in China and I have been in touch with Satifirst, a recruitment agency based in Shenzhen. I was wondering if anyone has dealt with them in the past and what they are like? I realise dealing with a school directly is much better, however I am in Thailand just now and every job posted seems to be through an agency.
I am dubious to this as I was sent a contract after a 20 minute Skype interview. They have then told me that I will not know what school I will be placed in until I arrive in Shenzhen and do some training.
8 years 45 weeks ago in Teaching & Learning - Shenzhen
"They have then told me that I will not know what school I will be placed in until I arrive in Shenzhen..."
That's a good sign that you'll be farmed out to schools that DO NOT have the SAFEA license to hire foreigners...which is illegal.
Only IF the actual school is licensed to hire foreigners can an agency legally place you there.
martinc84:
How could I find out if that is the case?
According to them, I will be put through training and evaluation before being placed in a school. Does this type of thing happen regularly?
Sinobear:
Ask if the schools are registered with SAFEA and can issue your work permit themselves.
icnif77:
Enter 'SAFEA' in search above for address and contact numbers in your Province. Call them up, and ask them for details about Satifirst.
...contemplating here......You too, 
Sino!
It's not necessary, Co. doesn't hold authorisation for FT hire. Co. can disperse FTs to schools around China. Authorised schools can further apply for Working permit and Invitation letter. Once, FT enters China with Z, school change Z to Residence permit at local SAFEA/FEB -----> Education First Kunshan.
Other possibility is Co. sponsors Z (apply for Working permit), and after FT enters China, school finish formalities on registering FT at SAFEA and RP at PSB in work city. ------> Helen Group.
IMO, school/Co. with such a name ('Satifirst') doesn't hold Gov. authorisation for FT hire.
Search and ye shall find....
http://answers.echinacities.com/question/has-anyone-worked-or-heard-sati...
they get complaints in this topic but sometimes anonymous posts used to be added to bad mouth companies.
More here: http://www.shenzhenstuff.com/m/discussion?id=1343813%3ATopic%3A8009648
you could try searching yourself online...the above took 5 minutes! Maybe more information out there. Good luck.
martinc84:
I have read both of these things but they are not very helpful. Seems to me as it's mostly from someone holding a grudge due to a bad experience (perhaps not being paid).
Hotwater:
I'd be inclined to agree with you. We've seen it a lot on here where a poster would ask about a company/school/training centre to then get a reply from a new poster slagging them off. There is probably more information out there but I didn't go past the first page of the search.
Meat least this is now in the answered section so you may get better feedback.
"They have then told me that I will not know what school I will be placed in until I arrive in Shenzhen..."
That's a good sign that you'll be farmed out to schools that DO NOT have the SAFEA license to hire foreigners...which is illegal.
Only IF the actual school is licensed to hire foreigners can an agency legally place you there.
martinc84:
How could I find out if that is the case?
According to them, I will be put through training and evaluation before being placed in a school. Does this type of thing happen regularly?
Sinobear:
Ask if the schools are registered with SAFEA and can issue your work permit themselves.
icnif77:
Enter 'SAFEA' in search above for address and contact numbers in your Province. Call them up, and ask them for details about Satifirst.
...contemplating here......You too, Sino!
It's not necessary, Co. doesn't hold authorisation for FT hire. Co. can disperse FTs to schools around China. Authorised schools can further apply for Working permit and Invitation letter. Once, FT enters China with Z, school change Z to Residence permit at local SAFEA/FEB -----> Education First Kunshan.
Other possibility is Co. sponsors Z (apply for Working permit), and after FT enters China, school finish formalities on registering FT at SAFEA and RP at PSB in work city. ------> Helen Group.
IMO, school/Co. with such a name ('Satifirst') doesn't hold Gov. authorisation for FT hire.
if you are not already in china they have to send you all docs to your homecountry to apply working permit
martinc84:
Unless I have a work or residency permit from the country I am in.
If they sent you a contract, then it should have the specific school listed. If it does not, then the contract is nothing to you. Either the company is not legal. Or, they are farming you out. Either way, I would say adios to them. Always trust your gut feeling. Contracts should always list your school on them. Read every part of your contract and question everything. If it is vague, make it firm. If you think something needs to be added or changed, get it done. I know contracts don't hold much water in China. But, it is the only thing protecting you. No agency or school is going to look out for your interests. They are too busy looking out for their own. So, be firm. That does not mean you have to come across as an asshole or a dictator. But, you need to show that you are serious about your personal welfare. I have two rules. 1) Don't mess around with my money and 2) don't play games with my visa and residence permit.
martinc84:
I have stated to them exactly what I expect from them. I'm not going into this lightly and I do have other offers on the table, this one has offered a good deal but there are 2 more offers that I reckon I would choose over this.
One thing I have noticed though is that only one agency I have dealt with has actually told me the school I would be working at so it seems like a very uncommon practice.
icnif77:
I sent few CVs two days ago, and I think I spoke to an agency also yesterday, which agent told me the name of the school and location right of the bat. Maybe, I'm lucky.
I have few Chinese trusted placement agents:
Skype handles:
- 'Allen Jia' - email enkebeijing@hotmail.com
- 'Belita Qi' - email belitaqi@outlook.com
- 'Linda' - email teachinglanguage2009@gmail.com
Either send them an email, or add their handles on Skype, and ask for chat. See the offers they have.
If they'll ask you, you can tell them you got contacts from 'icnif'. Good luck!
What I meant was, the OP talked about signing a contract before even seeing the school - not even knowing WHERE he will work.
If a Z visa is given by an AGENCY, and the agencies name is written on the FEC/AEP but he works for another company altogether - that's deemed illegal employment
Most company names are written with the city at the start such as 北京市....(company name here) 广州市。。。。company name here..
What I was trying to point to the OP is signing a contract with an agency is meaningless. the SAFEA contract with the school AND the teacher is the one that counts; and if he's caught with a Z visa sponsored by Company A but working for B - that's illegal employment. Just a friendly warning as MOST teachers fall for the whole F visa tourist visa scam by agencies.
About that linkhttp://sie.dlut.edu.cn/info/10112/86230_6.htm
Web link must be always posted below or above the text:
http://sie.dlut.edu.cn/info/10112/86230_6.htm
That's good web link. Thx!
However, in China that's only theory, especially if one is working in small city.
I'm dealing with them now as I type this (Satifirst)
dont go threw an agency many schools hiring direct if u need a school let me know our school is hiring in xian
Hotwater:
I hope you're not an English teacher as yours is bloody awful!
dont go threw an agency many schools hiring direct if u need a school let me know our school is hiring in xian
