I had the worst interview today ever.
Some background: I’m independently contracted as an English as a Second Language teacher for a company in China. I’ve been with them since Feb 2019. However, due to the ministry of education enforcing new laws in China, the ESL market is in decline. I’m honestly surprised the company I’m with is still operating as usual (besides following the restrictions of no weekend classes or classes over holiday breaks). As of recent, lots of teachers have not had their contracts renewed and since this is my main source of income, I’ve been looking at the job market.
I have a BA and graduated top of my class in 2020. I’m also chronically ill and need a job that is flexible-which leaves me with tutoring.
The interview I had is what brings me here today. I applied for an English and writing tutor position with a small company. They stated on Indeed the pay would be $20-30/hr. Evening schedule. Some weekends. No requirement of teaching certificate, just need a BA and one year of experience.
Sounds perfect. A lot of ESL is focusing on vocabulary, reading comprehension, literacy, etc. I apply, and within a day the owner of the company messages me and tells me how impressed she is with my experience. We set up an interview.
The interview begins and she starts going over my position as an ESL teacher. Then starts to degrade the company I’m with and my experience/knowledge. In turn talking up her company and how it’s much more challenging than what the ESL company I work for is. Tells me she could offer $15/hr (I currently make $20/hr with the ESL company). I correct her and say “well the posting said $20-30/hr” and she goes “oh yes but that is for teachers who have 10-20 years experience” -well maybe that should have been clarified in the job posting.
Then she sees I have experience as a personal assistant. Immediately muted herself and I thought it was on accident and told her she muted herself-she apparently was talking to her daughter. Then roughly 5-7 minutes later her daughter joins in on the Zoom meeting. Starts talking to me about the role of being an assistant AND teacher aid. So instead of one position, they want me to do two now. For $15/hr. They also wanted me to write a promotional article on their company to determine if my writing style would be a good fit. Well I remained polite and just let the interview end. Now I am receiving texts about what information they want in the article and they want me to have it completed by 4pm.
I blocked the number. I can’t believe I just sat through that and let them berate me.