OPPORTUNITY OR CHEAP LABOUR? Help don't know what to do?

Question

Ok.... I haven't worked for a couple of years as I'm a full time undergraduate student. I decided that I really want to look for a decent part time job but needed something up to date on my CV in order to have a decent chance of success.

I saw a position on advertised on a well known travel website for "Native English speaking VOLUNTEERS to speak English for 6 days to professional Spaniards in SPAIN" you "get to stay in a hotel is a fantastically converted medieval Monastery, with the restaurant boasting fine cuisine" and "will have your own spacious en-suite room with all meals/drinks and transfers paid for"......

Ok so it's unpaid for 6 days, the volunteers have to speak English for 15 hours a day to business clients and the volunteers have to pay for thier own flights and hotel accommdoation the night before the programme starts..

Good idea or bad idea ?

no it's not a scam the company is very well known...

Flights are about £60 return and the accommodation for one night is about £16 if I stay in a youth hostel.

I really have no intention of embarking upon this sort of work in the future.. I just need something to put on my CV. Strangely enough I want to work in Human Rights and International Development in Rwanda!!

Answer 1

I do not understand why answerers are calling this a "con" or a "scam." It is neither of those things if all the costs you will pay, and all the benefits that they will cover, are outlined to you before you sign up. You sound like you have read the small print and know exactly what's involved, so you are not going to be taken advantage of in any way.

In terms of costs, think of it this way - add up the cost of the hotel, food/drinks, transfers, whatever else they're covering - the total is basically equivalent to a salary for six days. If you had a job in your home country, your employer wouldn't cover those things.

What you're being asked to pay for is actually very little. Sad but true - the cost of a flight to Spain *can* be cheaper than a rail ticket to London from many parts of the country (even including the Home Counties), and yet if people choose to travel to London to work, they don't expect their employers to cover the cost of the train fares.

I get what you're saying - you really need experience more than anything at this point. You'll find that you do get valuable experience, and you'll probably be able to get a great reference out of it. You'll probably have a great time and you'll meet people from all over, who you wouldn't have met otherwise. So I think in all, it's a GOOD IDEA!

Actually, it's not unlike people who travel to work in American summer camps. Even though food and board is covered, you are paid a pittance and you have to pay for your own flights, so for those that travel from places like Australia and New Zealand they end up well out-of-pocket. BUT people have done this for years and will continue to do it, because it's all about the experience and they have a great time whilst they're there (I've been).

My only concern about this would be that 15 hours is a very long working day. Are you sure that's correct?

Answer 2

Sorry to hear you lost your job. I've been there and it isn't a nice place to be. I would say that anything is better than the dole, to keep your pride, your sense of self. Even if it means working as a cleaner in the morning and an usher or waiter in the evening to make ends meet. You do not say which job you were in, but you cannot let this get you down. Use the time to work out what you ARE good at - what are your strengths - and concentrate on those. What were you good at when you were at school? What did you like doing when you were at home? For example, if it was playing computer games, is there a game shop and are they hiring? If not, keep going in there, prove you are serious. What are your weaknesses? How can you minimise them? For example, if you are not good at English grammer :-) then can you spend some time at the library and catch up? If you want to get, and keep, a job, you have to prove you are better than the rest when push comes to shove. The only way you can do that is be the best as you can. Above all, smiles are free, give one away today! First impressions count at interviews. Good luck!

Answer 3

Firstly, its not unpaid if they are providing the accomodation and food/drink as you've described. You need to ask them a few questions, and to have a written contract. Its a good opportunity to get some work experience, particularly if this is the type of work you'd like to do. You need to cost the flights and find out how much the one nights accomodation will cost you before you go any further.
Be prepared to ask some questions, but if you are happy with the answers, and get the details and contract in writing, not just an email, then I'd go for it.

Answer 4

But if the opportunity is at least paying for your hotel stay, then you can still take advantage of it by having some business cards printed up for what you REALLY want to do. Then when you meet these people you can slide in a little about what you can do for their business. It can become a step in the right direction for working for yourself.

Make it an opportunity.

Answer 5

1) You don't get paid.
2) You pay for your flight.
3) You work 15 hours a day.
4) Its to business clients, its not charity work.
5) Slavery was abolished. If this company wants the work done they should pay people.

Answer 6

Cheap labor, if you are paying all the expenses and working 15 hour days for no pay, the company is a scam artist. They will probably put you up in a dingy hotel and leave you stranded.

Run, don't walk, away from this opportunity.

Answer 7

Sounds like a scam to me. I'm sure they could find locals that speak fluent English for less expense to them. I'd stay as far away from this as possible.

Answer 8

If you have to pay for ANYTHING- flights etc, it's a con. BAD idea!!

Answer 9

Good idea - if nothing else you'll get a tan.