If you work under a good supervisor, you can quickly learn sales techniques.
But if you happen to have a supervisor who doesn't really pay attention to you, you'll have to figure things out on your own (that's what happened to me).
As for the course content and instructors, they are pretty good. You can indeed achieve results by learning here; this is not some kind of scam company.
However, if you are considering working here, you should think twice.
[Preface]
Although other forum members have already shared information about the interview and the nature of the work, the company seems to have made some adjustments this year or last year.
So I’m updating the information to give everyone a clearer idea of TutorABC’s current recruitment situation, interviews, training, and job content.
[Personal Background]
Position applied for: Language Consultant (telemarketing sales)
Application year: 2017
Current status: No longer employed
[Interview Process]
Overall, the interview process was very unprofessional. Apart from the extremely long wait and the standardized questionnaire, the interview with the supervisor was also rather perfunctory. After I finished my self-introduction, I was asked within just a few minutes whether I had any questions. The important aspects of the job were not clearly explained either. I only gained a better understanding after asking HR afterward. If you want to understand the job clearly, I suggest directly registering as a TutorABC member. A specialist will immediately ask whether you want to learn English, allowing you to get a concrete idea of what the job entails.
[Hiring]
They notify you by e-mail, and once you complete the form, you are considered hired. On the first day, bringing the documents required for check-in makes you an official employee.
A specialist will explain the salary, how performance is calculated, and so on, and then ask you to sign a whole stack of confidentiality agreements.
Attention!!! There is no longer a one-week training period with transportation allowances. You are hired directly to start working at the company!
Many of the people who joined with me probably went there just like I did after reading the posts on the forum, naively thinking they could consider the job after completing training. Only afterward did we realize that we had been pulled directly into working.
[Training Content]
Because they repeatedly emphasized the importance of the confidentiality agreement before classes even began, and constantly reminded us not to do anything that could damage the company’s image, everything from this point on is something I supposedly dreamed up myself. I will not disclose the company’s internal course information or add any subjective feelings; everyone can judge for themselves. The information is also somewhat fragmentary, so please forgive me. The training included:
1. Signing a confidentiality agreement of more than 10 pages, watching two videos about confidentiality, and taking an exam. In addition, mobile phones cannot be used in the office, company information cannot be taken outside under any circumstances, and all communication software is provided by the company.
2. We were told not to pursue only our own interests, but to put the company’s interests first. Employees were also required to memorize TutorABC President Yang’s saying:
“Do the right thing; don’t do things that benefit only yourself.”
3. They acknowledged that the company’s online reputation was not very good and explained that poorer records were unavoidable during the early stages of the company’s development.
4. They were determined to eliminate other cram schools and online tutoring websites, with the intention of monopolizing the market.
5. Most of the course consisted of learning through videos, and we were expected to understand all of the company’s features and operating model within three days.
In short: the job information was opaque, the pre-employment indoctrination was intense, there was constant image-polishing, and the training process was rough (employees were not valued).
[Actual Work]: Telemarketing
I was not there for long, so some of this is based on my rough observations. Take it as reference.
1. Working hours (flexible scheduling): Mid shift 10:00–20:00, late shift 13:00–22:00
Although there are two one-hour breaks during the day shift, you are actually already at the company for more than 10 hours.
Moreover, since I joined the company, no one has ever left work on time. Day-shift employees basically stay until 10 p.m. There are two reasons:
First: You schedule trial lessons with customers, and customers all choose times after 8:00 p.m., so it is impossible for you to leave at 8:00 p.m.
Second: There is performance pressure, so your supervisor will not let you leave.
Adding everything together, you spend 12 hours at the company! Sometimes it is even later and longer! Excessive overtime is a serious issue!
2. Days off:
The Labor Standards Act stipulates eight days off per month, but supervisors will not schedule eight days for you either; you usually get only five or six. You can ask your supervisor for more, but first you have to see what kind of mood they are in.
3. Environment:
The seats are fairly spacious, the lighting is bright, and the atmosphere is nice. The coworkers are also very friendly, but the supervisors are more likely to single people out. Mobile phones and communication software cannot be used in the office, so it is a relatively closed work environment.
[Advice for Applicants]
Sales work is very realistic: the strong get stronger, and the weak get weaker. People with good performance can rise smoothly, while those whose performance is consistently poor have a hard time turning things around. Since this involves the company’s performance system, I will leave it at that. If you lack the perseverance, determination, patience, and understanding that you may be exploited by the company, do not be dazzled by the high salary; find an industry that suits you. If you can tolerate long working hours and find enjoyment or a sense of achievement in this high-pressure work environment, this might be a place where you can make the most of your abilities. I have seen excellent salespeople take more than ten days off in a month and still achieve very good results. I have also seen people take fewer than six days off in a month, perform consistently poorly, and receive only the base salary. So it depends entirely on the individual.
[Final Summary]
In the end, I still resigned. Actually, I had no particular complaints about the work. I knew what I was getting into when I joined, found enjoyment in the work, and my performance was also quite good. What I could not accept was the company’s style and its attitude toward employees. I resigned for the following three reasons:
1. The company’s recruitment and interview processes were too careless: HR recruitment was essentially a scattershot approach. They did not screen candidates properly and confusedly dragged people in to work, without clearly explaining the job content during the interview. They hired a bunch of unsuitable people, wasting applicants’ time and money. The pre-employment training was also completely half-hearted. Employees were not treated with respect; instead, they were expected to respect the company unconditionally.
2. The job information was not transparent: On the surface, they said you would get off work at 8:00 p.m., but it had actually been predetermined that this would be impossible. I even think it bordered on deception. Deliberately postponing the start time and adding an hour for dinner was already very sly. They also failed to clearly communicate this information during the interview, so you only found out after actually starting work. They were fundamentally toying with employees.
3. The company was excessively secretive about its confidential information: Employees were treated like thieves and constantly guarded against. We had to sign a pile of confidentiality agreements, while the company also sought to extract profits from us. If you truly believe the product is good and the company is excellent, is it necessary to act as if you have a guilty conscience, like a thief? This is the part I cannot accept.
At present, TutorABC’s job is all appearance and no substance: it looks bright and polished on the outside, but is a complete mess internally. Everyone can wait until it goes public and the information becomes transparent before considering it. It is currently recruiting large numbers of people, so presumably it will also cut employees quickly in the future. Everyone should consider it carefully.
With that, I wish everyone good fortune and success.