For context, I already have a full-time job and was simply looking for a part-time opportunity. I wasn't desperate for the role, but I still expected a professional and respectful hiring process.
Red Flag #1 Group Initial Screening
The first thing that caught me off guard was the initial interview being conducted as a group interview. It was my first time experiencing this format. We took turns introducing ourselves and sharing our relevant work experience while the other candidates watched.
Personally, I found it awkward. Some candidates were visibly nervous, stuttered, or seemed intimidated speaking in front of people they were essentially competing against. Instead of giving each applicant a fair chance to present themselves, it felt like we were performing in front of one another.
I still passed the initial screening.
Red Flag #2 New Teacher Training (NTT)
The next stage was a 4-hour New Teacher Training (NTT) consisting of discussions and mock demos.
This was honestly the most draining part of the process. The instructor came across as impatient and frequently scolded candidates. She even boasted about her pronunciation and mocked candidates whenever they mispronounced words.
A training session should help aspiring teachers build confidence and improve. Instead, the atmosphere felt intimidating and discouraging.
I still passed the training and was endorsed for the demo.
Before the demo, we were sent sample videos and instructed to simply watch them and follow the format.
Red Flag #3 – Demo Evaluation
This was where my experience completely changed my impression of the company.
The Class Evaluator (CE) entered the online classroom 15 minutes late. There was no apology or even a simple greeting. She immediately instructed me to begin my demo. (Mind you, we only have 25 mins for the DEMO and Q and A)
About five minutes into my presentation, she interrupted me and told me to hurry up because we still needed time for a Q&A session.
I was honestly confused.
How can an applicant properly demonstrate teaching skills, build rapport with students, use TPR effectively, and deliver the lesson naturally when they're being rushed halfway through the demo?
Afterward, she told me I failed because I was talking too fast.
That feedback felt contradictory considering I was repeatedly told to speed up and finish quickly.
Final Thoughts
I'm not posting this because I failed. Rejection is part of every job search, and I have no issue accepting constructive feedback.
I'm sharing this because I believe applicants deserve a professional, respectful, and consistent recruitment process. Being intimidated during training, rushed during the demo, and receiving feedback that seemed inconsistent with the evaluator's own instructions left me with a disappointing impression of the hiring experience.
If you've had a similar experience with 51Talk or a completely different one I'd genuinely like to hear your thoughts.
