Pros
* Competitive salary. Frequent increases with job performance reviews. * Closely-monitored teams, easy to ask for help/advice; hard work and initiative never go unnoticed. * Fast-paced, rarely dull; a balance of paperwork, running around with children, and quiet office time. * The students you teach are curious, fearless, confident, instantly intrigued by you. None of the negative experiences in other learning milieus are had here. * Inspiring team of senior mentors, often consisting of Cosmotots alumni and returning staff that have once left the company to pursue other fields. Tells you a lot about how the company treats their human resource. * Never stagnant; management is willing to listen to suggestions and improve on issues in line with the company's vision and values. * Meaningful work. From top management to Senior mentors, the company is all about student-centered learning.
Cons
* Pay structure can be improved; lots of overtime pay and allowances, but when you first start out, basic salary can be low. * Stringent hiring standards; one has to be a good fit for the company, be proficient in English and show potential to work with diverse age groups to pass the 3-month probation. * One must be a reader, or at least be willing to start – not so much a con, but a stumbling rock for many new hires. It is expected, given that teaching early literacy, cultivating readership and scholarship is the company's raison d'être. * Reading assignments after work hours and on weekends is either something you enjoy / learn to enjoy / try not to complain about. * Turnover rate can be high for the same reasons above. * Staff cannot be complacent. Classes will change, and so will work load, hours, travel distance, as well as the age groups you work with. Very manageable if you view this diversifying your skills and being a flexible/reliable employee; but stressful if you don't do well with change. However, top management has always been fair to review changes every 3-4 months, and respect individual preferences.