It is not recommended especially for senior people above 40 years of age to apply for freelance jobs in this organization
Frankly speaking, it is not a place for senior people to work for such an organization albeit as a freelancer. The supervisors are mostly much younger people with the typical "corporate" attitude. Mostly, they work fulltime in IT and other good companies and supervise test events during the weekends. And dont ask about the attitude of these guys and girls. They treat the invigilators (who are also freelancers like them) very cheaply. They are admonished and humiliated for silly reasons.
The sad part is that the top management monitors all these things sitting either in Chennai or somewhere in Gurgaon. They are eventually bothered about conducting the test events seamlessly without the slightest concern about the working conditions of the ground level staff.
Taking advantage of this, the supervisors play their game of politics and dictatorship to the maximum extent possible.
Hence I wouldn't recommend people especially people above 40 years applying for freelance jobs in this organization.
Organization connect young people with learning opportunities and creative ideas.
The British Council is the United Kingdom's international organisation for educational opportunities and cultural relations. The British Council creates international opportunities for the people of the UK and other countries and builds trust between them worldwide.
We work with a wide range of Indian partners in cities all over India enabling British and Indian experts to meet and collaborate and to nurture mutually beneficial relationships.
A typical day at work would be filled with lot of interactions with customers, internal and external both, sharing expereinces, providing suggestions and strategy planning. Amongst the strict deadlines there is always a fun filled team meetings, where ideas are shared and issues listened to.
Working together, creating a shared purpose and collaborating ideas is key to the successful business and people within the organization.
Woking with britih Council was a matter of Pide, was fun and the Working conditions were excellent
I was Feelancing with British Council for the last 2 years. was working with Cipla pharmaceuticals till recent. It was all about maintaining relationships with the Doctors and maintaining and creating new business and managing the territory as a whole. Learned a lot of things working with Cipla, organising, scheduling, setting goals, planning, means to achieve them, working as a team, leading, presenting, and the list goes on. The hardest part was being forced to get off from that job rather the sector, pharmaceutical. The most enjoyable part of the job was Medical meetings arranged for the Doctors, where we had a chance to freely interact with the Doctors, create an added rapo and have some fun too.
ProsFree Lunch during meetings, travel allowances, additional perks while travelling, incentives, accommodation/allowance
ConsCollecting sales and stock reports from the stockists was a bit tough
The freelancing job (Invigilation) covers conducting Exams for different universities globally. It involves in setting up and exam room before the exam, being vigilant and performing administrative tasks during exam and evaluating performance post exam.
This is the only job where you finish your days work in the same day and start the new day fresh. No targets.
A great place to learn customer interactions with having the opportunity to grow very quickly.
One can work for few days in a month and make a good enough salary for a month.
No age limit to apply for this job.
The working days in goa are limited as the number of people taking exams are limited.
Invigilators do travel to other states of India to perform same work (company paid expense) (currently COVID-19 restrictions apply).
Pros7 hours including breaks, no targets
ConsFreelancing in goa - few number of working days as compared to other cites/states
Conduct voice tests which gives me the opportunity to interact with a lot of people from different walks of life. I learnt to write productive emails, presentation skills, learnt what not to say as well. I have access to a relevant skills development data which has benefited me .
I understood the importance of positive communication skills and assertiveness in the work environment.
The management is encouraging to newcomers and guides them in the right direction. There are various departments so as a Freelancer there is a lot of scope for me to work with different departments and learn more skills.
However, the most enjoyable part of the job is that it has a lot of scope to grow if one is patient. I could be a part of an organisation that has a lot of scope to grow.
Prosfree tea, hourly paid salary is satisfactory, diverse work opportunities
I have learnt so many new things and how to Execute it productively
Working Hours in British Council is good enough and you only have to work from 9 to 5 only including 1 hour lunch. I have learned how to work in professional environment and at field how to manage a team and crowd. Communication with clients at initial level and 2nd level manage and recruitment of resources for field work or free lance.
British Council workplace place culture gives you an environment where you can grow your leadership skills and other management skills. British Council believes in EDI (Equality, Diversity and Inclusion).
Enjoyable part of job when company gives you chance to travel to PAN India and work with different teams and provides you opportunities to grow.
A typical day at work does not exceed more than 9 hrs most of the time. It is full of interactions with all levels externally & internally.
I learned how to meet deadlines, attended number of trainings,most importantly AR certification.
Management is fairly cooperative.
A little less of team spirit feeling (according to me),nevertheless all good colleagues.
Hardest part of the job none until I try it & achieve it.I learned from this organisation is there is nothing that you cant do what others can unless you don't want to do.
Most enjoyable part is to getting to know people located in far flung areas through work.
Poor rate of pay for freelancers, lots of process oriented work
Work culture is formal, you get a lot of networking opportunities with English professors, trainers; work is simple : customer and process focused, but rate of pay is just Rs 140 an hour and 7-8 hours of work (7-10 days a month). this So those who depend on it full time - and will face disappointment and frustration.
ProsLots of training, networking opportunities, some paid travel, English speaking atmosphere and mutual respect.
ConsPoor pay rate, lots of churn and turnover of staff, only part time work (1-2 days a week), management doesn't respond to queries nor prefers face to face interactions
Foreign mission with a non profit outlook in India
I have thoroughly enjoyed working in British Council. I was in charge for Library Automation and with the automation I actually brought culture change in BCD. Hardest part was to face colleagues who had lost their jobs because of Automation! The most enjoyable part was the successful implementation of automated system and process and use of internet during 1994-98 for information process and retrieval.
ProsEmployee friendly and rich culture
Consnon profit organisation with a profit target for sustenance
Working in this profile has given me broader knowledge about Business Development, Project Management, Administrative Support, Resource Management, Team Management and working in a diversified environment. It has provided me with learning for the avenues that lie ahead of me in my career. Working in this organisation has given a proficient and a sound start to my professional career, with nationalities that span the globe with an unbelievable network of opinions, friends and colleagues for life.
Joy in helping create opportunities for a better life
In my current position as Examinations Services Manager at British Council Qatar and previous job as Examinations services Officer at British Council Kuwait, I have successfully managed all examinations, ensured the security of exam papers and achieved my key result areas including P & L targets year on year. I have independently planned, executed and completed various tasks, assignments within deadlines for maximizing market opportunities. I have significantly contributed in the planning and execution of the exam paper security related initiatives and have successfully ensured zero security breaches throughout my career.
I posses strong strategic planning, development & execution skills which has empowered me to exceed the top and bottom line targets consistently. I have successfully achieved the revenue targets year on year and posses a strong ability to exploit market opportunities for both – the well established exams and any new exam with the right marketing strategy. I have proactively contributed in strategic planning for the unit and have also provided advise and guidance to Country Director on complex, difficult, and sensitive issues and recommended solutions to over come them. I have played a pivotal role in maintaining close and productive relationships with relevant local schools, government and business partners. This has helped us in expanding our services and generated good will among all. This excellent relationship management has significantly contributed
Opportunities to develop your role beyond the classroom
As an experienced EFL teacher who has worked for a number language schools, I can confidently say that the British Council is the best employer I have had the pleasure to work for so far. Professional development is taken seriously, teachers attend regular INSETTs and there are ample opportunities for junior and senior staff to develop their role according to their areas of interest and expertise. Staff motivation is high; many of my colleagues have trained up as Cambridge/IELTS examiners and/or been awarded qualifications such as DELTA and TYLEC while in post. Employees also have access to a range of free training, including regular webinars and an online course in Special Educational Needs. There are also opportunities for teachers to gain experience in mentoring, teacher training, life skills training, curriculum development, cross-departmental projects and contributing to the organisation's Diversity strategy. Sharing materials and good practice with colleagues around the organisational network is encouraged and there may be occasional opportunities to travel, particularly for senior teachers. Evening and weekend work may make teaching posts unsuitable for parents of young children, and employment for UK based teachers is basically non-existent. On balance, however, I would recommend the British Council as an employer, particularly to any EFL teacher looking to gain experience of teaching Young Learners.
ProsProfessional development, health insurance, match funded pension, holiday allowance
Good environnement, nice place to work with beautiful garden and lots of open space
My day as customer service coordinator usually started with reading my emails and answering customers' inquiries. I would do general admin work such as review invoices needed to be raised, making sure information on the website and on notice boards were up to date, make sure all statistics regarding Teaching Centre numbers were up to date. I had to make sure that my line managee had her tasks up to date and coach her on a day to day basis.
I've learned how to be an effective manager, I've learned how to multi--task and prioritize.
I really enjoyed working with such great co-workers at the British Council. Since we were quite a small team (about 20 people) we all knew each other pretty well, we exchanged work and ideas around lunch time and we all had a pretty good idea of what everyone was doing. It was very enjoyable.
The hardest part of the job was feeling sometimes that I wasn't really growing. There weren't any opportunites of advancing; I was going to do the same thing forever. Because it was a small office there weren't that many positions so no real possibilites of changing.
The most enjoyable part of the job was definately working with customers, working and meeting different people and knowing that they trusted and felt comfortable with you. I have created great relationship working as Customer Service Manager.
Prosworking hours flexibily, you could start when you wanted as long as you did 8hrs a day, great lunch time flexibility also
Conshaving to work on week-ends
1.0
Customer Service Representative | Hong Kong | 7 May 2018
Micromanagement, Poor Communication, Unproductive use of Employee, Lack of Honesty and Trust
The title of this review sadly only reflects some of the issues in the British Council.
The issues are predominately from the Sales and Customer Management within the British Council Hong Kong offices. Firstly the perks are 19days paid annual leave, full medical and benefits, and a comfortable office environment.
The downside of it all, seriously poor management with little to no managerial skills in running a sales or service team. Starting from the Head of Sales, down to the so-called Sales / Assistant Managers & Customer services ops managers whos daily job is to sit and watch and micromanage.
Customer operations manager & assistant managers do not deal with complaints from customers. They wonder why staff turnover is an issue. No sense of progression and forever in a sad dead end job.
Sales managers have no skills or idea what and how to motivate a team. Even worse proven in our smaller centre in TST. Head of sales cannot set realistic targets and lack hugely in communication skills. Office with many people do not interact with each other. There is no sense of working together or as a team.
A typical day involves sitting at the counter and waiting for students to turn up. Complete a test and hoping they buy a course from us.
What I've learned is that even a huge brand name like the British Council, it can still be managed by unskilled unprofessional managers.
The management and colleagues in this job were all fantastic, I worked there as an examiner for two years and I felt happy and supported throughout.
The part of the job I enjoyed most was the travelling, but post-covid this was scrapped, with employees working from home instead. A lot of people preferred this, and I can see how it would appeal to some, but it wasn't for me.
Some people found the work monotonous, since you're basically doing the same repetitive task all day long. It's not like you can switch your brain off either since you really have to concentrate on what you're doing. Personally I never minded that aspect of the job as it was low-pressure and the pay was good.
You can choose to work as much or as little as you like, with a minimum of only 6 days per month. Obviously, the more you work the more you get paid, and on average the more you work, the more you earn per hour worked, so there's an incentive to be available as much as possible.
The only major downside of this job for me was that it does not come with a lot of opportunities for advancement, nor does it enable you to transition easily into anything else. Unless you are actively studying another subject in your free time, it's easy to feel like you're trapped in a dead-end. At least it's a well-paid dead-end though.
I would definitely recommend this employer to anyone with the appropriate background who wishes to save up some money and is capable of getting their excitement from sources outside of
It is the Best Organization for internal employees
Everyday we use to maintain British Council Standards and the whole center standard services from pre-examination to after-examination process.
I've learned the test administration process from the start to the end include;
Receiving/Distribution of Question Papers/Answer Scripts
How to Secure Answer Scripts and Question Papers
Venue Branding up to British Council Standards
Proper Emergency Evacuation Plan and Briefing to Candidates
Adequate Arrangements for Hall/Rooms
Proper Daily Filing with all the necessary documentations
Packing and unpacking Question Papers
Briefing to Candidates about Examination Rules and Regulations
Supervisor Checklist
First Aid Solutions
Our management is very efficient and professional, that can notify your mistakes and appreciate your efforts on time.
Well Our Co-workers are always cooperative and comfortable to work with.
The hardest part of the job is to maintain standards all the time but when you do that consistently then it's part of your job. Next if you did a small mistake unintentionally try not to give justification, just listen and try not to repeat that mistake again.
The most important part of the job is when you communicate with different types of candidates and briefing on microphone in a big hall is kind of fun.
Prosprofessional working environment, respect and learning process
At British Council,being prepared before giving the product to the student is key.I get to the office at least two hours before my classes to prepare for my lessons,sourcing for supplimentary materials,which is challenging but edifying when the customer is satisfied.I then go to my classes and ensure my duty of teaching is well achieved.
I have learned how to effectively use electronic whiteboards and technology in the classroom to enhance learning.I have acquired training in teaching adults and young learners,with certifications in Child Protection.I have also learnt how to manage my time better in the classroom and outside.
At our Sharjah branch,the teaching staff is well close knit and we therefore work together in sharing ideas and material and also how to improve the center as a whole.As the center is not big,we have easy access to our managers who are very friendly and willing to to listen to students and teachers' needs.
I find a lot of gratification from my students when they really enjoy and benefit from the classes and actually give live feedback to me as their teacher and to management,as this is a big motivator. Education is an experience to both the student and the teacher,and a healthy and positive communication between them makes the learning process an edifying journey for both.
British Council internationally is known to be one of the best places to work. It equally focuses on catering to its clients and its staff.
A typical day at work would begin with passing through the door of the country representative of British Council who would happily come up and begin a small round of chit chat with every possible staff passing through his room. This would be followed by a team meeting at 10:00 am where all unit heads/unit officers had to brief the programmes head of the ongoing status of their respective unit.
Then at 10:30 we had to move on to our respective work stations. So, I would head to the customer service hall or the front office customer service team depending on my assignment for the day and cater to the queries of the customer on the phone/online or the front desk. Customers handled per day would usually be more than 100!
Some days would also include meetings with in house units like the British Council IELTS exams unit to discuss the new exam schedules.
Additionally, I also had to go to different districts of the country to conduct IELTS exams with members of the exams team and conduct IELTS marketing workshops in that respective city and even new citys at times.
ProsFlexible work hours. Had to complete 7.30 hours of work between 8 am to 7 pm
ConsSometimes had extensive out of city assignments that would last for 7 to 8 days at a streach!
2.0
English As A Second Language Teacher | Remote | 5 May 2023
Low pay and no hours
Prepare to be manipulated. They keep hiring and hiring and hiring new teachers on a temporary contract. If you don't like something you can't say anything. If you do, you're gonna be reminded by the management that your contact is temporary. They uploaded 9000 hours and had 280 teachers. Simple maths= 32 hours per teacher per month. Yet, they keep hiring. The rate is £11,13, and 15 per hour depending on a lesson.
Teachers constantly complain on teams that they can't get any hours for 2-3 weeks. Their complaints are either ignored or they are invited for a "talk" with management. Where the management tells you once again about company values of being positive and threatens you not to extend your contract.
If you don't sit in front of your computer and happen to miss the upload by an hour, that's it, you're getting nothing. Or you can burn your eyes out watching out for covers. The ratio of teachers to hours is ridiculous. So it's a survival game. And forget about having a permanent contract or any kind of job security, it's just not gonna happen. Because they don't care about staff retention. They'll just kick you out if you don't like something. The management will remind you again and again that you're replacable. So if you wanna work then shut up, peasant.
ProsYou get paid weekly
ConsPoor job security, low pay. Go to a Chinese school you'll earn more and probably have more respect for yourself too.
The British Council is an organisation which is perceived to have seasonal work. This is not the case at all. There is work thoroughout the year, from O and A level registration, to daily candidate queries via telephone/email and creating purchase orders on SAP ERP.
Working at the British Council has helped me develop interpersonal skills and self confidence. I have also learned how to use SAP ERP to settle account payables. Be able to work in a team was one of the major requirements at the Council and this is something that I'm extremely good at. My co-workers at the British Council were more like friends, who at no point would let you be over burdened with a task, each and everyone would be ever willing to lend a helping hand to complete a task.
Working as an examination services officer was very taxing at there are a lot of financial reprocussions as majority of the work revolves around registering candidates for O and A level examinations.
The most enjoyable part of the job was the satisfation of knowing that thousands of candidates are able to appear for an internationally recognised qualification and being a part of making such a thing possible is amazing.
Prosabundance of recreational activities available
Consmajor security issues because of the sensitivity of the council in pakistan
Questions And Answers about British Council
How did you feel about telling people you worked at British Council?
Asked 4 Jun 2017
British council is the best organization to deliver your skill, and always have good culture among the employees.
Answered 17 Jul 2019
Excellent work culture and job security
Answered 10 Nov 2018
Does British Council require background check? What kind of background check does British Council do and how long does British Council take to complete a background check?
Asked 11 Aug 2020
Yes,10-15 days
Answered 23 Aug 2022
It requires a mandatory background check from your previous workplace (references provided ) and a verification check for address and other proof which can take maxium of a week .
Answered 11 Feb 2022
How are the working hours at British Council?
Asked 9 Dec 2017
The working hours are 8-9 hours a day with tea breaks and lunch breaks provided (by company)
Answered 11 Feb 2022
8 hours in day
14 to 15 days job in month.
Answered 25 Apr 2019
What is the work environment and culture like at the company?
Asked 27 Dec 2021
Professional
Answered 23 Aug 2022
Inclusive and transparent.
Professional with room for humour and fun.
Great colleagues
Everyone is helpful and supportive
Answered 27 Dec 2021
On average, how many hours do you work a day at British Council?
Asked 15 Jan 2021
For HP or Freelance teachers, you choose your schedule and how many hours you will take up
