We are currently hiring several candidates to join our team. (Crete, Greece)

*** This post has been removed due to concerns regarding its legitimacy ***

We would like to make it clear we do not believe this advertisement was placed by the real Hotel Istron Bay or that they are guilty of any wrong doing.

A number of our readers have been in touch with their concerns regarding this ad, for Hotel Istron Bay Crete, and we have subsequently decided to remove it. If you have applied for a position with this advertiser we recommend that you read the following information.

One reader in particular described his application process in detail (the email he received after the interview is reproduced at the bottom of this post) and a few red flags stood out for us.

* Firstly, he was asked for money (280 Euro) for processing his work permit. Once this was paid he would be sent the round trip airfare. Aside from being naturally wary when asked for money by an employer, we have to wonder why this employer is willing to pay airfares but not the fees for the work visa. We do not believe it is a coincidence you will be sending your money first.

* Secondly, application for a Greek work permit for a non EU citizen can take months, not the 8 days suggested in the email sent to him. For more information on applying for a Greek Work Visa we checked with http://livingingreece.gr/2007/04/16/americans-or-other-non-eu-citizens-wanting-to-work-in-greece/#ixzz2PeLtOv4C who provided the following information:

“in order to be issued a work visa, you [must] wait for the potential employer to complete the paperwork, submit it to OAED (Manpower Employment Agency in Greece) and interior ministry, prove that there is not a single Greek or other EU citizen who can do this job, justify why you should be hired instead, then put up a deposit of several months salary (or ask you to do it). When/if it is approved, the official work invitation letter and work contract will be sent from Greece to the Greek embassy/consulate in your homeland, which will invite you to interview on their premises and hopefully approve and issue the visa. The process from start to end could be up to a year.”

* And, finally, the reader who sent this information to us is an EU national and so doesn’t require a work visa.

Other information from another of our readers regards the Skype interview: “it seems it will be audio only, not video. This is not something that a serious employer would do, especially not a 5 star hotel interviewing for front desk staff. It’s difficult enough persuading overseas employers in this day and age to accept a Skype interview with video, let alone one without.”

We had intended to simply delete this ad but we want anyone who has applied for these positions to see this message and show caution if they are asked to send any money.

The email sent to our reader who applied to this advertisement reads as follows:

”Hello [name removed],

Your employer has mandated us to contact you and provide you with information on the necessary documents that will help you in your journey to Crete, Greece. We are mandated to procure and process the relevant documents to facilitate your journey.

Here are the details and information regarding procurement of your travel documents and other supporting documents.
On behalf of Hotel Istron Bay Crete we will file a request at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs office which will authorize the Greek Consulate to offer you a residency work permit.

Please scan and send by e-mail your ID card.
Please send us your home address.

This will enable us to finalize all your necessary documents for your residency work permit.
It takes about 8 days for the formalities to be completed and then we will send by courier along with round-trip airfare, paid entirely by your employer.

Fees required for work permit application are:
– A Ministry of Foreign Affairs Certificate: 195 Euro
– B Work permit registration : 85 Euro

Proceed with remittance of required registration fee prior to the application registration (280 Euro) at the nearest Western Union or Money Gram money transfer office directly at our account office as details provided below:

Account name: First name: [name removed]
Last name: [name removed]

Account administration
Branch Office Rhodes Island , Greece.

After payment is done, please attach and send us the payment receipt. Please proceed with payment and as soon as we receive the payment we will file the request at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Please fill in the attached application.”