Concern over visa situation with job offer (Guatemala City)

An international school has offered me a job, but when I asked about paperwork needed for the work visa, I was told the first year they bring people in on a tourist visa for the first year and then you get the work visa for the 2nd year of the contract as it takes a year to get the residency visa and then work visa. Is this typical and how legal is it to work on a tourist visa? (like can I get arrested/thrown out of the country for it or is in like "yeah, it is illegal technically, but many do it and it is just overlooked). Please give input soon as I mist give them an answer in next week.