Job Discussion Forums

atimeforeverything · Joined: 01 Nov 2007 Posts: 18 Location: Busan, South Korea

Hey all! I am an American, with experience teaching ESL and a TESOL Cert, Bachelors Degree.

It seems almost impossible to find a job in Europe as an American.

Any thoughts, ideas? I am trying to find something immediately.

Thanks!

Becky

jonniboy · Posted: Sun Nov 04, 2007 7:16 pm Post subject:

Not at all. In the new EU it's possible for you to get a legal job. If you're thinking of the older EU ie the pre-2004 fifteen members then you could certainly work but just not legally unless you get remarkably lucky. It's then up to you to decide whether you can handle the hassle of having no legal protections.

atimeforeverything · Joined: 01 Nov 2007 Posts: 18 Location: Busan, South Korea

Most job postings Ive seen have said they want someone who is an EU national, or already has a Work Permit.

It's super frustrating!

john_n_carolina · Joined: 26 Feb 2006 Posts: 700 Location: n. carolina

atimeforeverything, you're gonna to spend a lot of timefornothing looking for 'legal' jobs. except Czechoslavakia and Poland. both, you need to be in-country. so, pack up your Tourister suitcase,North Face parka, a pair of gloves, and your ESL certificate and we'll see you at Prague International airport.

atimeforeverything · Joined: 01 Nov 2007 Posts: 18 Location: Busan, South Korea

so if you dont go legally, what kinda visa to you get? just a tourist?

john_n_carolina · Joined: 26 Feb 2006 Posts: 700 Location: n. carolina

...i believe just a passport. Spiral78 will probably know more. but, this topic has been discussed more than Paris Hilton's jail time. check the other country threads.

QatarChic · Joined: 06 May 2005 Posts: 445 Location: Qatar

jonniboy · Posted: Mon Nov 05, 2007 12:02 pm Post subject:

spiral78 · Joined: 05 Apr 2004 Posts: 11534 Location: On a Short Leash

atimeforeverything, as john writes, most of the 'old' EU countries (includes Greece, Spain, France, Italy, Portugal, etc) are nearly impossible for North Americans to get legal work in.

Spain, in particular, is a hotspot for illegal teachers - many, many people do it. But you've got to be able to take the stress and uncertainty of possible repercussions. Read through earlier threads on the forum for more info on this.

John, there is no Czechoslovakia!!
However, it's a valid point that North Americans can work legally in most of the 'new' EU, including Czech Rep, Slovakia, Hungary, Poland, etc. It's a hassle to get a work permit, but it's legally doable.

In either case, you need just to come with a passport - at the moment, US citizens aren't required to hold visas to enter any EU member country that I'm aware of.

And Qatarchic, great thanks for the kind words. Looks like I may be coming out to join you Teachers in the Sands in September (dog in tow). I'll no doubt be needing some info from you guys as the time gets closer.

QatarChic · Joined: 06 May 2005 Posts: 445 Location: Qatar

MO39 · Posted: Tue Nov 06, 2007 5:25 pm Post subject:

SirKirby · Joined: 03 Oct 2007 Posts: 261 Location: Barcelona, Spain

You want to apply to the smaller schools, and possibly in the smaller towns and cities. There, you'll find they have fewer problems with employing someone illegally -- in fact, some would rather do that as they save the social security payments.

A larger language school will probably just say no: it's just SO easy to find an EU national, hassle-free to employ. Why should they go to the trouble of employing anyone who hasn't got the right papers (they think)?

Here in Barcelona, lots of Americans (and other non-EU nationals) do find work (in the smaller schools, or doing private tuition), but -- that I know of -- very few of them legally employed.

mdk · Joined: 09 Jun 2007 Posts: 425

I am going to limp up like one of the gods of the copybook headings and say my say again...

Spain is such a nice place - why do you want to go over there and risk getting a bad name by working illegally? Instead you can go over and do the Camino de Santiago. It is so cheap that they practically pay you to walk it.

I myself just bought myself a ticket to Dublin so I can make my way to Seville and do the Camino del Sur in January when it isn't baking hot. In walking the Camino you get an excellent exposure to Spain and lots of chances to drop in on the odd out of the way school where it would be easier to find work....It's called networking.

Then if you like it so much you can scrape up enough of the ready to go find an immigration lawyer in Spain and do it all legally.

Or ... or.. you could go to Croatia which is a very nice place to live where they maybe aren't so snotty about having a work visa to teach english. If you can't have fun in Dubrovnik...just entre nous ... you probably can't have any fun in Spain anyway.

spiral78 · Joined: 05 Apr 2004 Posts: 11534 Location: On a Short Leash

Bumping the post up for new member.

AdamtheJohnson · Joined: 10 Nov 2008 Posts: 157