Job Discussion Forums

[jkp114]

Merhaba arkadaslarim!

Hope everyone is doing well! I would love to get some advice on my situation, and permit situation.

I am a graduate student in social work, graduating with my Masters in May 2012. After graduation I am very interested to move to Istanbul. I have been many times before, and I have many friends plus my boyfriend who live there. I have one year of experience teaching and counseling children, another year counseling adults and doing program development.

With my masters degree I am looking to get work at a variety of private or non-profit companies, which I am currently doing my best to network and job search. However, I would be very willing to teach english, preferably at a university or other school full-time. I will not be a flight risk, as I am looking to settle permanently and if I receive a decent job with potential for growth I would be more than happy to stay and continue teaching. I have been told by some others that it may not be necessary to take the time to pay for and get a CELTA, as I may not teach as my long-term career goal, and that a TESL or other certification may serve just as well.

My questions are:
1) What do you think my chances are to get a job?
2) What certification do you think I should pursue (if any)?
3) What salary should I expect or Require? (I plan to split rent with my boyfriend, live moderately frugally although we do enjoy going out, and make payments on moderate loan in USD)
4) What exactly is the permit situation?

THe permit is one of the things I am most confused about. I have had very conflicting advice about if I should try to find a job before I arrive, or once I get there. I know I need a residence permit and for that I need a certain amount of money in the bank. What is the amount? Does it need to be a Turkish bank? I have heard this takes about 1-3 months. Then I will HOPEFULLY get work visa sponsorship, which I know needs to go through turkish consulate in the USA. Doe this mean I will have to go BACK to US at this point? If so, maybe I should try to obtain a job while still in the US? Is it possible to get a resident permit while still in the US?


Even if you cant answer all of these questions, any information is helpful!!

Cok tesekkur ederim, iyi gunler!

[stevehamlyn87]

Not gonna try and answer all your questions, but as far as visa/permits goes...

I have recently moved to Istanbul and I'm in the process of getting a residence permit as we speak. You first need to make an appointment at your local Emniyet (however the earliest available one I could get was April 4th.) Then you need to bring passport photos, photocopies of your passport photo page and visa stamp page, and either a bank statement (I am told has to be a Turkish bank, but I think it very much depends on who is processing your application) or receipt from a currency exchange to show you have $300 for every month you intend to stay, i.e. 6 month permit = $1800. You then pay $80 for the permit and something like 140TL for some book that is required. You then collect the permit a week or so later. Work permits are applied for by your employer after you have residency and can take much longer to obtain. Work visas are obtained in your home country and you need to have an offer of work before you actually come here (you don't need a work permit and work visa, just one or the other.) But I am flying to Marmaris tomorrow to put my name on a friend's property contract so I can get a residency permit without having to wait until April as no appointment is needed this way.

In regards to quals, I think the rules for work permits are quite strict as they are set by the Ministry of Education, and I'm pretty sure some kind of teaching cert is required (correct me if I'm wrong about this anyone) in addition to a degree in order to get one, if you plan to teach (legally) that is. Personally I have a CELTA and I would highly recommend it if you are planning to take a teaching cert as it is pretty much universally recognised everywhere. With a CELTA and your MA you will have no problem at all finding work here.