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RoisinDubh
Joined: 23 Apr 2011
Posts: 43
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 Posted: Mon Mar 12, 2012 10:51 pm Post subject: Finding a job in Mexico |
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I have been in love with the idea of going to Latin America for over 10 years now and I think it's time to bite the bullet. Mexico is one of the places I've been considering. The thing is, I have NO idea where to start. I'm teaching ESL in London right now and don't really have any connections in Mexico. How would I go about finding a decent job? Is it common to get hired while abroad or would I need to go in person?
I'm open to going anywhere in the country and my main concern is personal safety. My other concern is money - what can I expect to earn and what kind of living standards can I expect?
I'm 26, female and a British citizen. I have a BA, MA and CELTA and 3+ years full time ESL experience including Cambridge exams, IELTS and Business English. |
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EFLeducator
Joined: 16 Dec 2011
Posts: 595
Location: NONE OF YOUR BUSINESS
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| Posted: Tue Mar 13, 2012 2:03 am Post subject: Re: Finding a job in Mexico |
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| RoisinDubh wrote: |
| I have been in love with the idea of going to Latin America for over 10 years now and I think it's time to bite the bullet. Mexico is one of the places I've been considering. The thing is, I have NO idea where to start. |
I think there are a few posters here who are British so they should be responding to you soon. If I remember correctly, Phil K is from Great Britain so he can help you since he has been in Mexico City for a while.
| RoisinDubh wrote: |
| I'm teaching ESL in London right now and don't really have any connections in Mexico. How would I go about finding a decent job? Is it common to get hired while abroad or would I need to go in person? |
You would need to be there in person most likely. The following posters can help you with Mexico City.
Phil K
Guy
Prof. Gringo
| RoisinDubh wrote: |
| I'm open to going anywhere in the country and my main concern is personal safety. My other concern is money - what can I expect to earn and what kind of living standards can I expect? |
If your main concern is money and you're going to Mexico, I would suggest you go to Mexico City. I lived and taught there for years and that is the place where you will make the most money in Mexico. Plus it is safe from the drug wars that are raging in the north and the border. The south part of Mexico City, close to Insurgentes Sur is nice and safe.
Have fun and keep everyone posted! |
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Prof.Gringo
Joined: 07 Nov 2006
Posts: 2236
Location: Dang Cong San Viet Nam Quang Vinh Muon Nam!
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| Posted: Tue Mar 13, 2012 2:43 am Post subject: Re: Finding a job in Mexico |
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| EFLeducator wrote: |
| RoisinDubh wrote: |
| I have been in love with the idea of going to Latin America for over 10 years now and I think it's time to bite the bullet. Mexico is one of the places I've been considering. The thing is, I have NO idea where to start. |
I think there are a few posters here who are British so they should be responding to you soon. If I remember correctly, Phil K is from Great Britain so he can help you since he has been in Mexico City for a while.
| RoisinDubh wrote: |
| I'm teaching ESL in London right now and don't really have any connections in Mexico. How would I go about finding a decent job? Is it common to get hired while abroad or would I need to go in person? |
You would need to be there in person most likely. The following posters can help you with Mexico City.
Phil K
Guy
Prof. Gringo
| RoisinDubh wrote: |
| I'm open to going anywhere in the country and my main concern is personal safety. My other concern is money - what can I expect to earn and what kind of living standards can I expect? |
If your main concern is money and you're going to Mexico, I would suggest you go to Mexico City. I lived and taught there for years and that is the place where you will make the most money in Mexico. Plus it is safe from the drug wars that are raging in the north and the border. The south part of Mexico City, close to Insurgentes Sur is nice and safe.
Have fun and keep everyone posted! |
Glad to be of help! |
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Prof.Gringo
Joined: 07 Nov 2006
Posts: 2236
Location: Dang Cong San Viet Nam Quang Vinh Muon Nam!
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| Posted: Tue Mar 13, 2012 2:45 am Post subject: Re: Finding a job in Mexico |
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| RoisinDubh wrote: |
I have been in love with the idea of going to Latin America for over 10 years now and I think it's time to bite the bullet. Mexico is one of the places I've been considering. The thing is, I have NO idea where to start. I'm teaching ESL in London right now and don't really have any connections in Mexico. How would I go about finding a decent job? Is it common to get hired while abroad or would I need to go in person?
I'm open to going anywhere in the country and my main concern is personal safety. My other concern is money - what can I expect to earn and what kind of living standards can I expect?
I'm 26, female and a British citizen. I have a BA, MA and CELTA and 3+ years full time ESL experience including Cambridge exams, IELTS and Business English. |
To be honest, you will have no problem finding a job in Mexico, at least not in the major cities.
The problem will be to get established and try to make enough pesos.
Most jobs pay survival wages, but you should only apply to the cream of the crop colegios (the good private high schools) and top uni�s.
Best of luck! |
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Enchilada Potosina
Joined: 03 Aug 2010
Posts: 344
Location: Mexico
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| Posted: Tue Mar 13, 2012 3:25 am Post subject: Re: Finding a job in Mexico |
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| RoisinDubh wrote: |
| I'm 26, female and a British citizen. I have a BA, MA and CELTA and 3+ years full time ESL experience including Cambridge exams, IELTS and Business English. |
Go for a uni job as you have an MA or one of the nicer colegios as the Prof says. Hiring takes place in July - August and also December - January. You will need to be here.
With an MA and experience you shouldn't have to bother with the modern day slavery that is working in a language school here.
Shop around, some places pay quite well. It's really not worth coming here to live on the pittance some places pay so bring enough dough so that you don't have to take the first job that comes along. |
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Guy Courchesne
Joined: 10 Mar 2003
Posts: 9650
Location: Mexico City
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| Posted: Tue Mar 13, 2012 4:30 am Post subject: |
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| Quote: |
I'm open to going anywhere in the country and my main concern is personal safety. My other concern is money - what can I expect to earn and what kind of living standards can I expect?
I'm 26, female and a British citizen. I have a BA, MA and CELTA and 3+ years full time ESL experience including Cambridge exams, IELTS and Business English. |
Questions...how long do you plan to stay and is teaching your career?
What is your MA in?
If you're up for working with kids then the private school circuit can pay well and offer a career path. If you're just going to be here for a year to pick up Spanish and have fun, then you're fine for work but pay will only sustain you...no savings.
As for safety...most of the country is fine. Mexico City is an easy start for job opportunities and safety but there are plenty of other areas such as the Yucatan, Oaxaca, Chiapas, Queretaro, Guanajuato...
Best to be here in person for job seeking if you don't have a UK contact to set things up. Try to make as many email and phone contacts as you can before coming but know that it's not common to have anything locked up before coming. |
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RoisinDubh
Joined: 23 Apr 2011
Posts: 43
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| Posted: Tue Mar 13, 2012 8:04 am Post subject: |
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Thanks for all the help. I'm pleasantly surprised to find that I may be able to get a good job with my MA as over here, it's worth nothing. Not so surprised to hear about the wages. Is it easy enough to find private students to supplement your income from your main job? Are uni jobs also quite badly paid with no possibility of saving?
My MA is in Translation (Spanish-English). I suppose teaching is my career - I really wanted to become a translator but have found it close to impossible to break into the industry as a young person with little experience, so for now I think TEFL is the way to go.
Initially, I wouldn't want to commit to more than a year, as I haven't even travelled to Mexico and I might hate it, for all I know. Mexico City sounds good, but to be honest, I'm not sure I'd be happy living in another major city. I will look into the other options suggested and see if any seem relatively small (which to me means under a million people) and calm. |
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notamiss
Joined: 20 Jun 2007
Posts: 908
Location: El 5o pino del la CDMX
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| Posted: Tue Mar 13, 2012 2:03 pm Post subject: |
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| I'm a translator (Spanish>English), without a degree specifically in the field�unlike you. It took me a few years to build up the momentum, but now it has been going well for quite a few years. If you�re interested, I can offer you some tips about what helped me break into it. |
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MotherF
Joined: 07 Jun 2010
Posts: 1450
Location: 17�48'N 97�46'W
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| Posted: Tue Mar 13, 2012 5:16 pm Post subject: |
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How do you feel about small town life?
You are qualified to work in Oaxaca's SUNEO system, as a teacher, with opportunities for translation as part of the job. There are several old threads that talk about the system. |
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notamiss
Joined: 20 Jun 2007
Posts: 908
Location: El 5o pino del la CDMX
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| Posted: Tue Mar 13, 2012 7:01 pm Post subject: |
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| P.S. I just had to turn down a nice big editing job from a client in Spain. I will PM you so we can exchange contact information. Then, if you're interested, the next time I have to turn down a job for lack of time, I can recommend they contact you. |
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doublethinker
Joined: 11 Mar 2010
Posts: 57
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| Posted: Wed Mar 14, 2012 2:03 am Post subject: |
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| If you think you can handle teenagers (and entitled/bratty ones at that) you'd also be a shoo-in for one of the fancy bilingual colegios, teaching secundaria (middle school) or prepa (high school). Good pay, but high stress. I know there are a couple openings at my school for next year teaching English and Social Studies. |
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RoisinDubh
Joined: 23 Apr 2011
Posts: 43
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| Posted: Thu Mar 15, 2012 1:00 pm Post subject: |
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Thanks notamiss, I will e-mail you.
Hmm, I don't really like teenagers, I would prefer adults or at least younger kids (under 10). Small town life would be great, I'll definitely look into SUNEO. |
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Senor Frog
Joined: 22 Mar 2012
Posts: 1
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| Posted: Mon Mar 26, 2012 6:40 pm Post subject: |
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| doublethinker wrote: |
| If you think you can handle teenagers (and entitled/bratty ones at that) you'd also be a shoo-in for one of the fancy bilingual colegios, teaching secundaria (middle school) or prepa (high school). Good pay, but high stress. I know there are a couple openings at my school for next year teaching English and Social Studies. |
Hi where is the school located? can you give me any details of remuneration offered? I'm just about to graduate with a degree in economics and sociology and have previously taught English in Toluca for six months as part of my degree. Would love the opportunity to return Mexico.... I tried to pm you but the site wouldn't let me as I have just joined...cheers:) |
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tjteachin
Joined: 22 Jan 2011
Posts: 32
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MotherF
Joined: 07 Jun 2010
Posts: 1450
Location: 17�48'N 97�46'W
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| Posted: Tue Mar 27, 2012 4:21 pm Post subject: |
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The only listing with dates on them are from Jan 2011. A lot of jobs appearing means nothing if they are all a year or more old. |
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