Job Discussion Forums

[Saleh100]

Hi all,

I've got a gap of 6 months between graduation and (hopefully) the start of a teaching job in Korea. In that time I'd like to teach in HCMC and then travel cambodia/laos/thailand.

Is it possible to secure a teaching job in HCMC for just 3 - 4 months? If so what is the best way to go about it? I've looked online and haven't found much, but heard the best way is to just turn up and start looking. Will it impedede my chances if I say I'm only available for 3 - 4 months? or should I lie and tell them I'm available for a year, and then just bugger off in december?

I have a CELTA qualification, a limited amount of experience as an assistant maths teacher, and a 3-year BSc degree from the UK.
Looking to head out there mid-August, are there many jobs at this time? Also what kind of wage should I expect?

Thanks

[LettersAthruZ]

Not too sure what the employment scene OVERALL is down in The South......

.....up here in The North, due the Immigration Reforms that took effect January 1st, 2013, (no more renewal/extension of C-1 Tourist Visas in-country AT ALL plus no more B-3 Business Visas being issued upon arrival [you USED to legally be able to work for 89 days on a B-3 Visa without a Work Permit]), many mills up here are now doing ONLY three-or-six month contracts.

THere pretty much are no more one-year deals being signed as (from what I'M hearing, anyways) the cost to a centre/school/mill for a Work Permit to be issued to one of their new teachers has gone up from a pre-January 1st, 2013 cost of about a $1000USD bribe to a POST-January 1st, 2013 cost of around a $1500USD bribe.

If three-to-six months is exactly what you need.....hell, that is what everybody seems to be doing up here anyways now. Sounds like it fills the bill nicely for you.

AGAIN, HOWEVER, the situation most likely is different in The South!

Sarge? Mattingly?? Anybody wish to assist this person?

[Oh My God]

[sigmoid]

[LettersAthruZ]

[Mattingly]

[kurtz]

[LettersAthruZ]

[Tigerstyleone]

Its a bad idea to come here for 3-4 months. There are very few jobs available and the jobs that are available aren't worth your time.
You'll end up spending more money than you earn too.
Better off staying home and getting your documents together for Korea.
Korea is a better place to begin TEFLing too.

[mark_in_saigon]

I agree that in 3 to 4 months, it is unlikely the average western teacher will accumulate any substantial funds. I have always thought that for most of us, money should not be the primary reason for being here, or it if is, it is the fact that costs are low and the money we already have can give us an interesting life. Teaching just pays the bills here for most, it is not enough to really finance that better life. The guys who are depending on their incomes here are not the ones who are having the fine old time, though a few are. Most of them are just getting by and blowing through it as fast as they earn it. Most, not all.

One of the bad things about really needing the income here is then you need the job more than they need you. Once you see what these employers are mostly like, you realize, you do not want to be in that position. If you cannot stand up to these guys and walk away from their mickey mouse operations, you are then like the natives, you are at the mercy of the system in your work life. Not a good position to be in.

[1st Sgt Welsh]

I have to join the consensus that it is not worth coming here and working for three-four months. If you are upfront, there would be very few reasonable employers interested in hiring someone for such a short term basis. This, of course, only leaves you with the unreasonable ones. Needless to say, they are usually more trouble than they are worth. You could always lie about how long you intend to stay here I guess, but I second LettersAthruZ's sentiments on this. Besides, it takes time, money and energy to get established in Saigon and I can't see you being able to save much, if anything, on such a short stint. If you want to check out a bit of the country/region then backpacking around here can be very affordable depending on how careful you are with the cash.

In short, I don't think it's worth it. I'm not sure how you feel about Japan Saleh100, but Westgate offers short-time gigs at Japanese universities. I've got a mate who has just come back from working one short-term contract over there and he is about to go back early next month for another one. Suffice to say, he likes Westgate and loves Japan . I've included the link below just in case you are unaware of it. Good luck!

http://www.westgate.co.jp/application/

[Saleh100]

Thanks for all your replies. I have ~�4.5k (GBP) saved up for this, and was not expecting to save much money during my time there. Equally, I don't want to go bankrupt, I'd be happy to freelance for a few months and return home breaking even - you think this is possible? I understand there are few reliable full-time jobs, and am not expecting long-term employment, but surely if I work several jobs at once, I can sustain myself? could even work in a bar part-time?

Also, another question: in my situation, would you recommend vietnam or thailand? I understand there is lots of freelance work there, too. But it doesn't pay as well, and I've heard it's more of a dangerous country (especially to one so clueless as myself) - is this fair to say?
I always thought it would be easy to find work in 'nam, but now I'm reconsidering. Does the tet-hangover usually seep into August - December?

As for Japan, I was thinking of getting a couple year's teaching experience before heading there, so I can make the most of the high salary and sustainable job. At the moment I don't really know what kind of teaching job I'd prefer - any will do!

[LettersAthruZ]

Freelancing immediately after just landing on these shores IS DO-ABLE.....however it's not easy. Clients usually go by references and by word-of-mouth when selecting an instructor (this was NOT the case about three or four years ago, when there were a LOT fewer Tay here then there are now, and clients were begging you to teach for them) and like Mattingly stated, there are NO guarantees on stability or even if you'll get any clients. Then, there's also the sales element of it all.......

.....freelancing is more for the long-term, where you really have to get to build "good relationships" (as the Vietnamese like to say) with people and get your name out there. Otherwise, the fee rate that you'll be able to command won't really be that livable.....

....bar work? Can't imagine that'd you would be hired, honestly. I'm not really too sure what the draw factor for you would be to the bar owner, when they could easily hire a Viet to sling bia for 30,000VND per hour.

Tet slowdown ends in early May and summer months are usually busy.

Three-to-six months? You're far better off going to a school/center/mill and just simply asking about summer openings! I'm almost certain that you'll find something that way.

[deadlift]

With the savings you have, I'd recommend going to Da Nang rather than Ha Noi or Saigon. It's a far nicer place to stay and in that region you'll be able to experience some of the best of what Vietnam has to offer, rather than the worst as you would in the big cities.

You might be able to break even without pushing too hard, and that nest egg will allow you to walk away from the real garbage jobs easily.

I wouldn't come out and say that you're not going to stay long term (nor would I lie about it). It's common enough for people to leave after a few months.

[Mattingly]