Job Discussion Forums

[Coolguy123]

First - does anyone know a good way to find job listings in Russia? Only been able to find jobs on language school sites and most don't post salaries. I've heard that $1000-$1500/mo is a good deal? Is accomodation and airfare standard?

All things considered - how does the deal stack up to employment in Asia in the popular places such as Japan/Korea/Taiwan? Anyone with experience in both areas?

I was trying to compare costs of living using Numbeo.com, and the cost of living does not seem as cheap as I thought it would. According to this, Taiwan is comparatively cheaper than Russia -

http://www.numbeo.com/cost-of-living/compare_countries_result.jsp?country1=Russia&country2=Taiwan

What about treatment of foreigners? There are a lot of complaints from people on some of the forums here about certain countries mistreating foreigners, etc etc. What about Russia?

Also researching places in Eastern Europe, but overall they seem to prefer to hire EU citizens and pay less (at least my impression).

[coledavis]

I think you'll find that TEFL sites such as this one and ESLbase and Tefl.com are where most people advertise. I usually find that Russian language schools do cite their salaries, although as in other countries, they may vary according to the applicant's experience. Accommodation is fairly standard, airfare not necessarily but usually.

I live out in the sticks, where food and clothing are as expensive or more expensive than London (sorry if you're American - I haven't been there for a few decades), although it may be a bit cheaper in Moscow. However, with free accommodation, if you buy wisely and don't party too often, you should be able to save.

On the whole, Russians aren't too bad with foreigners but as elsewhere you mustn't push your luck. They are very patriotic; whether or not they are nationalistic is a matter for debate, but I wouldn't debate it with Russians I don't know well..

With regards to your comment about Eastern Europe. No, it is the European Union that is problematic for Americans: if they can hire a Brit or an Irish citizen without bothering with visas, then employers are unlikely to go through all the hassle to get a visa for you. Go as far as Russia or Ukraine and you are on a level playing field, as the rules are the same for Americans and Brits/Irish. However, there is a preference in some Russian cities for Brits rather than Americans but it is not pronounced, the main emphasis being on getting a native speaker. There are some schools which prefer Americans; I think Kiev in Ukraine may be a good place to look.

You haven't said, though: what are your qualifications?

[Avogadro's Number]

I worked in Japan for two years and I am currently working in Russia. When I was in Japan, a standard offer was 250,000 yen/month. It may still be there I haven't checked lately. That is about 2,500 dollars. I have seen Russian schools offering 30,000 + apartment. This is about 1000 dollars. You could get by on that but it depends on your lifestyle and spending habits.

As for a cost or living comparison, I really can't judge because I was in Japan ten years ago. I will say that Russia can be pretty expensive, more expensive than many people would think.

Most offers I have seen include airfare.

Russians are patriotic/nationalistic. We just had the May 9th Victory Day celebrations last week. Flags everywhere, old war movies on TV all weekend, parades, people decorating their cars like tanks and driving around town honking their horns. I feel comfortable here, and I haven't felt any hostility for being a foreigner, but I don't advertise the fact that I am a foreigner either. I do hear a lot of negative comments about Muslim immigrants, especially because I live in the North Caucasus.

[Coolguy123]

Qualifications -

B.A. in English Literature, CELTA in progress, 1 year teaching in Japan. Several years of IT related experience (in various roles).

Thanks for the tips, will check out those sites.

Those are my thoughts - Russia is cheap, but $1000 seems low. Any opportunities to make more than that?

In Japan, $2500 still seems about standard. But no apartment or airfare. Cost of living is higher, but I still managed to save money, even with moderate partying. There was also room for advancement there, especially if you learn Japanese and are willing to understand/adapt to the culture.

Challenges to living in Russia? The weather/poverty level?

Expressed interest to some places, was told to come back once my CELTA was done.

Russian ladies certainly are a strong draw. Haven't heard too many complaints there.

Seems pretty good, only thing is the financial deal. I have a friend in Russia who claims she lives like a king/queen in a non-moscow city, but that website numbeo makes the costs seem higher than one might think. She claims she feels partially accepted by Russians. That sounds good, as in Japan one of the challenges is the closed society.

Besides that, there's probably a lot of other things things that are impossible to know without actually being there, cost of living probably included partially. Any other other comments would be helpful

[coledavis]

[mybu84]

I think $1000 is too low. I have been offered 60,000Rub (they will pay 50% of my rent, too) by one school and even more from another school, but they don't offer any accommodation. Both these schools are in/around St Petersburg and include visa support and airfares. I think there are a few reasonably well paid jobs if you can find them, especially in the big cities. At least that has been my experience whilst looking for a job this last month or so.

I'm currently in China and there are some decent paying jobs here. Including private students I have cleared $3000 a month + free apartment, flights etc. Living costs are next to nothing and I can spend as little as $200 a month. Having said that, putting up with Chinese bosses is not always fun! Loads of the food is tainted, and if you get sick, you can forget about competent medical care. Not sure Russia will be any better though

[coledavis]

Oh Russian medicine's not bad, although they can be annoyingly thorough, if you are used to the 'patch him up and chuck him out' of the NHS (UK). Russian medics just love giving injections and administering drips.

[Avogadro's Number]

[teacher X]

I've worked in Tokyo, Shanghai, Berlin and now I'm in Russia.

I think I would have to say that I was at my most comfortable level of living in Shanghai. Whilst my wage was far lower than in Tokyo, the cost of living is extremely low. Get yourself in with a good crowd of people and you can live like a king. Lets face it, I barely even worked and got a good wage.

I had a large 2 bedroom apartment for around �400 per month. Sure, it was down near Shanghai South Station, which is a fair distance from the centre, but who wants to go to the centre anyway? Only tourists go there.

Ahhh...actually, I do miss life there. But I left because I had become sick of Asia.

I'm still finding my way in Moscow, but so far it feels like it may be a good place. But it's clear that I need to get my Russian down. I cook for myself, so I already seem to be saving a lot of cash compared to my colleagues who eat out all the time.

I would say that if you want to earn a lot of cash and travel somewhere at every available opportunity, go to China. I was saving huge amounts and used China as a springboard to the rest of Asia. Whilst in Tokyo I simply didn't have the time off to be able to do that; plus travel is not majorly cheap there.

[ecocks]

I'd take a thousand if it included an apartment and was outside of Moscow/Saint Petersburg.

I was in Kyiv for 3 years and built up to $3200/month. If I was trying that now I would pick a second tier city of 200-600,000 and start off there.

Saving money is possible in the FSU. Everywhere I go (Ukraine, Azerbaijan and,now Poland), my first objective is to find a large apartment with convenient access to travel lines. Get a decent apartment, find out how to work your schedule and then buy a whiteboard. That gets you the beginning setup for taking on privates. In one FSU country I was pulling in 500 Euro a month extra. It was taxing but you can grow it and still stay under the radar with your firm. I'm not talking pirating their students or anything, just get out among the people and be sociable. If you are decent, word will spread.