Job Discussion Forums

scot47 · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Posts: 15343

Immediate deportation for doing a bit of moonlighting. ? I never heard of a case in the 17 tears I was there. Some teachers spend every waking hour doing extra work with ELS et, or privately. I did some, including a few stints at Larsen-Nielsen who has a school in the outskirts of Mecca.

twowheel · Joined: 03 Jul 2015 Posts: 753

scot47 · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Posts: 15343

I did the 17 in chunks. The ones I saw who spent that sort of time without breaks were crazier than me

nomad soul · Joined: 31 Jan 2010 Posts: 11454 Location: The real world

Knedliki · Joined: 08 May 2015 Posts: 160

I wouldn't make any drastic lifestyle choices based on the opinions of the regular posters on Daves.

Some people find ways of saving money, others write ten thousand plus comments on the Internet. I think their reasoning is something like "I couldn't do it therefore other people won't be able to".

scot47 · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Posts: 15343

I had a life to lead, wives, ex-wives, children and grandchildren to support. What have you done ?

Life is about living, not about accumulating things .Would you be like Silas Marner, contemplating the gold that you have accumulated in a life of parsimony !

kirby42 · Joined: 14 Nov 2014 Posts: 55

Does anyone have any advice on finding a job in the ME? I know that there's postings on this site and another site called tefl.com

When is the main hiring season? I'd be thinking of starting in the summer, should I manage to stick with my plan.
Are recruitment agencies worth trying?
Is it normal to be offered free accommodation as part of the package? That'd be a big thing for me.
How hard would it be with no Arabic? Should I learn some? I don't think I'll ever become that good at as most of my efforts are spent learning Russian and German.

nomad soul · Joined: 31 Jan 2010 Posts: 11454 Location: The real world

scot47 · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Posts: 15343

Kirby42

I have sent you a PM. Given the similarities in our numbers I think we must be cousins

scot47

Jmbf · Joined: 29 Jun 2014 Posts: 663

If you were able to make it onto the EDB NET scheme in Hong Kong and lived VERY frugally you might be able to save US 100K in 3 years.

dragonpiwo · Joined: 04 Mar 2013 Posts: 1650 Location: Berlin

Go for the military gigs or and Aramco contractor: Vinnell, Booz Allen, Dyncorp or get QTS and work for ADEC in the UAE.

I make $100,000 a year. It can be done. Although I spend a lot of it Smile

nomad soul · Joined: 31 Jan 2010 Posts: 11454 Location: The real world

scot47 · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Posts: 15343

"Getting and spending we lay waste our powers."

danshengou · Posted: Wed Jan 18, 2017 8:35 pm Post subject:

If money is the main focus, the savings range for most gigs will depend on different factors. Ultimately, you need to maximize income and minimize expenses. The former comes with experience, training, and contacts, etc. The latter requires cheap housing and low taxes (or zero), as well as a frugal lifestyle, which takes time to develop the knack for. If all factors are in you favor, I would say the absolute max savings per month would be $5k per month in TEFL, rarified air indeed. $24k saved per year puts you well above the median TEFLer, and $36-48k per year is well in the top 10% of savers. Finally, those at the top end are generally living in less than desirable locations and/or dealing with low-end students, which means very few will actually be able to sustain the level of savings year over year.

I guess the main message is to avoid burnout, either from spending too long in a miserable place, or by working too much. This is why only a small percentage reach $100k in savings (from doing TEFL), though a smattering may even reach $250k+ over a good career. It takes discipline and sacrifice and dedication to the goal for a long time, and often in a boring, loathsome place. But it can be done. That said, for a well-qualified TEFLer, a sustainable career-long savings rate is probably $1500-2000 per month, assuming maximum company paid benefits and a good salary in an otherwise cushy job. So $20-25k per year over 30 years, well-invested, might lead to a TEFL-made millionaire, of which there must a couple in the world. Work solidly for many many years in a good job and live frugally and invest wisely. Seems the advice applies not just to TEFL.