Job Discussion Forums

[one sky]

Has anyone used the services of Internet Works? (You pay almost $1000 dollars and they find you a job in one of 5 Mexican cities)
I am very tempted to just go to Mexico on my own and job search as I'm so undecided on what town to live in and applying on-line seems sketchy. I was thinking that maybe some travel time would help me find an ideal location. Have many people had luck with just venturing out and finding a job on their own?

[saraswati]

I think that your idea of travelling first and then deciding where to land is the best option. You'll be able to choose the city that best suits you. Besides most DOS are more likely to hire a teacher who's already in Mexico.

Good luck!

[Ben Round de Bloc]

one sky,

Some people feel more comfortable having the security of a placement service rather than venturing out on their own. One of the big selling points for some people regarding the placement service you mentioned is that there is a rep (contact person) in each city where clients are placed. The rep, who is either a local or someone who has lived in the particular city for quite some time, is paid by the placement company to assist the client with many things: finding housing, getting around the city, locating schools, etc. The service may seem costly, but for some people it's worth the expense.

Personally, I agree with saraswati (check out a few locations and find a job,) especially if you're an independent type of person. That $1,000 USD would cover a lot of travel, inexpensive hotels, food, and other costs while traveling and looking for a job on your own.

[Gringo Greg]

I agree, don't pay the money. Travel around and find the city you like, with the money you save, you can get your legs in your new city and find a room to rent on your own. You got to be independent.

I had luck looking on my own. The best way is to get on the 2nd class buses and do a little looking, find a place, stay awhile to get to know the place and then open the phonebook and hit the institutes. A little warning though: the "nicest" places to visit as a tourist will always have the lowest paying jobs.

[Julieanne]

I know of a job placement company that charges a lot less than that, and they get results.
Let me know if you are interested in more details.

[RPF]

Hi all,

I'm a new user to the site (and new teacher to EFL). I am hoping to come to Mexico in the next few months and teach for some of the time that I'm there.

I am currently deciding whether to employ a placement company to find me a job before travelling out there. The discussion on this forum has been very useful in weighing up the pros adn cons, and I am undecided at the moment.

I have, however, had difficulty finding many companies that do offer a placement service, although the discussion here seems to suggest that there are in fact many.

Does anyone have a list of the various companies that offer a placement service?

I'll then try and weigh up my options and compare prices before setting off.

The only ones I have found so far are:
http://www.culturalembrace.com/programs/require
and
the Internet Works people mentioned here.

Thanks in advance for any help or advice - it will be greatly appreciated.

Best regards,

RPF
London, England

[richtx1]

... so of course I see the advantages of using these services (specifically that one that charges 1000 USD).

Of course you can find a job on your own (that will within a month or two bring you up to a reasonable standard of living), and your own place to live (within your budget, close to public transit and not requiring either a fiador and/or 2 months rent as deposit... and furnished, etc.), and make arrangements for your work visa. Whether its financially feasible to do so on 1000 USD (not counting whatever time you take off from other economic activities to travel and explore here) is another question.

Or, you can use a placement service.

Some folks are just born lucky and have no problem finding a job, or have the financial resources to take a less high paying position. Some see their Mexican teaching stint as an alternative form of graduate education, and don't expect they'll make even a subsistence income.

Some people want the challenge of exploring their options, and have the financial resources to do so... good for them. I did, originally, but I'm older than most posters here (4, with experience in Mexico and a lengthy resume that guaranteed I'd find employment. If you're fresh out of the university, and your degree does not indicate something immediately marketable (a Teacher's degree at M.A. or higher level, preferably in English as a Second Language), you're going to need an employment strategy to get your foot in the door.

Placement services (and their local contacts) are not perfect, but we do a lot of work. I check out candidate's resumes even after they've been approved by the placement service. Some people have unrealistic expectations, or hear about higher salaries in Mexico City and assume they are qualified to start at those salaries. And... some people will take on faith the *beep* they've been fed by less-than-ethical employers, or employers who sometimes paint a rosier picture of their institute's financial and employment situation than they should.

The placement service I work for has a good record here in Mexico City -- some employers are willing to pay the teachers from that placement service more than their standard starting rate -- and I intend to keep it that way. If a given person really isn't qualified for those 120 peso an hour jobs, I'll tell them... and give them alternatives.

BTW, my income doesn't depend on whether you use the placement service or not... but I certainly appreciate the fee. After paying the expenses involved in my last placement, there was enough left over to buy a new bed frame and two used office chairs. We work hard for the money (which isn't all that much), so you better treat us right.

�Saludos!

[moonraven]

I thought product advertising was verboten on this site. Guess anything goes now....

[Ben Round de Bloc]

[RPF]

Thanks richtx1 for your comments. I am still weighing up all my options - though I am not to keen to move from the 15th to the 8th largest city in the world. So I'm not considering Mexico City - but I appreciate the offer of help in good faith.

I am still weighing up the various factors before deciding - my Spanish is basic, and this will be my first teaching job - two factors in favour of a placement agency. At the same time, I have savings, I don't need to earn much more (maybe even less) than subsistence. I also managed to get a distinction at my CELTA course (B-pass). So various things to weigh up.

Another issue put out more generally to posters is on a related topic of finding work: when I get out to Mexico I intend to take a month long intensive Spanish course. Have people ever done this and found that it can then lead to teaching work with the same/an affiliated school?

Again, in a similar vein, I have seen a school that offers some sort of labour exchange system (the one I am thinking of is in Chiapas) - you teach for four hours a day and receive two hours Spanish classes in reutrn, room and board. This would suit me quite well. Does anyone know of any schools that offer similar schemes?

Again, thanks for any advice ina dvance.

Best,

[RPF]

Thanks richtx1 for your comments. I am still weighing up all my options - though I am not to keen to move from the 15th to the 8th largest city in the world. So I'm not considering Mexico City - but I appreciate the offer of help in good faith.

I am still weighing up the various factors before deciding - my Spanish is basic, and this will be my first teaching job - two factors in favour of a placement agency. At the same time, I have savings, I don't need to earn much more (maybe even less) than subsistence. I also managed to get a distinction at my CELTA course (B-pass). So various things to weigh up.

Another issue put out more generally to posters is on a related topic of finding work: when I get out to Mexico I intend to take a month long intensive Spanish course. Have people ever done this and found that it can then lead to teaching work with the same/an affiliated school?

Again, in a similar vein, I have seen a school that offers some sort of labour exchange system (the one I am thinking of is in Chiapas) - you teach for four hours a day and receive two hours Spanish classes in reutrn, room and board. This would suit me quite well. Does anyone know of any schools that offer similar schemes?

Again, thanks for any advice ina dvance.

Best,

[saraswati]

Years ago I studied at Instituto Cultural de Oaxaca. They offer morning classes, afternoon workshops and accomodations. It's a beautiful part of the country.
The other option you mentioned, taking classes while you work, is also possible. Some private schools offer classes in more than one language and you can pick up Spanish there or you could work for an institute that pays part of the tuition, that's what mine does.

[RPF]

Thanks Saraswati - I'll definitely check out the Instituto Cultural in Oaxaca.

I'll also keep subsidised Spanish classes in mind when negotiating jobs.

Best regards,

RPF