Job Discussion Forums

chrissy · Joined: 24 Jun 2003 Posts: 1

Hey all! For those of you with some experience teaching in Mexico, what do you think the odds are that I can find myself a job there in September? I have an honours degree in English but do not have TESL training. I am willing to get it before I go though. I imagine that there are a lot of schools in Mexico that just are not advertising on the net and that it might be easier to find a job once I am already there. What does everyone think? Should I just risk it and jump on a plane at the end of the summer with a one-way ticket?
If anyone has some extra time on their hands to help out a girl dreaming of living in Mexico, feel free to email me at [email protected] with any and all helpful tips.
Thanks a heap, Chrissy

dduck · Joined: 29 Jan 2003 Posts: 422 Location: In the middle

Hi Chrissy,

It's not hard to find work in Mexico, especially if you are a native speaker, have a degree and some teaching qualification. If you had some teaching experience a number of 'better' paid jobs would be open to you. Not I, sadly. However, without experience you shouldn't have any difficulties - you just work for less.

When you arrive you may well want to apply for a work permit, so you'll need to get you documentation legalized, this process depends on where you're coming from.

And some Spanish ability will go a long way. You don't need to speak fluently just enough to order food and the occasional beverage. Wink

Iain

lozwich · Joined: 25 May 2003 Posts: 1536

Thanks Chrissy! I'm sitting here feeling very very nervous Shocked

about my whole crazy plan to pack up and zip off to parts Mexican for a while, with all the jobs looking like they want people with experience, and you send a question with exactly what I was wondering!

Now I guess we both just have to pick somewhere to live! Wink

Nothing worth doing isn't a little scary, right???

Lozwich.

dduck · Joined: 29 Jan 2003 Posts: 422 Location: In the middle

Dear Lozwich,

Not so long ago I was standing in Edinburgh Airport with a one-way ticket to Guatemala asking myself "Am I really going to do this". I'd lived and worked outside of the UK before, but I'd always had a job lined up before I left. Not know where I was going, or where I'd find a job is really frightening at first. But now, it's a breeze. Cool

As long as you plan ahead, read up on your country, don't do anything WAY stupid - you should be fine Cool

Iain

lozwich · Joined: 25 May 2003 Posts: 1536

Hi Iain,

I packed up and left everything (to go to the UK actually.. Smile

) 11 years ago, but came home again after 6 months because I got homesick!!! Very Happy

I'm mainly a bit nervous (well, ok. worried) because I've planned to leave a month earlier than I originally thought, and currently have a small cash flow problem.

I spent two months in Mexico recently, but can't decide exactly where I want to live, because I like so much of it. I have a decent amount of Spanish, and will soon have a CELTA qualification, along with my skills in computers, multimedia design, a good sense of humour and resourcefulness.

So, I don't want to bumble around Mexico for another month or so, having a great time, but spending my tiny amount of money and have to go home with my tail between my legs because I can't get a job. I know no-one can give me any guarantees, but what's the average time it takes to find a job if you're a good teacher, have a winning personality Wink

, and its the start of the semester?

L.

dduck · Joined: 29 Jan 2003 Posts: 422 Location: In the middle

Hi Lozwich,

If you've got experience, qualifications, language skills, a nice smile, and you're turning up around the start of a new term, then you've stacked the odds well in your own favour. All the same, there is a certain amount of risk involved as you need to be in the right place at the right time to a certain extent.

Take the leap, I say: it makes life much more exciting! Smile

Iain

Shell · Joined: 03 Jul 2003 Posts: 3

I agree with all the positive encouraging posts about "just doing it".

I hopped on a plane to Mexico and I`ve been travelling around the country for the past 4 months looking for a great city to work in and have found many so far. There are lots of teaching jobs around and I`ve been offered every one I`ve applied for. Of course the money is never enough but you already know that.

Learn a little Spanish, have an open mind, be patient and Mexico is easy.

Shell · Joined: 03 Jul 2003 Posts: 3

I forgot to mention one more important item...

It appears that NOW is the time of year everyone is hiring for the August (or September) to December term. So if you want to time things right, get here as soon as possible or you may have to wait until December when they do their hiring for the January term.

Private schools may have different semesters.

Ben Round de Bloc · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Posts: 1946

C76 · Posted: Thu Mar 18, 2004 12:23 am Post subject:

I'm interested in the contents of this thread.

I also have a question:

How difficult is it to find a safe hotel to stay in while you look for work?

I'm thinking of taking the plunge... Shocked

chula · Posted: Thu Mar 18, 2004 12:47 am Post subject:

In response to the hotel question, I haven�t had any problems with the hotels here, but I also didn�t have anything really expensive that anyone would want to take. I�ve always felt comfortable in the hotels after talking to the employees for a minute or two, to get a feel for the place. I think we�d all say the same thing--don�t bring things that you can�t afford to lose (laptops, expensive cameras, big ol� wads of cash, etc.).

lozwich · Joined: 25 May 2003 Posts: 1536

Yep indeed to chula's reply, but also, if you're in a town with a youth hostel, they often have lockers (bring your own lock) which are safe and convenient for things like your passport and apostilled documents which you really don't want to lose, and don't want to carry around all day.

And by the way, I did end up just jumping on a plane and it all went remarkably well! Very Happy

Have a good day,
Lozwich.

C76 · Posted: Thu Mar 18, 2004 6:18 pm Post subject:

I'm looking for something cheap. Er...I mean inexpensive. I'd ask for something free, but I don't wanna push it. Wink

Any recommendations?

PM me. Or better yet, please post your resources, so that shy lurkers can benefit.

(In the meantime, I'm going to try Google.)

chula · Posted: Thu Mar 18, 2004 6:37 pm Post subject:

Um, it kinda depends on where you�re going. I don�t recall seeing the info about which city it is you�ll be in. My advice would be to go to a bookstore, with a notebook and pen, go to the travel section and look in all of those Mexico travel books. They have sections with hotels and hostels in each city. Note down the info and check the sites or call the places and reserve a spot.

C76 · Posted: Thu Mar 18, 2004 6:56 pm Post subject:

Hey,

Thanks chula.

I guess in the meantime, I'm trying to find useful sites with info re accomodations.

I went to expedia.ca to find a hotel yesterday. I was hoping to find a place that was less than $100/night. Confused

The "Go to Mexico" part of my brain is a whir of activity. Not to mention unanswered questions. I'm not even sure about which city I want to live in. I keep coming up with the ones that everyone's heard of.