Job Discussion Forums

[LHanks]

I am wanting to teach in Hungary starting in sept. I have my CELTA and two years of experience. How is the job market in this area?
Any advice would be GREATLY appreciated. Also I am having a difficult time finding the schools on the web. I am trying to send my resume by email to the schools before I arrive.

[Lucy Snow]

Schools in Hungary generally don't advertise on the web. You can check the classifieds in The Budapest Sun's online edition, but lately all I've been seeing are "Work at Home" opportunities. I have seen the occasional posting on www.tefl.com.

Most people I've met had the best results by cold-calling schools and dropping off their resumes. I got all of my work by word of mouth. I think your plan of mailing out resumes is a good idea, but you may not nail anything down until you get here.

Be aware of the fact that Budapest is getting more and more expensive, and from what I've heard, English teachers' salaries aren't really keeping up. For example, I'm always seeing ads for language schools where the students pay around 269 HUF/lesson. That's a little over 1 USD. How much do you think the teachers are getting paid?

I was offered a position where I would be making 2000 HUF/45-minute hour, but as I was making more freelancing, I turned it down. I don't have a CELTA, but I do have an MA and 8 years of university teaching experience, but I don't think that mattered with this school--it seemed like that's what they paid if they wanted you, regardless of your qualifications.

There are other cities in Hungary where it would be cheaper to live, and perhaps the competition wouldn't be as bad. There's a school in Kescemet that advertises a lot, but from an entry in The Job Information Journal here on Dave's, it's to be avoided.

Good luck.[/url]