Job Discussion Forums

[katieesenior]

Hi can anyone help me please ?
I�m travelling from the UK to Costa Rica at the end of May. I have just finished my TEFL course. I have some questions that need answering please..........
How is the job market at the moment ? Is it relatively easy to find work ?
Accommodation - Some people have recommended home stay. If anyone out there has any more info on this I would appreciate it.
I�m travelling on my own (female) is Costa Rica safe for a lone traveller ?
What is the social scene like ? Are there opportunities to meet people, socializing etc. I have lots more questions but these are all I can think of at the moment.

Thanks Kate

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[doreenp]

The job market is always good here. I found it extremely easy to find work and I took my time and chose where i wanted to work and live.

I would highly recommend a homestay,( i have previously posted the information) , it just makes it easier to land and know you have somewhere to go and won�t have to clean , shop or cook for yourself for the first while. Then check out the job market and decide where you want to live according to your job.

As a single white (well tanned), blonde hair (questionable!) , blue eyed female , I am very careful and use common sense when traveling. I don�t go into San Jose alone at night and if i have to I use taxi�s which are relatively cheap. In two years I�ve only had one bad enounter.

Lots of opportunities to socialize and dance the night away.

good luck
cheers
d

[katieesenior]

Thanks D for your reply.
What school do you currently work for ? Have they any vacancies ? Am I best looking for a job when im there rather than searching here from the UK ?
I will look int homestay, thanks for the tip.

Kate

[doreenp]

I�m working at Ulatina University in San Pedro, just outside of San Jose. It�s a very well run English Speaking Dept. and the student enrollment is always increasing. We will start the new bimester on Monday and as usual most of the students have not registered. This is not unusual, its just how it works here. They very rarely register or pay till the day of class.

One example i can give is for one class I started last bimester. I came in on Monday morning to 6 students. By the end of the class i had 10. Tuesday morning i had 12 and by the end of the class i then had 16 which is too large and so was split in half. Therefore on Wednesday another teacher was needed for the other half of the class. �

The centre is always interviewing new teachers to replace the ones that are on the move. Even though this is the best paying university,(4 mil colones per hour!) people do move on and it�s impossible to say when this will happen.

It is best to come here and then search for jobs. If you email anyone you will probably get a reply like �� thanks for the email, please contact us when you arrive in Costa Rica.....�� So do your homework, get your lists together and be prepared for when you arrive.
good luck
cheers
d