Job Discussion Forums

[moz13]

Hello all,

I'm doing a CELTA course in Berlin that ends on September 14th. In your experience is there anything wrong with sending out CV's now with something to the effect of: "CELTA. Berlin School of English. In progress, date of completion: September 14th, 2007"? Or would you advise that I just wait and start sending out CV's and begin visiting schools when I'm done with the class?

My main issue is that I haven't decided exactly which city I'd like to work in so I was hoping to get some offers before the class was over.

I know that the consensus seems to be that "good" schools do not advertise their available jobs on the internet, but is there anything to be weary of when searching for schools to apply to on sites like ang.pl? Are those listings paid, or is it just a unsolicited directory?

Thanks for taking the time to help a newbie out.

[simon_porter00]

It's definately a good idea, many schools will take you up on this especially if you've got a good degree/sell yourself well on your CV/have something in your background that they can use.

Personally, whenever i was job hunting I started the first week of September and dropped photocopies of the CV and all other necessary documents off by hand.

Many advantages to doing this:
Schools are only interested in getting bums on seats from the middle of September to October.
You get to see the school, take a business card of the director and all his/her contact details so you can get in contact with them direct. Obviously, you'll get a chance to get an impression of the school while you're there.
You can find out about money, conditions etc if you catch the DOS
etc etc

In short, send your email beforehand and if you've got time/don't get any offers hit the streets the forst week of September

[moz13]

Thanks for replying Simon.

Since my CELTA course doesn't wrap-up until September 14 I will have to wait until the last half of September to get over to Poland to hit the pavement. But from what I have gathered this is still within the hiring season. Any other comments on my original post would be appreciated.

[simon_porter00]

Don't get me wrong, any time before October is good, just be prepared to be tenacious and demanding because for some reasons schools forget teachers in favour of bums on seats at that time (or so has been in my experience). If you dish out 20 or so CV's in that first week and get yourself a phone operational you'll quickly find work.

If you have a look at previous posts ont his board people will make out it's difficult to get work in some cities. As long as you look professional and present yourslf professionally you'll be beating off work offers with a poo covered stick.

EDIT - seeing as your from the States, you'll be best advised to search this board for the problems your fellow countrymen/women have encoutered. Some schools don't like the potential hassle of potential paperwork with employing Americans. So do your research and come over with the proper documents and save yourself a whole lot of time and trouble.

[moz13]

I am aware that there are a couple more hoops to jump through for North Americans seeking work. As far was paperwork to bring goes, so far I have a birth certificate, passport, uni diploma, last years tax statement, and I'll be able to have a statement of clean criminal record sent over if requested. Any non-EU folks care to chime in on anything I may have overlooked?

[chromium]

look in the threads in "Help for fellow American" subject of this forum