Job Discussion Forums

[dsherter]

Worth the fee?

When are they most useful?

Least useful?

Do they do what they promise? (i.e. Reputable?)



Thanks,

D. Sherter

[ls650]

I know some people "pooh pooh" placement services. I think they have their place; they can make things a lot easier for those coming to Mexico for the first time and who can't speak a lick of Spanish.
Still, I'd recommend looking around on your own. If you have a degree and some experience elsewhere, it isn't very hard to find teaching work in Mexico.

[Guy Courchesne]

What kind of qualifications do you have? What sort of teaching job are you looking for? What additional help beyond locating a job do you need?

I think placement services are good if you really need a lot of help, but if you're comfortable with simply arriving in Mexico to scout, or arranging your job before coming down via email/telephone, then you don't need to pay someone to do it for you. Late summer is the best time to simply arrive if you're looking at elementary or secondary school work, in time for the fall semester. Those are often the best types of jobs.

I'm biased in that I work for one such agency, so I'll not comment further on if they do what they promise. What do they promise by the way?

[dsherter]

Qualifications

1) Masters in unrelated field (Public Health)
teaching experience in that field, but not in academic setting - health related lectures - I consider the exerience very relevant and make a plausible case in my cover letter
2) recent experience: student teaching in ESL classroom
3)decent Spanish
45 y.o. (can pass for jaded 3 - a mixed blessing I understand but not insurmountable - already had one offer I regrettably had to pass up.

I'm concerned about the prospect of having to go set up house on spec. - i.e. settling down then seeking interviews - seems a little risky and costly - am I wrong? Pursuant to this thought - roughly how much $ should one travel with given its without a job?

Also, would prefer teaching adults - may I ask why primary school ed might be preferable? and preferably in a coastal (not beachy) area. One advantage of placement services is the possibility, perhaps, of fine-tuning a wish list and getting what I want rather than whoever says "si" first - thoughts?

re: promises - Guy (and by the way you kindly answered a previous question I had about Jacob Peeble's product months ago - my search was regrettably interrupted and I'm back to looking) I include the link to your competitor's site for ease of compare and contrast.

http://www.teach-english-mexico.com/guaranteed.htm

Again, thanks.

[dsherter]

after a good-night's sleep and thinking good thoughts - not sure where that smiley came from, but "thirty", even with a cup of ephedra, might be a stretch.

[Guy Courchesne]

Housing is always the hardest part, whether you're looking on your own or if an employer offers/recommends something. My advice to people, no matter if they have a job set up or if they're scouting, is to allow for a period in an inexpensive hotel. Give yourself some time to get to know the lay of the land, network, and possibly locate something you wouldn't have been able to find online in English.

[dsherter]

Hotel - good tip.

Again - and don't feel obliged to answer immediately, I realize it's a school day tomorrow -

How much time would you allow to find work if I travel on spec - i.e. jobless? How much cash would that translate to - ish - 2K? 3K?

Why do you suggest primary ed. is preferable to teaching adults (in the TEFL context, in Mexico?)

What - given that you're an honest broker, which I have every reason to believe - would be your case for or against using a placement agency, given aid with placement, housing, etc. given my particulars?

Again - decision not around corner, please answer when convenient. I'm afraid, btw, that it was I who was unclear about the Jacob Peebles connection - and that's entirely ferretless.

Y come se dice "ferret"? Que cute.

[Guy Courchesne]

You're very kind, thank you. I'm going to ask others here to answer those questions before I put more of my 2 cents in so you get a well-rounded opinion.

Ferret is huron in Spanish. I only recently discovered that, but right away it made me think of Lake Huron - forever forward Lake Ferret to me now.

[NinaNina]

My family of four hit town (Oaxaca) in August. It was relatively easy to spend the first week chilling, the second week scouting schools and places to live, the third week negotiating with various interested parties, and the fourth week making the move and starting work. So everything's possible, and much easier than it probably seems from the perspective of someone who is not in the country yet. For demographic purposes, I'm 40 and we did everything with a baby and a first-grader in tow.

I should underscore the fact that I had all my papers in order and apostilled. I had exchanged emails with some schools in the months prior to the move and had attached my resume.

On the housing front, we stayed in a little guest apartment that had special monthly rates for the first month. When we finally found our house, we rented one that came fully furnished (down to the linens and kitchenware) so that the "setting up" process and investment was minimal.

You mentioned 2-3K and that should be more than enough, in my opinion. That's what my whole family gets by on each month.

Good luck! The experience is most definitely worth all the planning.

--Serena
http://mexpop.blogspot.com/

[MO39]

[Guy Courchesne]

I'm lazy with my Spanish accent marks. Floj�n?

[Samantha]

GC wrote:

[MELEE]

[dixie]

[notamiss]