Job Discussion Forums

MikeySaid · Joined: 10 Nov 2004 Posts: 509 Location: Torreon, Mexico

...what do you do?

I was fired from a school where I had a horrible experience, and every Mexican I know took it as a blessing, not some horrible meltdown.

If you're committed to living in the location you're in and suddenly find yourself without the ability to get a j.o.b. in that place... what else can you do?

I'm not getting any responses from the schools in Torreon, and I desperately need to be able to work (don't want to be married and unemployed, and the wedding is in 8 weeks, still haven't been able to find work in the US either and I'm starting to freak out). What other kinds of work might be available to me? I've seen people throwing around the idea of teaching at companies... but I haven't a clue who to contact.

I've contacted all sorts of schools in the Laguna, with no positive responses.

Any ideas are appreciated.

notamiss · Posted: Tue May 13, 2008 11:02 pm Post subject:

http://www.wataonline.net/site/modules/newbb/viewtopic.php?topic_id=747

Edited to add: Yes it's a humourous piece, but making a living from translation is no joke. It's lucrative if you can get into the right markets, and fun if you like it, is another way to leverage your expertise in English, and can be combined with teaching.

Prof.Gringo

Samantha · Joined: 25 Oct 2003 Posts: 2038 Location: Mexican Riviera

Prof Gringo wrote

MikeySaid · Joined: 10 Nov 2004 Posts: 509 Location: Torreon, Mexico

dixie · Joined: 23 Apr 2006 Posts: 644 Location: D.F

Connect up with the Korean market, and see about tutoring their kids. It is at least a little something. I had one friend who was doing okay doing that in Torre�n.

For companies, there are quite a few foreign ones, so simply get email addresses, or phone numbers and call. I know they give Spanish lessons to employees, so I would have to assume that there is at least a small need to give ENglish to some of their national employees.

The best advice really, leave Torre�n! Get married, and move on.
Smile

wildchild · Joined: 14 Nov 2005 Posts: 519 Location: Puebla 2009 - 2010

I would consider postponing the marriage.

Marriage is difficult work as it is; you don't need this added stress that just might break the relationship.

Getting married is supposed to be one of the happiest times of your life. come wedding day, you may find it extremely difficult to enjoy. Also, if you're unable to fulfill the many expectations of your new bride and family that come along with being married, it might prove disastrous.

I would postpone until I found myself in a more stable position from which I could really focus on my spouse and the relationship as to assure its survival.

In the mean time, I wish you the best of luck.

guatetaliana · Posted: Wed May 14, 2008 4:42 pm Post subject:

wildchild, I'd beg to differ. My husband had to quit his job 4 days before our wedding. Mine ended a month later. We left the US a month after that and headed into an uncertain future in Europe. After that adventure, we landed in Mexico with no idea what we would do next. I got a job right away, it took my husband another month and a half to find one. Then I had to quit mine because it was outrageous, and I've been bouncing between the US and Mexico every couple weeks since then. It's been a tough year, lots of wondering what we're doing. But it's been a great year, and getting through it together taught us so much about each other. Our struggles highlighted each other's character and showed us so much about ourselves, too.

We just celebrated our 1-yr anniversary on Monday and we agree this has been the best year of our lives together.

A stable job isn't essential for a happy or healthy marriage. Not that one year gives me the experience to say much, but I feel strongly about this. A commitment to do all you can for your spouse, willingness to be flexible when necessary, ability to sacrifice for the sake of both - these are much more important in my opinion.

I think it comes down to your fiancee - if she can handle some unknowns and is flexible to do whatever is necessary in these uncertain times, then by all means, go ahead with your wedding plans. And congratulations!!!

MELEE · Posted: Wed May 14, 2008 5:09 pm Post subject:

Mikey,

I gotta side with Sam on this one.
Before you took the terrible job you were fired from we told you you would probably be better off starting up your own little private lesson service.

Kootvela · Joined: 22 Oct 2007 Posts: 513 Location: Lithuania

mapache · Joined: 12 Oct 2006 Posts: 202 Location: Villahermosa

Every Good Friday has an Easter and as doors close, doors open. Three years ago after finally walking out on an abusive, nasty private school owner in Tuxtla, I was broke and pleading with another school to hire me.

They did and didn't pay me, making me return to the "contador" many times each pay week to beg for my pay. During this time, I started teaching private students. My reputation grew and I finally was able to tell the crooks I worked for to shove it. Now I have 43 hours a week of private classes (I know, it's too much) at much more per hour than the private schools paid and a waiting list for new students.

If your estado has an agency of arbitration and reconciliation, file a complaint against your old school for back pay, holidays, vacation, Christmas bonus, plus what else you think they paid to other teachers. You'll be surprised how quickly and how much your old school will settle for. Just don't take a check. I know someone who received a check from the second school where I worked for a settlement and it bounced, causing them to have to go back to the agency again.

Good luck and congratulations on your marriage. Go for it!

GueroPaz · Joined: 07 Sep 2007 Posts: 216 Location: Thailand or Mexico

Agreeing: go for private students. If you are good at it, you can make a living at it. That is, if you can find a niche, an age group or ethnic group. Good luck.

naturegirl321 · Joined: 04 May 2003 Posts: 9041 Location: home sweet home

There are plenty of ways to make money, online, translations, editing. Look at teaching ASian kids, they're usually children of diplomats and pay well. About marriage and no job. It's tough, for me, we've been married two and a half years, and I've had the steady jobs. BUt there are things that you can do. My husband fell into property renovation and has found out he's like it. ANd we're doing ok, but it can be very stressful on a marriage if one or both people don't have work.

J Sevigny · Joined: 26 Feb 2006 Posts: 161

I, too, would suggest leaving Torreon. You might be able to find something in Saltillo but I'd say Monterrey is a better bet if you want to stay relatively close to your wife's family.

Torreon is a medium-sized city with an economy that's moving but unless you have a lot of contacts, I think it's going to be tough to make stable money doing privates.

Apart from which, the Mexican economy is funky right now (even more funky than the usual) and this may not be the best time to start a business.

Good luck

teachergirltoo · Joined: 21 Jan 2005 Posts: 7

There are more and more teachers teaching online and making a good living at it. If you have cable internet or can work from a PC room then you will have no problem. Check the Korean job board.