Job Discussion Forums

[amorphous154]

Hello everybody,

I have spent the last couple days looking over this website and it is great and a lot of the people on here are great in that they are willing to help out newbies from the goodness of their heart, which is rare these days.

My name is Eric, I am a recent BA graduate from the rust belt of Ohio, and it is very hard to get any job here, I've even got turned down from most min. wage seasonal retail positions! So I decide I want to teach abroad because my debt is piling up and here I have no job . I have been applying/researching as much as I can, but I am still kinda lost because I've never traveled abroad, nor done anything like this b4. Below are my details:

- BA in Sociology from OSU
- Filipino American tho born and raised American, I'm just a brownie lol
- Lots of debt: credit and loans, must pay on my own probably about 5-600 a month average
- In college, lots of work/intern experience with youth leadership, mentor/tutor asian populations, and I earned a National Youth Worker Trainer Certificate tho I don't think its worth the paper its written on just like my degree lol
- no TESL Cert. now, but looking to leave next couple months since running out of fundage, have passport, diploma, resume, picture ready

Plan:
- Was planning to go to Korea because of all accomodations, but since I have to send 600$ home a month, the Won has dropped so much it would be more than half my salary!
- So far I apply many places and I Received 1 job offer so far from GEPIK Korea, but it was only for 2MILL KRW a month which is like 1200$ right now. I was hoping to make around 2000$/mo so I can pay off my loans quicker and save when I return to US in case I again can't find a job. I also am worried about the racism and low pay for coloreds in Asia I have heard esp in Korea, is it worse than the States? These agencies don't seem to help much just get me to try to sign an offer as soon as possible.
- I am looking at Taiwan too but most don't offer accomodations, and right now I would have to nearly max out my credit card to buy airplane ticket. I also heard Japan has too expensive living.
-I heard Middle East is good, but require higher credentials than I have. I actually won't mind going there, I am not a partier and just want to work and spending time by myself is okay.

So some of my questions are:
- Am I getting too picky, should I take my first offer in GEPIK and live as meagerly as I can for a year? Is it best to work for private or public?
- How are teachers paid, Will the won go back up, or can I convert salary earned between dollar and foreign currency pretty easily to retain value (So I save as much won as possible and convert to $ when it rise again)? Any other way to beat the fluctation?
- Any good middle Eastern companies u know that would hire my credentials and accomodate well? Tho, I would be completely lost here if a company screwed me over or something happened.
- What country is best to go in 2009 where there is high demand, I can save, and their currency won't drop against the dollar like the Won?
- Is there any way to better organize the information on the million TESL sites our there!? Simple is better I think lol
- If I get an E2 visa and a bad job, can I just quit and get another one?
- Any other general advice, websites, or what you would do if you were in my position and dont want to end up in bad school/position/broke overseas?

Sorry so long and if confusing (like me!). I think I am complicating things too much but I haven't had any good luck in a long time, lol. If you take the time to read and/or respond to any of my questions, thank you very much, any help is much appreciated from me. Its just nice to have someone to talk to about this as I sometimes feel I am over my head and likely to be another Dave's ESL horror story.

Thank you all again this forum and the helpful people are a godsend.

Eric[/list]

[MO39]

Having to send home $500-$600 a month to pay off student loans will make your first year of teaching abroad very difficult, if not impossible, to manage financially. Have you looked into having at least a portion of your loans deferred?

[Honky Nick]

Hey there,

- Am I getting too picky, should I take my first offer in GEPIK and live as meagerly as I can for a year? Is it best to work for private or public?

Firstly, I would get out of the US and start working as quickly as possible. You'll probably find that once you start working and make a few connections, you'll hear a lot more about other opportunities for either new jobs or private teaching gigs.

- How are teachers paid, Will the won go back up, or can I convert salary earned between dollar and foreign currency pretty easily to retain value (So I save as much won as possible and convert to $ when it rise again)? Any other way to beat the fluctation?

I have no idea about the currency in Korea. I think the best way to beat fluctuation is to send a bit home every month regardless of the exchange rate. That way, you don't spend your life worrying about it, and you'll get an average of the ups and downs. I'm sure many others disagree, though. If you're willing to hold onto money in one currency for a long time, it can be beneficial. Friends of mine here in HK held onto hundreds of thousands of HKD when it was 1HKD = 7.5AUD, then transferred it back to Australia when the exchange rate was 1HKD - 5AUD. Needless to say, they made a lot more money that way! However, if it hadn't gone down, they would have lost out. If I had a loan to pay back, I would just send money every month.

- Any good middle Eastern companies u know that would hire my credentials and accomodate well? Tho, I would be completely lost here if a company screwed me over or something happened.

Not sure.

- What country is best to go in 2009 where there is high demand, I can save, and their currency won't drop against the dollar like the Won?

Hong Kong dollar is pegged to the US dollar, so you know exactly what you are getting. I think it hovers between 7.75 - 7.85 HKD - 1USD. Correct me if I'm wrong. With your creds, you can earn a lot, save a lot and still live a pretty good lifestyle - that is, if you get a job at a kindergarten, as a teaching assistant or, preferrably, on the NET Scheme. Go to http://www.edb.gov.hk/index.aspx?nodeID=262&langno=1 or www.hkpnets.org for more info on the NET Scheme if you're interested.

- Is there any way to better organize the information on the million TESL sites our there!? Simple is better I think lol

Probably. However, this loose format is great for anecdotal information. Perhaps there should be a sticky at the start of each country's forum listing all the essential information. Difficult to organise, though, I'm sure.

- If I get an E2 visa and a bad job, can I just quit and get another one?

Not sure... but if it's anything like Japan and HK, yes.

- Any other general advice, websites, or what you would do if you were in my position and dont want to end up in bad school/position/broke overseas?

My advice would be: just go and figure it out as you go along. Get a job beforehand if possible. If there are no jobs where you're living now (and the US economy isn't looking too crash hot), you might as well leave, pick up whatever work you can get, save as much as you can and see where it takes you. There are many opportunities out there for ESL teachers and the people on this site are full of good information.

Personally, I've found HK to be fun, exciting, profitable (way more than I thought before I came) and not too difficult, but everyone's experiences are different.

Jump on a plane - you won't regret it*



*Honky Nick accepts no responsibility if you do regret it.

[amorphous154]

OMG, You guys are so awesome. I was just gonna quickly peruse Dave's ESL before I went to sleep, and there are already some posts!

I sent emails to a friend that has traveled abroad before and my older sister a week ago, but they have not replied back! So you guys are awesome.

But you all are so right, I need to take action and get out of the country or something because my situation is not getting better here, and everyone I know and myself included in the States in going thru a QLC and have lost or are worried about losing their jobs "in the prime of our lives", and I get excited about even a hint of any good news!

MO39, thank you I checked the loan website and I applied for a 6 month deferment, that is a great idea if it works. I think that will help unless Asian currency drops more than it has, but then we're all in trouble! But yeah like 1200$ a month are not great wages, but I think the accomodations will help since I pay too much for everything here and my savings are gone.

And Nick, thanks for the great post, you really give me some perspectives since I'm like a needle trying to get out of a haystack by myself!

- Firstly, I would get out of the US and start working as quickly as possible. You'll probably find that once you start working and make a few connections, you'll hear a lot more about other opportunities for either new jobs or private teaching gigs.

Great advice, but with the GEPIK thing they sent me the contract and said I have to work for a year. If I break the contract, will I lose my E2 visa and have to go back home?

- How are teachers paid, Will the won go back up, or can I convert salary earned between dollar and foreign currency pretty easily to retain value (So I save as much won as possible and convert to $ when it rise again)? Any other way to beat the fluctation?

Yeah, the currency situation is like the stock market, but I am an Azn that is horrible at math lol! I will send some $ back, and then I guess save the rest and convert it later. No idea how to do it, but I guess my employer can help me with that.

- Go to http://www.edb.gov.hk/index.aspx?nodeID=262&langno=1 or www.hkpnets.org for more info on the NET Scheme if you're interested.

Thanks a lot for the NET scheme stuff. I will look into it. I have never thought of HK, but I know it is a lot like Japan in that they have higher wages but its also very expensive, is that true? How much money should have to start living there first couple months? I may have to save these places for year two since I'm pretty tight, or near empty in the wallet at the current moment.

- My advice would be: just go and figure it out as you go along. Get a job beforehand if possible. If there are no jobs where you're living now (and the US economy isn't looking too crash hot), you might as well leave, pick up whatever work you can get, save as much as you can and see where it takes you. There are many opportunities out there for ESL teachers and the people on this site are full of good information.

Thank you this is all great advice. You are right, just by staying here, I think it kind of has clogged my thinking, so what you says make sense. Treading out there after a bad post-graduation experience makes me both anxious and excited, but I guess we all start out that way! I am glad you enjoy your HK experience tho it seems you have earned it with your hard work and intellect, I hope to be at least half as lucky this coming year. I will definetely try to sift through all the information and utilize this site, its very helpful and most of the ppl are great.

Thank you guys again you are awesome, I'm feeling a little better, tad less foggier, and for others to answer later you are awesome too!

[Honky Nick]

Hi amorphous154,

No worries. I know how intimidating it can be when you don't have a focus. Hong Kong has been good for me, but there are so many opportunities out there - it's just a matter of finding a place that's right for you. I also spent a year in Japan a while ago and had a brilliant time there.

[naturegirl321]

For Korean questions, you'll have to use the Korean board, but I will say one thing, the won has gone up the last two days.

[MO39]

[Glenski]

Sending home US$500 per month is not that hard in Japan. Salaries are 250,000 yen (and falling) per month, and half of that goes to basic necessities, so you still have 125,000 or so to play around with after that.

With roughly 100-120 yen to the dollar, that means $1000-1250 to play with. Send the $500 home right away, and then live fairly frugally the rest of the month. Doesn't even have to be frugal since your basic necessities are paid by then.

Getting the job is the key. If you can't afford to come here in February or March and support yourself for 1-4 months ($4000-5000), then you have only about a dozen places that will recruit from abroad, and you have to deal with their interview locations and schedules. Could mean 1-3 days of interviews at YOUR expense.

[GambateBingBangBOOM]

A quick look at the Korean jobs board on this site showed that a lot of, if not most of, the positions were for more than 2mill won.

[naturegirl321]

[amorphous154]

Hey everyone,

Didn't have much time to research much today because a friend is hooking me up with some odd jobs to temporarily make ends meet and I'm prepping for Thanksgiving, but I just wanted to check my thread again and thank those who posted again.

I guess the first thing that I need to do is to narrow down a country that would best fit my situation, and take it step by step. I looked up worlds most expensive cities on Forbes, and surprisingly it was HK 6, seoul 5, tokyo 2, and moscow the most expensive city, so I guess how is Taiwan looking lol. But yeah seriously, I need to make a decision on this soon to narrow my search.

Nick, that's a great story, but were those housing values in USD or HK$, because if those were USD its expensive there and you are definitely banking! Anyway, I can tell that you are a go-getter and results-oriented person so that you've definetely earned your great experiences and jobs. To tell you the truth, things move slower where I am from or maybe its just me , and I may need to work my way up to a HK type city that is fast paced and business oriented. Besides dorms and my current shared flat, I haven't really lived on my own yet too, so hopefully this isn't too big of a leap.

If I researched more on HK and found something, do you think that a newbie like me would be over my head for my first time in such a busy city? If living there frugally, would the savings be comparable to Korea, like 1K$/mo would be great to send back and save? Sorry small-town folk like me here horror stories about being swallowed up by the big city. Thanks again.

Glenski thanks for the help with the simple math and the info on Japan. I just watched Lost in Translation and Japan looks like an awesome city. In your last sentence, so do you advice if I go there to have at least 4-5000 USD in savings? And to try to secure a job over here mostly by phone interview, right? I will definetely look into it as I know its a good market and not as unpredictable as Korea. I also will research more on JET Programme, but I know its extremely competitive and strict. BTW, how is the economy there, do you think the yen will stay strong for the upcoming years, or will that depend on the fickle US consumer market which may have the worst consumer holiday season in years.

Gambate I like your icon, the Sopranos was a good show and I hope they make a movie to clarify the last episode lol. I think I have an offer from GEPIK for 2 MILL KRW, but I need to budget and do the math to see if that would be enough for my credit card/school loan debt, since they are not too forgiving now since the US govt has to loan them money lol!

Naturegirl I really appreciate the advice and heads up about that divided country west of Japan lol, I am definetely spending a lot of time on that board and am confused, educated, humored, demoralized, excited and a mix of a lot of different emotions trying to sift out the right and correct info I need to make a decision there.

So thanks again everyone. My big task after the holidays is first locating a region that would be best for my situation and to keep on applying. Of course, any advice you care to share I heartedly accept, and I would like to wish you all a Happy Thanksgiving you can share with your friends wherever you are

[Honky Nick]

Hello again,

[Littlebird]

Did you say you could save $1k a month when working in HK for the first time teacher ? Is the air pollution bad in HK ?

Cheers SAM

[JZer]

You could also try Taiwan. You will get paid 65,000NT (2000US)for a full-time job. Taiwan is fairly cheap if you stay away from the bars. Also you can pick up tutoring jobs or Saturday work if you need more money.

[JZer]