Job Discussion Forums

[Mekyn]

Hi I am just finishing up with my masters in TESOL and I am looking to work in Spain. I found a company advertising positions there but they want $25 to put out 200 resumes. They also charge a $40 lifetime membership fee. I have been in contact with them and they say that they should be able to place me in Spain. The company is called TEACHERMEXCONNECT. Does anyone know anything about them? Are they a legitiamate and reputable company? I appreciate any help.

[jonniboy]

I don't know about that company but there are several points that you should bear in mind.

1) In 99% of cases it is impossible for someone without EU citizenship to get a legal job in Spain.

2) In 99% of cases schools in Spain don't give jobs to someone unseen from abroad. There are ample teachers already available on the ground so why should they take a risk giving a job to someone who may not turn up?

3) There are numerous academies in every Spanish city so it's really not necessary to use a CV sending service.

4) The global recession has reduced the number of openings available as companies and government institutions cut back their training budgets.

5) Outside the big cities there will be very few hours available at the moment. September will be the next big hiring period.

[Maria Kirby]

[spiral78]

Third jonniboy's input. Unless you're eligible for student visas, even your MA won't make you legal in Spain, or most of the 'old' EU member countries.

Further, he's correct that it's incredibly rare to actually land a job in Europe from abroad. You generally need to be here, on the ground, with local language skills and a local reputation, to land anything reputable.

[sheikh radlinrol]

[DMcK]

I'm not condoning illegal working but in my short time in Madrid I've met numerous workers that are not legally entitled to teach here but are able t make a good amount of money from some decent gigs.

[spiral78]

I didn't want to argue with Maria, and I haven't done the check to find out if student visas actually allow one to work legally in Spain these days.

But, yes, I'm highly doubtful that this is the case.

As to those 'successful' illegal teachers, they're extremely likely to get caught by some border check these days and then it's 10 years out of the EU with the big red stamp in their passports.

It's just no longer the days of carefree illegal work in the EU.

[Phil_b]

[DMcK]

[Maria Kirby]

[spiral78]

Maria, I said that I had not done recent research on the topic.

Just to clarify the risks of being caught, unless you're really unlucky and in the wrong place at the wrong time, it's not likely IN Spain. It's when you cross borders...inside Schengen zone, it's no longer necessary to check, but it is always a possibility.

I think the risks these days are quite high, especially at airports. Questions are increasingly asked.

[jonniboy]

[Mekyn]

Thanks for all the useful information So I probably will not be coming to Spain right away because I definitely am not interested in working illegally and I have no need to go to school there. I am thinking about going to Mexico for awhile

I have a few more questions:

Are there any opportunities to volunteer in ESL there during the summer months?

I have seen advertisements to get your TEFL certificate in Spain and they say they place you in a job afterwards. Can they do this because you are there on a student visa?

I had one more question but I forgot what it was. Oh well, I'll check back later.

[spiral78]

The 'placement' programs put you in touch with school directors in places where you can work legally. They dont' get you in to a country where you can't get a work permit.