Job Discussion Forums

phantombedwetter

I've just finished a long and boring school financial assessment and have come to the conclusion that American teachers are not financially viable in Poland.

This is said with a heavy heart as my 3 American teachers were excellent over the course of the year.

I won't be employing any next year as the bureacratic process is a nightmare and disproportionately expensive not so much with visa payments, but school administration time.

I have a medium sized school so can't talk about the biggies, but please be aware that there may be a temptation to do everything 'under the table' which I'm not prepared to do.

As a teacher myself, as well as a school owner, I think you should know the score as people are applying for jobs now.

Anyway, good luck!

adamscheurich · Joined: 15 Jun 2008 Posts: 6 Location: New York

As an American who will be arriving in Krakow the second week of August to look for work, what should I be doing now? Do you think most of the bigger schools in Krakow will already have hired teachers for the fall semester by then?

spiral78 · Joined: 05 Apr 2004 Posts: 11534 Location: On a Short Leash

phantombedwetter, wouldn't this apply to Canadians as well? Should your note be addressed to 'North Americans?'

Also, do you know the current rule regarding where visa applications need to be made? There was some suggestion that North Americans would have to somehow secure job contracts, then fly back home to apply for a visa, then return when it was secured (which would indeed make them financially non-viable, in most cases)

phantombedwetter · Posted: Tue Jul 08, 2008 8:12 pm Post subject:

dynow · Joined: 07 Nov 2006 Posts: 1080

I don't understand why you say that you will not be hiring any more Americans at your school.

I'm American, working in Poland, I have a residency card that I can renew every year for as long as I want, my own accountant, business bank account, Zameldowanie, etc., and I can start working for another language school without any administration time required whatsoever. A simple contract written up with school policies and my pay rate per lesson and your done. I send you the rachunek at the end of every month for the work I did, and that's it.

You would encounter more admin. work hiring a Pole than it would be to hire me, not to mention, you won't have to pay out any benefits/taxes for me, as a freelancer I pay all of that myself, you simply pay me and that's it.

My school INSISTED that I work as a freelancer rather than to hire me because it simply saves them money, which in the end, this arrangement is win-win because it saves me money as well.

phantombedwetter · Posted: Fri Jul 11, 2008 9:13 pm Post subject:

Sorry Dynow,
I should have been clearer (Again!)

I'm talking about American citizens, outside Poland, looking for a short contract, not those already in country.
The ones 'fresh of face and smooth of buttock' unlike your good self Very Happy

As a side issue, do you know where the term 'Freelancer' originates from?
It's a mercenary term, announcing yourself as a 'Free lance', prepared to fight for the highest bidder.

Also, did you know that an octopus has 3 hearts?

I'll get my coat...

scot47 · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Posts: 15343

I am a bit alarmed about the remark on "smooth buttocks".

dynow · Joined: 07 Nov 2006 Posts: 1080

Gerhard E. Jene · Joined: 16 May 2003 Posts: 43 Location: London

Phantombedwetter

What city are we talking about first? Second, what would you say to someone who is Canadian and wants to work for you? I have a tesol certificate, but no university degree at the moment. Also, I have and can prove that I am an EU citizen as well. Would that help in cutting down the paperwork that has to be done?
I do have a neutral accent that one person had told me he could not detect an accent. What would be the rate of pay if I could work at the school you are at?

lundjstuart · Joined: 01 Jul 2008 Posts: 211 Location: Warsaw, Poland

phantombedwetter, what school do you own so that we all know where not to apply if an American needed a job!

Sgt Bilko · Joined: 28 Jul 2006 Posts: 136 Location: POLAND

logorhythmic · Joined: 05 Jan 2009 Posts: 7

Banford · Joined: 07 Jan 2009 Posts: 1

My boss told me the same thing, it's just too much hassle and redtape.

dynow · Joined: 07 Nov 2006 Posts: 1080

well.......it's Residency Card renewal time.

what I plan on doing is writing down EVERYTHING that i will do in order to renew it and re-post it here at a later date. i figured it would be helpful for any first timers.

although, there is a disclaimer to this: it could end up being slightly different for others for any number of reasons such as a slightly different living situation, different job contract, or what kind of mood the office clerk is in.

to be continued.

Jack Walker · Joined: 23 Oct 2008 Posts: 412

I applied for my latest residency card last July15th and finally got it on December 18th.

That was about the 5th time I've applied for a card, and one would think they'd have all the pertinent info on file.Renewal should be a process of a few weeks.Not in Poland however!

I remember while living on Taiwan,the residency permits would be completed in a mere 7 days.Nice and simple.