Job Discussion Forums

[superturbo]

Hi

I'm currently working but don't like my job, and have long considered a job as an ESL teacher.

I am 28, no degree, but will complete a CELTA course and then look in mainland Europe for work (I'm British).

My question is what are my chances of finding work this summer, country doesn't matter too much but I have a preference for Central/Eastern Europe.

Thanks

[Glenlivet]

You have little chance of finding work during the summer unless you can get work in the summer camps or summer courses (lots of these run in the UK).

Most language schools either shut down from the end of June until September or go on very short time although I believe from a friend in Prague that he could work 12 months if he wanted.

[spiral78]

Once you've been in a country for a while and have local contacts and reputation, it's a bit easier to pick up summer work. For a newbie arriving in the summer, chances are far slimmer. Prague included!

[superturbo]

Thanks for the replies. I don't mean finding work in Summer, but for September. I will complete my course, travel a little, maybe visit a few schools and hope to find somewhere for the new term. What are my chances of finding work?

[Glenlivet]

Same problem - a lot of schools are closed. When I first came to Poland I came in late August and managed to find work beginning in September. Even then we only got around 7 hours each per week until the students signed on in October.

[jonniboy]

To give you an idea of the job market out here, I'm in my fourth year of teaching in Latvia and worked on average 15 clock hours a week in August, 20 in September and 28 from October onwards. If you are new to a job market, reduce that by one third as you will have less contacts. The period from mid June to mid September is generally pretty slow so either budget for that, do summer camps or do something else.

[superturbo]

I understand there are fewer jobs and it is harder to find work - however when is the best time to visit a country to look for potential work? I will try to do my CELTA just before the start of the term so I can look for work - does that sound good?

[spiral78]

If you time your job search for the end bit of August and through September, you should be able to count on a paycheck by the end of October (and possibly a small one at the end of September, if you're lucky). It's the peak hiring period, though, so even though there may be less work around than in years past, I think you'd have a quite decent shot at landing something reasonable.

The economic crisis cuts both ways - you may have a bit less competition from eager newbies than you would have in past years, for the somewhat fewer jobs out there.... I expect the situation will even out for those actually here on the job market.

C'mon over

[SueH]

You could do the course now in time for getting summer school work in the UK, which is how I started _without_ a CELTA. The experience would be valuable and would help get your teaching CV off to a good start.

[superturbo]

Thanks for your tips;

SueH - do you know any schools I could contact for a possible summer school place to teach?

Thanks

[SueH]

[superturbo]

Thanks to all of you for posting and sending me the links