Job Discussion Forums

tamiii · Joined: 19 Aug 2009 Posts: 9 Location: Louisiana

I would like to teach in Mexico.
The thing is.. where do I start? Where do I look for work? Is it best to just go there and hope to find something, or find a job online, or just freelance? idk.
I've been looking at teaching jobs online and it looks like there isn't many options available right now. Is it just the wrong time of year?

Oreen Scott · Joined: 11 Jan 2008 Posts: 179 Location: Oaxaca, Mexico

What education and training do you have?

Mexico is a big country. Where in Mexico would you like to live and work?

tamiii · Joined: 19 Aug 2009 Posts: 9 Location: Louisiana

I have a couple years of college under my belt. I want to get some experience before I complete my degree to see if it's really what I want to do.
Is that possible?
I'm not really sure of where I want to live/work. Just anywhere that isn't a bad area I guess.
I just really want to know the best way of going about getting a job.
I've heard it's a good idea to go in person, but it scares me to leave here without having a job already secured in Mexico.

Oreen Scott · Joined: 11 Jan 2008 Posts: 179 Location: Oaxaca, Mexico

Try Berlitz or Hamond Hall. They are chains that I believe prefer people without training or experience. That's so they can train to their methods.

Both have web sites that will give you plenty of information.

tamiii · Joined: 19 Aug 2009 Posts: 9 Location: Louisiana

Thank you.
I will contact them and see if any jobs are available.
If they are no longer hiring, are there any other schools you might suggest?

Prof.Gringo · Posted: Mon Sep 14, 2009 5:53 pm Post subject:

geaaronson · Joined: 19 Apr 2005 Posts: 948 Location: Mexico City

I would recommend waiting until the first week of December to come here and look for a job. The way most of us did it was just to come down here and start looking. If you go to Mexico City, there are a lot of opportunities for morning classes but you will have to scrounge around and network for evening classes.
I would recommend finishing your degree first and then getting your TEFL certification. That will put you in a much stronger position for getting more work.
The educational recruiters are desperate for people for a.m. classes in DF but that will get you 6 or 8 hours a week at the most. Then you have to fill out the rest of the day and that will take some hustling. Check www.computrabajo.com.mx for job listings. That�s a good start. You will not be able to get a position without showing your face.

sarliz · Joined: 22 Feb 2006 Posts: 198 Location: Jalisco

When I was hiring, I posted a job ad on www.eslemployment.com, and got a lot of responses, which turned into one wonderful teacher coming down and working for me, and one dud. It might be a good site to poke around while you're still in the states. That being said, I really can't imagine a school hiring anyone without a degree, TEFL, or experience, especially online. Definitely not anyone you would want to work for.

tamiii · Joined: 19 Aug 2009 Posts: 9 Location: Louisiana

I never said that I didn't have anything to qualify me. I'm not trying to get a job with nothing to offer here.
I just came to these forums thinking someone could help me, but it seems like all I get from you guys are criticism.

sarliz · Joined: 22 Feb 2006 Posts: 198 Location: Jalisco

I didn't mean to imply that you don't have anything to qualify you for the a potential job, I was just trying to warn you of the sketchiness of any schools that would hire someone w/out a 1. degree 2. a TEFL cert 3. experience and 4. sight unseen. I have no idea if that's your case or not. You should just stay away from schools like that if it is indeed your situation.

lennon146 · Joined: 03 Nov 2004 Posts: 55 Location: Latin America

I've seen several people get hired in Mexico City without a degree or teaching certificate. If you are a native speaker of English, well-presented, well-spoken, and with good 'people skills' - that goes a heck of a long way. Schools just jump on the marketing opportunities if they can boast 'native speakers'.

As for Tamiii, I agree that your best bet of getting decent work anywhere in Mexico is to be down here. You need only come for a couple of weeks, go looking around and hand out your CV. In Mexico City there are jobs available year round, except for the private high schools who tend to hire ahead of the school year.

Please do NOT accept a job that pays $2850 a month (re: your post on Chiapas). That is a rip off. I think we can all agree on that. Don't think that just because the cost of living is cheaper in Mexico that you should accept something like that.

gregd75 · Posted: Thu Sep 17, 2009 1:57 pm Post subject: Advice...

Fisrt of all- Good Luck! I think that you've made a good decision in deciding to come to Mexico to teach. In my experience, Mexico is a wonderful country with great weather, lovely community and (I guess depending on the school you work for) has great students keen to learn English.

I read through your post and noted Sarliz comments - I think as you haven't mentioned any TEFL training in your posts, she was just trying to point out that certification is really essential. At the very least it prepares you for classes, but it also puts you ahead of a lot of people here in Mexico who think that speaking English means teaching English will be easy. Not so!

Secondly, I think Daves esl cafe is absoultely the best place to be looking for a position. Employers have to pay for their advertisements, so lots of schools don't use Daves for exactly this reason. I think you are going to find good positions posted here. As a recruiter myself, I really like to use this forum as I have gotten good quality teachers in the past.

An advantage point that you may have is your flexibility and willingness to start ASAP. The school year has started now, so schools really should have completed their recruitment cycle. But, what if a teacher doesn't work out? Thats where you could step-in!! If you do have the flexibility to start almost immediately, I would keep looking on webpages such as this one and when you see something, really emphasise the point that you can start now!

Another place for you to consider looking is on the MEXTESOL website. www.mextesol.org.mx They are an English teachers organisation, part of the worldwide TESOL organisation and they have a small recruitment section on their webpage.

Finally, if you don't have a TEFL qualification, I strongly agree with Sarliz and would suggest getting one become your priority. There's a company calles Teachers International, based in Mexico City that offers a range of courses. Again, I have hired teachers from TI and have found them to be very good teachers (Which makes me think the program is good...) and Guy (who regularly posts here too) helps teachers to find a position. This could help you a lot too as he has a lot of contacts throughout the country I guess!

I hope this helps you, and wherever you end up here in Mexico, probably pay won't be great but the experience should be rewarding.

Prof.Gringo · Posted: Thu Sep 17, 2009 5:58 pm Post subject:

Phil_K · Joined: 25 Jan 2007 Posts: 2041 Location: A World of my Own

Prof.Gringo · Posted: Thu Sep 17, 2009 9:55 pm Post subject: