Job Discussion Forums

jonniboy · Posted: Mon Sep 21, 2009 7:36 pm Post subject:

Really you need to go there now to get something. When you get there you'll be taken a lot more seriously if you have a local sim card. A UK number makes it look like you're not planning to hang around.

Madrid and Rome are both expensive cities, Madrid you're talking at least 700 euro per month to rent a flat and probably two months deposit in that case plus two months living costs. Say at least 5000 euro for two people just to start. The Spanish economy also stinks at the moment, think Britain, then double the unemployment rate. If I were you I would seriously consider saving some cash in Britain first, hoping that the pound recovers a bit against the euro and then go after Christmas in the next big hiring period. Good luck whatever you decide and maybe you could post here and let us know how it went?

ben&iola · Joined: 04 Sep 2009 Posts: 11

Thanks spiral thats very reassuring and some useful advice!! Madrid and Rome might be our best option, just need to decide which one to go to!

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

Slow down...jonniboy's also got some relevant info....start up costs ARE considerable!

Also, he's right that January's the next big hiring period....depending on your available cash, you might be better off to play it safe and save up until then. Only you can really decide!!

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

But really, DO let us know how it goes.

ben&iola · Joined: 04 Sep 2009 Posts: 11

5000 euros is quite a bit, certainly more than we have!! Does anyone know of any good websites for cheap accomodation in Madrid/Rome??

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

'cheap' = short-term. You don't want to stay in some hostel for the duration - and that wouldn't be so cheap anyway. Rents are always the killer on the continent (it's the same for us if we want to come to Britain).

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

Rents in the Czech Rep will be more like 400-450 Euro/monthly. However, salaries are comparatively lower as well....

In CZK: net 18,000 - 21,000 monthly. Rents around 10,000-12,000 monthly. Two incomes make it kinda worthwhile.

The time pressure and start-up issues are the same, though...and there's tough times going on there as well. Lots of competition for jobs and possibly fewer jobs than normal (or more teachers, also a factor).

Sorry, I'm tired and not as coherent as I'd like. My point was that start-up costs might be a bit lower in the CR.

jonniboy · Posted: Mon Sep 21, 2009 8:40 pm Post subject:

jonniboy · Posted: Tue Sep 22, 2009 8:21 am Post subject:

Regarding my earlier advice to you to hold off until after Christmas, I just saw this prediction that the pound will hit parity with the euro in January 2010.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/currency/6207852/Pound-will-fall-to-parity-with-euro.html

So there may actually be no value in waiting. A lot of eastern European currencies are tied to the Euro so the pound will lose value against them as well. NB that advice comes with the caveat that, if I could successfully predict currency fluctuations, I probably wouldn't be an English teacher!

SueH · Joined: 01 Feb 2003 Posts: 1022 Location: Northern Italy

Ah, you cheery thing you, jonniboy.. which rather explains why as I'm semi-retired I've been looking to increase my hours! Prospective new private student arriving shortly for a needs analysis etc - hurrah - and been spending the morning preparing materials.

My budget spreadsheet is already based on fairly conservative estimates but perhaps I'd better go and review them!

To the OP, as I posted on the Italy forum start up costs can be a killer but the point about a local mobile number is a good one. There are still quite a few Italian vacancies on Tefl.com and that does fit in with the way nothing really gets going until October: my state school work only starts the end of this week and my library and privates in October.

ben&iola · Joined: 04 Sep 2009 Posts: 11

I think we're going to go out to Madrid to test the water and if we get something then we can always stay. Costs are a worry but just going to have to chance it! Hopefully everything will be ok.

SueH · Joined: 01 Feb 2003 Posts: 1022 Location: Northern Italy

Good luck! Nothing ventured....

jonniboy · Posted: Tue Sep 22, 2009 4:58 pm Post subject:

Best of luck. Even if it doesn't work out you can at least make some contacts and get an idea of which districts you'd like to live in and overall costs. There are a couple of posters on the Spain forum who'll be able to give you more Madrid info - Moore is one of them.

Would be good if you could let us know how it goes.

mozzar · Joined: 16 May 2009 Posts: 339 Location: France

Listings of flats in Madrid.

Hope that gives you an idea of the rooms available in Madrid. You're best looking outside the city centre - a fifteen/twenty minute metro isn't that long and it'll be cheaper for rent/bars/food.