Job Discussion Forums

[Dan The Chainsawman]

Ok.. 2011 is my year..

Will 7000 USD get me set up in Istanbul, get me into a Celta course, and last me long enough to get a job?

I have a Bachelor's degree and several years of ESL experience between Korea and China.

Will not be looking for an expensive apartment either. Cheaper the better.. For some reason I don't think I'll be spending much time in it anyway.

[fishmb]

Yup, plenty. My CELTA here was only $1500, one way flight from the US was $650, housing is $450 a month (I split a small one bedroom with my girlfriend), took me a few weeks to find a job, but then again I wasn't even looking so if I'd been shopping around it could have been quicker, but maybe not, who knows.

[Dan The Chainsawman]

I'll be coming from China via the transiberian, so my expenses in travel might be a bit different.

What sort of deposit is there for an apartment? Utilities, cell phone costs, and such?

I know most language schools are a bit weaksauce about getting a visa in Turkey, so how often will I have to do a visa run and what will this cost me?

[coffeespoonman]

7000 USD is WAY more than enough. That's 10,500 TL... Let's see...

If you get your own flat, figure about 750-1000 TL monthly, and maybe 1000-1500 TL deposit. That's 2500 TL max for the first month. If you look on craigslist, you can probably find a roomate and half your rent (and perhaps deposit).

Bills aren't too bad here. For one person, I'd estimate 100 TL a month for water and electric together. In the winter, gas can get up to 300 or even 400 TL, but if you share, use it very sparingly, or have central heating, it can be a lot cheaper (I pay 270 TL a year for coal!). Internet will run you 50 TL a month on average, and probably about the same for mobile phone. Landline is 15 TL (you'll need it for internet). So, for the sake of argument, let's say 300 TL a month for expenses. Throw in food and public transportation, and you should max out around 2000 TL a month. (you could do this a LOT cheaper if you had/wanted to).

So, even if you didn't work/get your first paycheck for the first 3 months (you'd have to be really lazy to not have a job within the first couple of weeks), you'd still be alright (2000 x3, 1500 deposit, + CELTA, which is payable in installments anyways).

Keep in mind that you could half your costs by getting a roommate or a really small flat, or living very frugally.

I showed up here with 500 USD four years ago, and I didn't starve, so you should be fine with 14 times that!

About visas, you'll need to run to Greece or Bulgaria (much cheaper) once every three months. If you're American, your visa is 20 USD. Bus to the border and back will be about 50 USD, but you may as well stay a night while you're there and enjoy the wonderful pork and cheap booze! Alternatively, you can get a year long residence permit for about 600 TL, which will make your life a lot easier.

Bottom line... You'll be more than fine.

[Dan The Chainsawman]

I guess I'm kind of worried about having to start out at the bottom of the ladder again. I'm in a decent situation here in China as I'll be signing on as a foreign manager, which pays a quite the bit more than the average prole.

What would my chances be for landing something better than the average dancing monkey ESL Language school job?

[coffeespoonman]

As you can well imagine, the higher positions tend to go to people who have connections, who speak a little bit of Turkish, who know the city and how to deal with Turkish speakers.

Of course, with your experience you shouldn't have to be a dancing monkey, but I wouldn't expect to get a managerial position right off the bat. Could happen, but not overly likely.

Incidentally, why are you leaving China if things are going so well there? Need a change of scenery?

[Dan The Chainsawman]

My plan was/is to slowly circumnavigate the globe on the ESL world tour. Started in Korea and I'm now in China. I'll die of old age if I don't get moving soon.

[coffeespoonman]

Yeah, me too. By land. Crossed the Atlantic 5 years ago and I'm still in Europe (albeit at the very edge). I never thought I'd enjoy teaching Turks so much... Maybe I should have started by crossing the Pacific...

[Dan The Chainsawman]

If you have enough cheese tucked away I'd suggest trying some of the lessor known ESL markets. The primary markets like Gorea and China sometimes feel like you are trapped in a herd. No real way to make your own mark as an individual.

I've toyed with Cambodia, Laos, and Indonesia myself.