Job Discussion Forums

[spark93111]

Hello:

I'm a retired executive ( ex-CFO) and wish to teach in Russia. My wife is Russian so I'm really not interested in going any where else. The issue is after reading this forum for about the 1000th time, is my age. I find that quite a few adds for teachers require younger people.

Oddly enough, this is the age most of us teach that have been in the business world. True enough I'm new to teaching, but I certainly believe I can add value to someone's career in the Russian Federation. In any event, any insight into my issue would be appreciated. If I need to be certified it's certainly open, but I don't want to waste time and energy either if my age is a serious obstacle.

Thanks all, this forum has been very enlightening.

[jpvanderwerf2001]

I would have no problem hiring the right 57 year-old whatsoever; in fact, I'd welcome it. Any interest in Vladivostok? (I'm serious.)
In general, my main concerns with older hires would be:
* Physical health. I guess this is self-explanatory, as English teaching can be physically tiring; that being said, I know a number (in fact, too great a number ) of 50+ people who are in better shape than I am; and
* Working Hours. At least at my school, most adult and business classes run from 7-9pm. For some older people this could be an obstacle, I guess.
Otherwise, I can see little difference between a 30 year-old and a 60 year-old hire: Being able to "hack" Russia, having a flexible attitude when it comes to training and hours, and a general professional attitude are not age-specific matters.
There are three teachers at my school who are into their 50s (well, one just went back to the States), who are engaging, enthusiastic, effective, and a joy to work with. And students love them.
Good luck to you. Contact me personally if you'd like.

[Sashadroogie]

Your age is not a barrier. I know a few teachers in their 70s. Plenty more in their 60s.

[spark93111]

Any interest in Vladivostok? (I'm serious.). Thanks for the interest but I just spoke to the wife about Vladivostok and she said "Nyet"

[jpvanderwerf2001]

No worries.
I wonder if your wife has ever been to Vladivostok? If so, was it before the year 2000? It has changed drastically in just the 5 years I've been here.
It's not the mega-polluted, gangster-inundated pit of 15-20 years ago, which is what I'm sure your wife is basing her judgement on.
Where would she like to live, by the way?

[spark93111]

Hi JP:

She's from Ufa, so I'm sure that'd be acceptable, but she's open to other places too. You're right though as soon as I mentioned the city, she said "I don't want to live there" i.e. pollution, crime and all the other vices you've mentioned.

I'm really open to about anything, so I'll work on her about my new career and how it's important that I start some where. Hey, just for chuckles, what's the going rubles for these types of jobs. I'm not doing it for the money, obviously, but I don't want to spend too much of my own either to live decently. And thanks for the advice and interest, your perspective has been most useful.

[jpvanderwerf2001]

Hm, never been to Ufa, so I can't say much there.
I figured she made her assessment about Vlad due to older stereotypes. While it's certainly not Geneva, it's not as bad as it once was.
Anyway, a decent English teaching job--outside of Moscow and St Petersburg, should pay somewhere in the 30k-60k (rubles) range, per month for a full-time gig (in the 80-100+ teaching hours/month region). Anything less than that is definitely suspect, and more than that is rare, but can be done.
As I guess you already have some cashed stashed away, you probably won't save much, but you should be able to get by day-to-day rather comfortably (with a bunch of other factors such as rent to consider).
Be well.

[coledavis]

Or try Siberia. I've never found being an ancient one a problem; generally speaking, schools there are interested in what you can do. Tyumen is not desperately far from Ufa and is worth a look.