Job Discussion Forums

dackinator · Joined: 17 Sep 2010 Posts: 105

I found a school in slovakia this summer who offered a contract of 30 hours (real hours not 45min hours), and 400 euros per month with no housing. Now i know in Eastern Europe the pay is low, but thats laughably low.

I thought it must be the worst offer ever, until I saw a job advert on another website today for a winter camp in Ukraine.

Its two weeks, including christmas day and new years, typical summer camp high hours (8 hours a day). The pay? 300 euros total! Flights and housing provided, but even so... you can make more than that doing bar work new years eve/day. You're getting paid about 3 euros an hour to be stuck in a camp full of kids for christmas and new years.

Alternatively you can have the pleasure of running the camp (DoS) for 500 euros.

edit: I rechecked and in fact it doesnt provide flights. You get a 200 euro travel allowance, which i doubt would fully provide for christmas-period flights. Shocked

Never Ceased To Be Amazed · Posted: Tue Nov 09, 2010 10:36 pm Post subject: Re: worst job pay ever?

naturegirl321 · Joined: 04 May 2003 Posts: 9041 Location: home sweet home

Some people don't care about money, just look at the people who volunteer. They just want experience of teaching or living abroad. Plain and simple, seriously, if money were that important, most of us wouldn't be teachers.

Kofola · Joined: 20 Feb 2009 Posts: 159 Location: Slovakia

The Slovak job is an insult, but actually the Ukrainian one is not that bad. You certainly wouldn't make that working in a bar in Ukraine. Although you'd prob get around 350 euros for bar work in Sk.

TEFL is very poorly paid in Europe in general - look at the UK.

Slovak job - 400 euros; average gross salary = 770 euros per month
Ukraine - 300 euros; average gross salary = 208 euros per month
UK - 930 euros; average gross salary = 2210 euros per month gross

I realise that the Slovak and Ukrainian averages are more 'average'. UK pay differentials are much greater and cost of living needs to be compared as well, but it still gives you an idea.

dackinator · Joined: 17 Sep 2010 Posts: 105

Perhaps Kofola, but its very low in comparison to other tefl jobs in Ukraine.
I've been watching out for jobs in Ukraine since i'd like to go there one day, and the typical salary tends to be around $1000 per month in kiev, $900 outside of kiev.

bulgogiboy · Joined: 23 Feb 2005 Posts: 803

steki47 · Joined: 20 Apr 2008 Posts: 1029 Location: BFE Inaka

jpvanderwerf2001 · Joined: 02 Oct 2003 Posts: 1117 Location: New York

I was paid $350 as a newbie in Ukraine in 2001-2003.
On one hand, the pay was crap (but my rent was $75 Very Happy

), on the other, I had a total blast (24 year-old, single guy w/o worries).
It all depends on what one wants.

sharter · Joined: 25 Jun 2008 Posts: 878 Location: All over the place

Bell are currently advertising for Iraq: 2000 US a month plus 30US a day danger money.......that has to be a joke right?

bulgogiboy · Joined: 23 Feb 2005 Posts: 803

I've seen that advert now. Less than 3000 bucks a month. Shameful amount of pay considering the danger involved.

basiltherat · Joined: 04 Oct 2003 Posts: 952

yep
absolutely agree. one can earn well over US3000 enjoying the 'delights' of libya, for example ..... with a rotation thrown in.

However, if there are no such positons available, what can one do except look repeatedly for the next best offer. so yes, there will be takers for this kind of work in iraq but that doesn't mean that the taker should not keep looking for a better-paid position ... if or when it arises.

ok, the pay might suck considering where one will be and what one will be doing but even i'd consider doing it if i was out of a job, wasn't getting any good news from the other 'better-paid' jobs i might have applied for and been turned down as well as being in debt at home.

it's all to do with one's circumstances. i don't think one could be called 'idiotic' for applying for or even accepting such a position without understanding the particular individual's circumstances at the time.

i still agree , though, that the offer shows total inconsideration and contempt for people who might be geniuinely interested in such work. not nice at all.

my tuppenceworth.
best
basil

bulgogiboy · Joined: 23 Feb 2005 Posts: 803

fladude · Joined: 02 Feb 2009 Posts: 432

bulgogiboy · Joined: 23 Feb 2005 Posts: 803

It's nothing like that in the UK, more like minimum wage!

If a bad bartender can make 50K in NYC, then why are there any yankee TEFL teachers at all??? All you need to do is learn to mix a good mojito and you can make far much more than the average TEFLer!

smithrn1983 · Joined: 23 Jul 2010 Posts: 320 Location: Moscow

perhaps because money isn't everything? how much would you want to put up with annoying drunks five nights a week? and how long before you got completely bored and fed up with the job?