Job Discussion Forums

[sdg05003]

Hello,
I have been searching for employment for several months now and I have seen very limited success. Here are my qualifications:

Bachelor's Degree in Education
Teaching Certifications in Special Education k-12
Teaching Certification in ESL K-12
Elementary Education k-4
I currently work in a program for ESL students with reading difficulties and Learning disabilities.

I am also working on a Master's degree in Special Education

I don't care what country, as long as the primary language is Spanish. I have sent my resume to over 100 different schools in the last few months and have only heard back from a few *rather dismal* situations. I knew the salary would not be exceptional, but I was really hoping to be able to live and work in Latin America starting in August.

*No, i am not fluent in spanish, but i am conversational..


Am I doing something wrong?


Does anyone have any ideas about where to apply? I am getting desperate enough to consider some rather horrible job situations.


Thanks!

[Guy Courchesne]

Seems strange you haven't had responses, especially with such a fine CV. the school year just started in most of South America and if there were positions available I should think you would have received immediate responses (unless you indicated August for availability).

Mexico and much of Central America have August and September starts so right now is when the top schools are having their job fairs, locally and internationally. There's still some time yet so you may get some responses over the next few months. Many schools only fill positions very last minute as well.

[sdg05003]

Thanks!

Two more possible obstacles:

I am fresh out of college so i dont have the level of experience wanted by employers

I need to find out quickly if this is not going to work. If I absolutely must remain in Arkansas I need to begin looking for a job here (Most of the good schools hire in March)

[Guy Courchesne]

Hmm, yes the lack of experience will count against you but I still think you should hear back on something better eventually.

[naturegirl321]

If you have over 2 years classroom experience, go to an international school job fair.

You're not going to hear back from schools if you cold call, for the most part. If they place adverts, that's one thing.

Intl school job fairs, you can get a couple offers at one go.

[fladude]

I got plenty of offers from International Schools just by sending out resumes, albeit mainly from the lower paying schools. Maybe they think you are applying as a special ed teacher? I dunno. I'm thinking maybe you resume looks too technical. My own resume probably comes across as "man on the run" but oddly enough that got some results in LA.... (maybe they figure I'll stick around).... J/K.

Also I'm wondering what your definition of "horrible" job offer is.

[naturegirl321]

[fladude]

[naturegirl321]

[fladude]

It is before tax, although taxes vary from country to country. I have been told that in Mexico it is 10 percent. In some of the Central American countries, foreigners do not have to pay the pension tax if the company pays into social security. Since my school is a US based school it pays into SS and I don't have to pay local income / pension tax. I am still forced to deal with the high import taxes into the country though which makes things cost more. That said I imagine that managing my money will still be quite the challenge at least in comparison to working in Alaska where I tend to save a lot. But on the plus side, I won't be in Alaska, so that will make it all worth it. There are a lot of reasons that Alaskan schools pay a lot but still can't keep teachers..... they like to blame it on the isolation or on the rude kids, but in truth 95 percent of the problem is the absolutely horrible administration up here and the missionary approach to education which they have adopted. So anyway... back on topic, the pay sucks, but I figure I'll put in my 2 years and then see what options open up.

[Guy Courchesne]

It is more than 10 percent in Mexico. There are a number of other deductions and benefits as well that bring the number cup to about 30% on each paycheck, though benefits return to you in cash at certain times in the year.

[fladude]

[AGoodStory]

[Prof.Gringo]

In Latin America the "middle-class" which in Mexico stands at about 30% of the population pays an unfair majority of the taxes.


Up to 60% of the population doesn't pay income taxes and they often avoid even paying sales tax by being a part of the "underground" economy.

So, the folks that studied for years at a university and find a "real" job get the wonderful and dubious reward of paying the taxes to support the other 60% who work for cash each day.

As an example, the lower classes that send their kids to public schools often don't pay any taxes while the middle class supports them while sending their own kids to private schools.

Not a good system at all

[Guy Courchesne]