Job Discussion Forums

draws333 · Joined: 17 May 2011 Posts: 17 Location: Canada - Ontario

The position is paid return flight, shared flat, US$2500/month.
All I would have to pay for is food to my knowledge.

My questions is this a good contract?
How much does food cost in Russia? Both fancy and daily stuff

draws333 · Joined: 17 May 2011 Posts: 17 Location: Canada - Ontario

I should really state that the position is in Moscow.

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

$2500/month in Moscow with provided accommodation is not bad. Some questions you might want to ask are:

Where is the apartment located?

Who/How many people will you be sharing with?

How many work days do you have per week?

How many hours will you be required to work per week?

How much time will you likely spend traveling between work and home?

More so than that, make sure you can get out of the apartment if things between you and your flatmate go south. If you can't, you'll be in for a miserable time in Moscow.

On the surface the offer looks good, but I would get a bit more information before signing on the dotted line.

Hopefully someone will be along quickly who can tell you about the school itself.

draws333 · Joined: 17 May 2011 Posts: 17 Location: Canada - Ontario

Apartment is close by. 3 in total (me included). 5 work days (Mon- Fri). 8 hour days. 40.

Good call about asking about getting out of apartment arrangement if things go south with flatmate.

maruss · Joined: 18 Mar 2003 Posts: 1145 Location: Cyprus

Finding your own accomodation in Moscow is a hassle, due to the continually high demand and consequently,the exhorbitant prices!Schools know this and that is why they usually only provide a room in a shared appartment,which for me is a no-no(and for Kazachka,another long-term contributor to this site!).The salary you have been offered is about the same as I was making back in 2005/6,but I was paying around $600 per month for my own flat then,since when rents have increased by about 50% and the general cost of living has also.
Make sure you get satisfactory answers to all those questions which someone has very sensibly posted above!Never assume anything,especially in Russia-if you get bad vibes that something is not quite right,heed them,rather than risk taking the job and ending up in a situation you cannot easily get out of.....
As for the salary,it is not too bad,certainly much more than in 'Mac Schools' but don't kid yourself that it is exceptional as Moscow is an expensive place.Equally important are the working conditions,where you live and which people you have to deal with every day!

ancient_dweller · Joined: 12 Aug 2010 Posts: 415 Location: Woodland Bench

yes, accommodation is ludicrously expensive. Add in one months rent for the estate agent fee (never take one without an agent. I have spoken to a few Americans who have done that and they have all been screwed.) and then another months rent deposit and then another months rent in advance.

maruss · Joined: 18 Mar 2003 Posts: 1145 Location: Cyprus

Oh yeah,agents in Russia expect both tenants AND landlords to pay commission!If you are a foreigner with no Russian friends or contacts you will end up using one of those who deal with expats,most of whom are executives with company allowances for accomodation and can afford prices equivalent to what will be most of your monthly salary(or more!)!There are Russian of course agencies and individuals who find cheaper accomodation but the secret is to find them......the problem is that this kind of business is not properly regulated in Russia and demand for affordable accomodation in Moscow outstrips demand...consequently it is a landlords market,there is little relation between cost and quality and millions of people are forced to live in conditions which we in the west would consider to be poor or even unacceptable!Overcrowding is the norm and sharing flats is the rule rather than the exception,not just between family generations but also between strangers!
I would even go so far as to say that if you already have somewhere o.k. to live in Moscow,you are in a good position to choose a job that YOU want,rather than accept what is on offer because the firm finds you accomodation.Ask those who have done it and they will confirm.......

draws333 · Joined: 17 May 2011 Posts: 17 Location: Canada - Ontario

I don't have to worry about finding accommodation.

maruss · Joined: 18 Mar 2003 Posts: 1145 Location: Cyprus

You are in a much stronger position if you are arranging your own accomodation -if the job doesn't work out you can look for something else and meanwhile,you have somewhere to stay!There is plenty of work teaching English in Moscow and if you are experienced and qualified you will have the chance to earn decent money.But do remember the advice about living as near as possible to where you work as commuting is definitely one of the downsides of life in Moscow!

Sashadroogie · Posted: Sat May 21, 2011 10:10 am Post subject:

I think that it is a fairly good offer, though the hourly rate seems to be about 220 rubs per hour. Are these at least academic hours (45 mins)? Because 40 is a heavy workload, normal 60 mins or 45mins. I guess with that schedule, you'll be teaching teens or younger. From my previous experience, you'll be earning every kopek.

With regards to food, it'll be about the same or more expensive for most of the basics, though anything else will be noticeably pricier. Restaurants and bars can also hurt the pocket.

Still, I've not seen many other offers that were better.

Good luck

S

draws333 · Joined: 17 May 2011 Posts: 17 Location: Canada - Ontario

Thanks for the responses.
I guess I have one more question at this point. Internet is not included.

How much does internet cost and what is the best way to get it?

ancient_dweller · Joined: 12 Aug 2010 Posts: 415 Location: Woodland Bench

internet is cheap. you can sign up for unlimited wireless that's available all over the city for 500-1500r a month...

Sashadroogie · Posted: Wed May 25, 2011 8:27 pm Post subject:

Most domestic bills and utilities are not worth worrying about, and are usually included in the rent. Internet is usually your own concern, but is cheap as chips. Mine is 560 rubs per month. Spend more on a bottle of vodka, hic!

draws333 · Joined: 17 May 2011 Posts: 17 Location: Canada - Ontario

How much does it cost for a night out on the city?
I know this is different from everyone. How much does a beer cost while out?
How much for groceries a week?
Prices of some staple products?

Thanks

ancient_dweller · Joined: 12 Aug 2010 Posts: 415 Location: Woodland Bench

beer minimum 200r but usually more like 300-400r
There are some student places like 'kruzhka' where beer is 80r. I went there once, had a beer and left. The place is filled with rough people. Your eyes sting because it feels like a tobacco sauna. But, as you say everyone is different. The prices I gave are for respectable places.

going out will set you back about 6000-15000r for the night

Also, no bar hoppig culture. Russians love to book tables and stay there all night.

food is expensive. There are no cheap alternatives. You buy Heinz ketchup or you buy the local Russian ketchup for almost the same price. Also, they dont do bulk discount. You can actually have a situation where it is cheaper to buy 2 1 litre bottles of milk than a 2 litre bottle. 1 litre is about 40-50r.

bread is cheap - but you know the saying.