Job Discussion Forums

[sanpedro72]

Hello teachers and living experts,

I am currently in Indonesia interviewing for positions starting in July. However, I feel perplexed in making a decision with 5 offers on the table. If I have 5 1/2 years experience + TESOL but short the home country MA credentials, what is the most I could logically hope or ask for in a salary and housing? I have several offers and not sure how to choose at this point.

PS. Any comments about living in South Jakarta?

Thanks to all of you for your assistance.

Regards,

Jacob

[chezal]

What type of teaching job are you applying for?

If you are applying for language schools the salary can range from a measly 8 million (EF type schools) upwards. If you are applying for a National plus school salaries are generally higher from around 14million to the 20 million mark. Whether housing is provided comes down to the school. However a lot of it comes down to your negotiation skills.

If you do get you home qualified teaching status you'll be looking at 25 million rp upwards in Jakarta plus a nice housing allowance.

[sanpedro72]

Well maybe I haven't had the best of luck. The highest I've gotten is from Singapore Intl in South Jkt for $1600 + $200 (housing allowance). Nat+ and intl schools in Semarang are only offering $900-$1000/year. I've called many schools after applying to +40 schools but the receptionists don't transfer the call and no one is responding to emails.

Is your salary assessment just for Jakarta? I'm also looking into Bali, Sulawesi and all corners of Java. I'm staying away from language schools. Do you have an advice for talking to these schools. I understand that the school year doesn't start for a while and could hold out a bit longer.

Thanks for your help, Jacob

[sanpedro72]

Also, most jobs are as English teachers but I prefer teaching Social Studies, Geography, History, Lit, etc.

[chezal]

Salaries outside of Jakarta are generally a bit lower. I have friends in Sumatra on 12million to 14million at National Plus schools. Outside of Jakarta 10million + is liveable as things such as housing are cheaper.

In Bali even teachers with qualified teacher status are offered ridiculously low salaries. I applied for a qualified science teaching job in Lombok in a National Plus School and was offered 8 million rp! I use to earn more as a non qualified teacher in a language school.

The offer of $1600 + housing isn't a bad offer for a unqualified teacher. You always lose a bit of bargaining power if you only have a TESOL qualification.

Not having replies from schools is usual. The process can be quite slow when applying in Indonesia. I had applied for a number of International teaching positions back at the start of March. One didn't get back to me until mid May. Their loss as I had already secured a position by then.

On a side note most National Plus schools start back mid July.

[sanpedro72]

Hey,

Are you currently in Jakarta? I expect there's a much more inviting extra-curricular life there. How long have you been in Indonesia?

I might not have the house country BA-English, Masters, etc. certifications back home but I was lucky to only work in proper schools, never language schools. I've steered away from that beast because of the terrible pay, the ridiculous age and level discrepancies, and strange hours. I think the only schools out of range are the international schools unless I am hired to work in PR, Marketing or something from my earlier education and background. Yep, I agree the govt sets some pretty strict regulations here.

Is the move to Jakara worth the slight income raise or am I better off earning chump change in a smaller city?

Fingers crossed for diamond in the rough. Thanks for your message!

Jacob

[chezal]

I'm not in Jakarta at the moment. I'll be there next month. I previously lived in Indonesia for 4 years before I returned to the UK to up my qualifications. Can't wait to be back

To be honest I always avoided Jakarta in the past big cities don't really appeal to me that much. I have friends who live there that love Jakarta so I'm hoping it will grow on me. At least the rest of Java is within easy reach to explore.

I used to live in Medan which I loved as it was very easy to get out and about to the jungle, mountains and other lovely holiday places at the weekend. I loved Medan but it's not for everyone. I have also lived in Pekanbaru which was a really small town and miles from anywhere of interest. Definitely not on my list of recommended places in Indonesia but the plus side I made some of my closest Indonesian friends here as we socialised together a lot with the rest of the staff in the school. This doesn't happen so much in the bigger cities. I also learnt Indonesian quickly as English was not widely spoken. Each place is what you make it.

Jakarta has caught me this time as that is where most of the jobs and I need to get a few years of IB experience before I move on to schools out of Jakarta. I'd like to go back to Medan to work at MIS or to Bandung at BIS.

Where ever you end up in Indonesia I'm sure you'll have a ball. To think I only intended to come to Indonesia for a year