Job Discussion Forums

[spiral78]

I'd omit the babysitting and volunteering bits of your CV. Otherwise, it's decent enough for entry-level, though I think you'll get questions regarding the certification - employers here are savvy. Good idea to consider how to answer this in a positive light, probably focusing on how you applied the theory in your cert to classroom situations.

You may also want to think in advance about describing your experience with adult learners in the most positive ways possible.

On the issue of recommendations - I always offer a referee a standard letter of rec which she/he can edit. It can be a real hassle to write such a letter from scratch (I have had to do it) and it's a decent incentive to give them something basic to work with. You can find standard templates with a simple google search.

[lov2travel]

Should I chop both the Orientation leader *where I lectured and trained other students* as well as the Philippines Volunteer Experience?

The only reason I put down childcare is because I did it for such a long period of time (usually 2-3 days/week) and felt it really cements that I know how to work with children? Does it give you a different impression?

[naturegirl321]

[spiral78]

I just have an impression (perhaps not entirely justified) that babysitting is kind of a teenager job, and if you are applying for jobs with adults, it might be better not to emphasize that most of your past experience is with kids.

[naturegirl321]

Babysitting is for teenagers, if you put au pair or preschool tutor or nanny, that might be better. BUt only put that if that's what you really idd. If you just watched the neighbourhood kids, then that's babysitting.

[spiral78]

Au pair/nanny is also a different job to what the OP is trying to grab in Poland or Germany. Employers in this region, I know from direct experience, only really want to see relevant experience. They get a lot of CVs.

[lov2travel]

Thanks for all of the input. I've taken out that last bit from the resume.

Will be HH back to Poland today and hopefully can find a Hostel that is looking or open to a work exchange. Did find a festival that my polish friends are volunteering with in Northern Poland that I'll pursue.

Hopefully I'll get some responses soon from some of my applications I've been sending out.

[naturegirl321]

[lov2travel]

I'm looking for a full time job/internship in Europe. (legal)

I'm going to look for hostels for the time being since it is Holiday time and most teaching contracts do not begin until Aug/Sep.

I'm really just looking for a place to stay and food..and money if possible until I can find fulltime work that provides housing.

[naturegirl321]

Have you looked into au pairing at all? Seems like you have a lot of experience working with kids.

[lov2travel]

I've never even heard of Au pairing to be honest...

[spiral78]

Very unlikely that a Polish family will hire and pay and English-speaking au pair, and I doubt that it would be possible to get such a person a legal work permit.

OP, an au pair is a live-in nanny, who might also do a bit of language teaching to the kiddies and perhaps some light housework.

I am not sure what naturegirl is trying to suggest; it's pretty common for Polish young adults to go abroad and work as au pairs, but economics dictates that it rarely works the other way (someone from an Anglophone country coming to Poland to work as an au pair). I've never heard of a Polish family getting a work permit for such a person - it's just not that common in this part of the world.

I have heard of a few such jobs in Russia, but not recently. You might check on the Russia board and do some google searches in case there are current adverts for such jobs...

[naturegirl321]

[AGoodStory]

The OP is American. She wants to work legally, i.e., with a work permit. In Europe. That's not going to happen as an au pair in France or Spain. In Russia, yes, perhaps. But somehow I doubt that Russia is where she meant when she said that she wanted to stay in Europe.

[dustinm90]