Job Discussion Forums

dhaver89 · Joined: 11 Aug 2011 Posts: 19

Hi,

I am looking for a job in Turkey, preferably in Istanbul or Izmir. I have visited both cities in the past. I have emailed and applied at a large number of schools (mostly in Istanbul), but I haven't heard back from more than a few. And they didn't go anywhere.

I have a bachelor's in business, and I was CELTA certified this past January. I don't have any teaching experience (besides the CELTA course). I was hoping to gain experience teaching English in Turkey.

Any tips on how to pursue a job in Turkey would be helpful.

And, on another note, what sort of salary/benefits should I hold out for?

_smaug · Joined: 08 Sep 2010 Posts: 92

Step 1. Go there.

Step 2. Drop your resume around the English schools -- unless you're from the UK. In that case, drop your CV.

Step 3. Decide which school has the best offer.

Step 4. Sign the contract.

Step 5. Get busy photocopying, cutting up bits of paper, and all that teachy stuff.

That's my plan.

See you in two weeks. I'll be working in three. So will you.

annunciatah · Joined: 29 Apr 2011 Posts: 3

Let me know how this works out! I am also interested in teaching in Turkey, but am apprehensive about jumping into something with that level on uncertainty..

dhaver89 · Joined: 11 Aug 2011 Posts: 19

@smaug

I would also be hesitant to go over there without anything lined up. Is this the most common way of finding a job over there?

_smaug · Joined: 08 Sep 2010 Posts: 92

dhaver89 -- That's what they taught me in TEFL class: Your best chance of getting work is turning up in the city where you want to teach and spreading the CVs around.

It's always worked for me. And I don't expect Istanbul to be any different than Prague, Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City. /shrug

annunciatah -- If there's no uncertainty, it isn't an adventure. Wink

_smaug · Joined: 08 Sep 2010 Posts: 92

And, dhaver89, with that bachelors in business and a CELTA, you're golden. You are THE commodity. You could show up to an interview late, drunk and buck naked, and they'd offer you a job.

Okay, maybe not if you're late.

dhaver89 · Joined: 11 Aug 2011 Posts: 19

@smaug

Haha.

You raise good points. I live in the US, so flying over there without a job commitment is pretty pricey for me. But, I am open to the option. In a few months if I haven't gotten anywhere that's probably what I'll do.

_smaug · Joined: 08 Sep 2010 Posts: 92

lucia79 · Joined: 18 Jun 2011 Posts: 156

tortoise · Joined: 31 Aug 2010 Posts: 10

I also want to work in Turkey. I am currently living in Germany with my girlfriend, otherwise I would go there right away. I too am hoping to have a job before I depart, so I have been contacting many people.

Is hiring usually done seasonally? I am afraid if I wait too long the fall hiring will be over. Thank you

lucia79 · Joined: 18 Jun 2011 Posts: 156

OverseasTeacher · Joined: 09 Aug 2011 Posts: 29

They are some killer jobs for teachers with credentials. Go to www.tieonline.com and you will see a half dozen schools in Turkey paying 20 to 40K USD with all the bells and whistles. They are head hunters and get a price from you and the school where you are placed, but good schools pay your fees. Turkey is the land of plenty for those who have gone to teachers college. My friends in business used to tease me about choosing education for a career. However the old joke is that the three best things about teaching are June, July and August. There are no international schools in Turkey yet, but the the private French, British, German and American schools do 180 student contact days, with an addition ten to fifteen days for PD. Look into it. It beats the hourly grind of the language schools.

cassie1211 · Joined: 20 May 2009 Posts: 18

Yes it is just that easy. Every single person in Istanbul wants to learn English. There are hundreds of schools. With a CELTA and BA you're fine. I was nervous to come without anything lined up and signed with ET, which in retrospect was the worst thing ever. I wasted my first 2 months here working at the worst school ever. After I got fed up and left the company I just walked to Istiklal street, which is the main street in the center with 5 copies of my CV (like you I had a BA and CELTA and 2 months with ET) and just looked for things that looked like English schools. Got hired on the spot by all of them and started that week at 2. I still check online for jobs in Istanbul when I am bored and I've never seen anything great, so I would just come on over!

_smaug · Joined: 08 Sep 2010 Posts: 92

Update: arrived in Istanbul on Saturday afternoon and spent Sunday finding all the schools Istiklal street.

Today is Monday. I started dropping resumes at 10AM, got two immediate offers -- one in Izmit I'm seriously considering -- and two calls this evening from managers who were out when I dropped by wanting meetings/interviews.

Piece of cake.

DanzigMFer · Joined: 06 Jul 2009 Posts: 4

Good for you, Smaug. As someone who is basically doing the exact same thing you just did, it's pretty reassuring to hear of your success. I arrive in Istanbul on Wednesday and plan to walk down Istiklal on Thursday.