Job Discussion Forums

[nz_taniwha]

I've been offered my first ever ESL job, in Moscow. From what I can gather, it appears an ok sort of deal for someone who lives reasonably frugally and doesn't expect to eat out every night or drink themselves into a stupor at a bar.

I've been offered a choice of 2 contracts - the first option is 30 academic hours, 40,000 roubles a month, overtime of 650 per hour, monthly bonus of 2500 and visa support (both paid on completion of contract) and shared accommodation.

The other option is a 24 hour contract with a salary of 32,500 roubles, with all other details the same. I'd be based most of the time at one school, although occasionally travel to do an in-company or one-on-one.

Given that I'll have accommodation included, is that a reasonably comfortable salary in Moscow? I'm quite happy to eat at home and be reasonably frugal, and I don't live very extravagantly - although I'd love enough cash to be able to head out of the city for the occasional weekend. Given it's my first job, I'm considering the 24 hour contract, because of the lesser workload.

[ancient_dweller]

Well, they both look on the low side - but i have seen worse! You do know that your hourly rate is about 320r for both contracts. I suppose accommodation for them is about 10,000r as it is shared, maybe make it 15,000 for the purpose of calculation and you get about 450r an hr. Which is a much more respectable figure.

The good thing about being on a permanent contract is you get your salary whatever and that you don't have to worry about students cancelling. It is good for you if they cancel! You don't lose any money!

Another thing, do you get paid holiday? I know that some schools say they give paid holiday of for example 20 days. Now, in Britain that means 4 weeks + public holidays. In Russia that means 20 days including saturdays and sundays and public holidays. Remember that over new year alone there are 10 days holiday. Over the year i think there are 15 public holidays. So, you get 5 days of paid holiday... (Also, they'll try and blag it and say that it doesn't include public holidays, so get some info from them on that. you might be happy with that, but it's probs best to find out beforehand)

also, is/are the schools central?

also is it really legal? work permit with contracts in russian? or just business visa?

are there any other native speakers there?

what is their policy on private students? most schools have some sense and simply don't want your privates interfering with your school lessons and they don't want you using the school photocopier (if they've got one). But they usually ask you to tell them (don't do this, this is naive, as soon as you tell them, th school gets jealous and starts tring to find students for the exact time you told them you have privates, they also get paranoid you are stealing the schools clients - which would be wise, as the student probably pays the school 3000-3500 a lesson and you get the equivalent of 650-900 a lesson.)

[ancient_dweller]

You posted earlier about Prime School Novo Perdelkino... Are these offers from that school by any chance?

[nz_taniwha]

Yeah, it's an offer from the same school as my previous post - just in a Moscow branch of the school instead (which I was told was a possibility at the interview)

The holiday situation appears as you suspect - 15 days paid holiday, but 10 of those are at New Year. A bit rough, but a similar amount of holidays to the number and frequency I took during this last year in my previous job (even though more were available to me), so I'm not tooooo bothered about that.

Yup, the contract asks you to tell the school about any privates, but then just says "must not interfere with contractual obligations" and "don't use our photocopier for them." Your advice in that regard makes perfect sense to me!

Native-speaking teachers - yes, a good proportion I understand.

The visa - I'm trying to remember exactly what the situation was - the DOS would send me the job offer and required documents for me to apply for the 3-month Russian visa here in New Zealand, before I left for Russia - then when I was there, the school would organise the work permit for the rest of the year.
I will ask about getting a copy of the contract in Russian.

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All in all, I feel reasonably comfortable about it. I realise I won't earn a heck of a lot as a newbie, and I'm a pretty easy-going sort of person who'll just go with the flow. From what I can gather there's a lot of support available for new teachers in terms of living and adjusting to Moscow, and support academically and professionally. In saying that, I don't want to be screwed over! But - I could be screwed over anywhere, in any job I suppose.
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Just before I finally have to give an answer on this offer - I get an email reply from another job lead I chased a while ago. Isn't that always the way.....!

[ancient_dweller]

I think the 24 hour is better.

pros - you get a work permit.
you can do work at other schools as an hourly paid (about 800-1000r an hour)
you can get your own privates (2500-3500r for 90mins)

also having the work permit and an income for 12 months is great - especially for the summer months. During the summer things can get quieter. (i've managed to keep myself afloat with in company and a few privates - but from June i've been taking about 25% a month less than over the winter - on average because of holidays) mind you i work solely hourly paid atm.

[ancient_dweller]

how did you get on?

[nz_taniwha]

Hi all, sorry, haven't checked in here for a while. I decided to go with another offer, a school in the Czech Republic. The job offers were comparable but I'd really been wanting somewhere further west, so it was location that swung it for me. Who knows, maybe I'll try Russia for the 2012/13 year. Thanks for your comments and PMs, I'd never have considered Russia as much as I did, without them.

[ancient_dweller]

Czech Republic! That's great news! Good luck with it!