Job Discussion Forums

aleko · Joined: 24 Jan 2005 Posts: 1

I worked at a private school in Istanbul. As I didn't get my work visa for more than 3 months 'cause of the bureaucracy at the Turkish consulate and Ministries of Education and Internal Affairs, the school terminated my contract.

Now I've been looking for a new job for almost 3 months which seems to be quite hard in the middle of the academic year.

I'd like to consult with a lawyer or someone competent if that school at least owe me some compensation for making me redundant for no sound reason.

Please, write me to [email protected]

dmb · Joined: 12 Feb 2003 Posts: 8397

Have you tried ET? Wink

molly farquharson · Joined: 16 Jun 2004 Posts: 839 Location: istanbul

just wondering why it has taken 3 months. What's the problem?

ghost · Joined: 30 Jan 2003 Posts: 1693 Location: Saudi Arabia

Don't waste your time going to a lawyer. In most cases you will not get anywhere as you are dealing with a Turkish school in Turkey, and the school will come up with all sorts of reasons in which you were in breach of contract.

Just move on and try to get another job. There are plenty of jobs out there if you look hard enough. Contracts in most places mean little here.

Faustino · Joined: 10 Sep 2004 Posts: 601

Ghost is right. The legal system here is not great, basically you won't win. Good luck in finding a new job.

molly farquharson · Joined: 16 Jun 2004 Posts: 839 Location: istanbul

I agree with the lawyer topic-- don't bother. Even if you were to win, it takes forever. I have been in court for 2 years about a house, so I know. The court system is incredibly overburdened and incredibly slow-- and all in Turkish Aleko.

corall · Joined: 23 Apr 2004 Posts: 270 Location: istanbul, turkey

yes why has it taken three months to find a job? also there are places like et that have their teachers working 40hr weeks because they are understaffed??? why are you not working? - also people on this site are looking for people as well?

might be a little difficult to find a koleji job in mid semester without wicked connections - it's not good for a decent koleji's rep to be changing up teachers mid semester and like at my school the budget is closed to higher another teacher - even though we could use a kindie teacher

btw - welcome back dmb!!!! Very Happy

missed you. i'm in dahab. it's wicked - thanks for the advice

dmb · Joined: 12 Feb 2003 Posts: 8397

Wow. When I was in Dahab there was no internet connection. What are doing in a cafe in Dahab. Get in the sea. Very Happy

31 · Joined: 21 Jan 2005 Posts: 1797

there are places like et that have their teachers working 40hr weeks because they are understaffed.

Nobody is forced to work 40 hours a week but we are lucky at ET that we have the opportunity to do a full week`s work and get a decent salary for it. If you do 40 hours a week you get a salary of a round 2500. Beats anything you lot get. We are understaffed not because we cannot get teachers but because we are successfull and the students recognize this and demand for what we are offering is phenomenal. There is no need for the sneering ''places'' we`re the most successful and respected chain of language schools in the country and will be opening in other cities soon.

vre · Joined: 17 Mar 2004 Posts: 371

31, Some of us make a lot more than that without having to do overtime Wink

dmb · Joined: 12 Feb 2003 Posts: 8397

Scarred2 · Joined: 18 Jan 2005 Posts: 38

VRE is correct. Though ET pay relatively well in terms of standard English schools it is not spectacular. Also a 40-hour week is pretty tough week in week out, especially if you want to spend time planning and have some kind of life. Still good to do in winter when there is not too much else on.

31 · Joined: 21 Jan 2005 Posts: 1797

What I really meant to say was that there is no place anywhere in Turkey where a newbie can walk in skint straight off the street get work immediately and take home a thousand pounds a month. There is temporary accomodation available and you can get an advance easy. The basics are cheap and you can get a dirt cheap flatshare.

I can see that for people who have been here awhile you have got contacts and got good jobs on the side and all but for newbies there is no better place than English Time.

dmb · Joined: 12 Feb 2003 Posts: 8397

Would you not make more money doing privates rather than working o/t?

31 · Joined: 21 Jan 2005 Posts: 1797

Firstly we are not allowed to do privates at ET. If they found out we would be sacked.

Secondly I can see if you have a 9-5 job you can do private work in the evenings and weekends. But we work evenings and weekends and our timetable changes a lot.

Finally you need the contacts to get private work.