Job Discussion Forums

[Ian Keong]

Hello all,

I am in the throes of a CELTA with an ultimate view to long-term teaching in Medan. I have already done a significant amount of research into which schools are looking for teachers, but I was wondering if anyone out there had any more ideas or pointers where to look for work in Medan. The posts here are all very useful. On my web job-seeking journey, the bigger schools like EF and TBI come up quite a lot. I have recently read a post with regards to the Singapore Academy. Interesting . . . Medan is not unfamiliar territory for me, but looking for work in schools IS. Indeed, are there places that I should not consider?

Oh, the questions. There are quite a few coming to mind now. Here they come: What kind of wage should I be looking for places as a freshly qualified (but not inexperienced) teacher? As with other schools across Indonesia, there seems to be a 7-10 million range, some with allowances for housing. Others throw in shared housing with other teachers. Looking for my own home/room - what can I expect to pay in Medan for a flat/house for one/two (already checked this out on the out-of-date expat site)? Are there some of you out there who live or have lived in privately rented Medan accommodation? Some deals seem more attractive than others . . . would welcome the advice of an experienced ear or three.

My many thanks in advance,

Ian Keong

[sherlock]

Pointers about where to look for work...Well, if you have the time, I think the best way is to come here and present yourself to the schools. If you want to organise work before hand, then you will need to try your luck through email.

What schools to try?

-Well there is always EF, but I'm led to believe they are quite sketchy.
-TBI are good, I have known some teachers from there who have liked it. They have recently moved into new premises.
-A big employer is IEC, who run schools in a couple of locations and also control Singapore International Academy. They take on teachers without quals, but that doesn't apply to you. Make sure you get all promises in writing, have heard they take short cuts on the paperwork.
-The Australia Centre is a good option, very reputable.
-Cambridge. Don't know much about them but have met some teachers who are happy. They are also linked with a nat plus school in the north of Medan
-There are more options, you'll just have to do some web searches and I'm sure they'll come up.

For pay - 7-10 mil is about right. But checkout the package as a whole, not just in terms of your pay packet at the end of the month. Some offer better housing, insurance, more for flights etc. All housing will be shared, but you can rent houses in Medan no problem.

I would start sending out feelers to all the schools mentioned above and see what you get back. Better still, if your anywhere near Medan, jump on a plane and come check out the situation for yourself

[Ian Keong]

Thanks for the advice Sherlock, some good stuff here. Am not sure how realistically I can get there before applying for a job from the UK. However, I have sent feelers out to many of the larger places you suggest . . . some seem not to be responding, but I do understand things happen much more slowly in Medan-world. I just wish it wasn't as slow at THIS!

In terms of housing, was intending to look for something on my own - and preferably not too expensive. Just the essentials - it need not be a Jakarta-esque palatial home (if, indeed, such a thing is possible in Medan). Perhaps you, Sherlock, have some experience of living in your own space in Medan? What are reasonable prices to pay for places in that part of the world at the moment? I do have friends who are willing to help me negotiate prices too . . .

Perhaps you have experience teaching and living long-term in Medan? Are there opportunities climb up a career ladder in some of these larger places?

Oh, aduh: merindukan Medanku sekarang . . .

Thanks again for your help!

Ian Keong

[MrMrLuckyKhan]

Sherlock's post is spot on. I worked for IEC in Medan last year, so I speak from personal experience about them. I wouldn't say its the worst school you could ever work for, but myself and others left early near the end of last year (feel free to find my review I posted on here). I've recently returned to Medan just to visit friends and have found out 4 teachers have left since I was there in January. 2 teachers broke their contracts early to get out of there. Another teacher left at then end of their contract to work for SIA, and one I'm not exactly sure. IEC only employs (or tries to) about 8 Westerners, so that Is a pretty bad turnover rate.

Also, I have several Western friends that rent nice houses on a 12 month lease. They are located near Setia Budi Pasar2. They all seem to pay between 12-15mil a YEAR for them.

Good luck!!

[Ian Keong]

Thanks for this reply and the previous post about IEC, which I had read with much interest before joining this forum.

Following natural curiosity, I have emailed the academic director at IEC who seems very keen to take on some new blood . . . in a backwards kind of way. I WILL be qualified (touch wood) by the end of next month and, as someone with a BA and MA, I feel that I ought to be aiming for a package that reflects the efforts of my hard work (if that doesn't sound too arrogant). It seems that the IEC may not respond to this. Should I aim higher?

I see you are a seasoned Medan war horse! The housing info is very helpful - much appreciated. Might you have further suggestions of schools to look at? Internet searches are a bit limited. TBI Medan will not respond to me until I am CELTA qualified. There is the SIA, but they are equally quiet. And the Cambridge place . . . nothing back from the Australia place yet, and EF are a bit full up at the moment . . . there must more going on in Medan? Or am I kidding myself?

Many thanks,

Ian Keong

[MrMrLuckyKhan]

Glad you found it. I usually don't go to online forums to give negative reviews, but we had a new teacher that started last year (who broke his contract earlier this year too) and became a good friend of mine. He started a few months after things starting going downhill. He was a little upset he had started at IEC and nobody warned him. After that I felt a little obligated to share my personal experience for the sake of fairness to ESL teachers who actually take the time to do a little research on a school before just talking to the AC of some random school and signing up.

Also, I remember EF in Medan to be the lowest paying school, followed by IEC. However, they also seem to have the lowest requirements, so that sounds pretty fair.

I have friends that work/worked at Cambridge and the Australian Centre and both schools seem highly praised.

I forget the names, but there were a few other schools that were in the newspaper that were hiring.

Well, I'm off to Surabaya, Semarang, and Bandung before deciding where I want to work next... If anyone knows of some good schools to work for in any of those cities, PM me...

[sherlock]

@ Ian Keong - for someone with a BA, MA and soon CELTA, you shouldn't be going for any less than the best schools or a nat-plus local school. Sekolah Djuwita is a school that always seems to be looking - they have a website. The pay at a nat plus school is a little higher (around 12-15mil) and I think one would look at you if they had openings. But that is the key i think - was talking to a few ESLers and it seems a lot of schools in Medan have their quota of teachers at the moment. In any case, I would leave IEC alone. In terms of houses, inside a Kompleks will starts at around 15-20mil a year for a basic unfurnished house. Outside of a kompleks you can pick up a nice one for 10-15mil - security could be an issue though. good luck

@ MrMrLuckyKhan - If you want to stay in Indonesia, Bandung is your best bet out of all of those. the TBI there is highly praised.

[Ian Keong]

@MrMrLuckyKhan: Thanks again for this. Were the complaints that people raised about IEC consistent? As in . . . about the AC? Thanks, also, for the other pointers about places to look. Much in there to chew over, but am keen to be in Medan by March . . . could be tricky . . . could mean . . . IEC.

@sherlock: Thanks for this. 10-15 sounds a year sounds okay. How about utility bills? What should I expect to be paying for, say, a month?

@sherlock and MrMrLuckyKhan: is it possible to live happily on seven million a month? I don't adhere to a particularly western lifestyle at the best of times, and am happy to eat ikan porapora until the cows come home. How did you guys make it swing in the city? I mean, what is the actual financial reality of living in Medan? I know the place as a vistor, but, as you know, living there is quite different.

Thanks so much for your help.

[MrMrLuckyKhan]

[MrMrLuckyKhan]

[Ian Keong]

Wow, so it isn't a done thing to renew your contract at IEC? (Unless the AC really favors you?) I'll certainly ask for the contacts of other IEC-ees, it would seem a reasonable request. Whilst I am on the subject . . . development. Supposing I did stay at a school more than a year, does the salary actually rise? I read somewhere that this was the case, perhaps on the TBI website.

I know what you mean about taking less than 10 million. It does seem a little crazy, but I am keen on coming to Medan sooner rather than later. Why Medan? Because North Sumatra is the best place in the whole wide world . . . actually, for lots of different reasons(!). If money was no issue, I would probably go to Medan before xmas and seek out employment myself.

Alas, reality bites.

[MrMrLuckyKhan]

[Ian Keong]

Yes . . . I might well get on the telephone on Monday and ring round a few schools. Thinking of aiming for TBI. Maybe it pays to be more pro-active and speak to people instead of emailing and waiting for responses. CaSE seem to have their quota of people at the moment.

My BA and MA are both on Music (in Indonesia/Sumatra) - do you think this will matter in terms of looking for jobs that are higher paying, or is it enough that I have them in the first place?

Do you have anywhere set up for work yet? There seems to be quite a lot of work going in Surabaya and Solo at the moment . . .

Thanks muchly,

Ian Keong(!)

[MrMrLuckyKhan]

I would assume it really wouldnt matter, UNLESS you are trying to teach a certain subject other than English, but I'm not 100% sure.

[phis]

The government asks for copies of degree/s for your working visa application, but they are not interested in what subject you studied. It's just one of the requirements in the standard application procedure. The school will deal with all this for you.