Job Discussion Forums

[clifton10]

Good evening from Vietnam! I've just sent an online application to EFINST about one hour ago. Has anybody worked or are currently working there? How is it in terms of working conditions? Also, what does the hiring process consist of? Would they still like for me to interview face-to-face like many other schools in Turkey would probably prefer? Any feedback would be great! Thanks a lot!

[coffeespoonman]

Clifton,

Last I knew, this school was in charge of running the Preparatory Department for a local university. I met the DoS, and while he was a well-intentioned guy, the terms of the contracts he was offering were some of the worst I'd ever seen in Turkey. In his defense, he knew this, but his hands were tied.

Anyways, unless this has changed (updates anyone?), this is one to steer clear of.

Really, unless you're looking at unis or high schools (which you may want to do... Even a B.A. and minimal experience could get you a pretty decent university/high school job here if you get lucky), you're better off waiting until you get here to apply at language schools.

But be aware that you're going to be at a disadvantage if you arrive in June. Summer will be just around the corner, and enrollment numbers will be drop, drop, dropping. Getting by might be a bit difficult at first if you don't have savings. So make sure you do...

I'd be happy to do what I can to get you some interviews when you get here - just send me a PM a few days before you jump on the plane.

[clifton10]

Yes, I've read on one of other ESL teacher websites that schools in Turkey tend to take a summer break, so I'm thinking that I won't go wrong getting a return ticket to Vietnam.

The plan is to land in Turkey, schedule interviews with the schools and see what happens. Sounds to me that August/September are when schools in that country get into gear, correct?

My question is, in order to get first dibs on the jobs for 2011-12, would late May/early June be best or early/mid-August?

Also, where would be the best website to look for high school uni EFL positions, especially for someone like myself with one year+ of experience?

Thanks again and let me know which website(s) or high schools / universities to look at. Good afternoon from Hanoi.

[coffeespoonman]

For high schools here, try tefl.com. The unis don't usually advertise unless they have a bad reputation and they can't find anyone who's interested. Do a search on here - I think there was a list of good ones posted a while back.

For that kind of job, May is a good time, but for language schools, that's too early. They'll want to fill their rosters at the last minute, so late Aug / early Sep.

[clifton10]

I am, in fact, a regular on the tefl.com website and did recall a uni advertising about positions, but that uni wanted more qualifications than what I can offer them. Why do the language schools have their hiring so close before the start of the school year?

[billy orr]

Language schools recruit when they are sure they are going to have enough classes. There is a plentiful supply of teachers available to hire as needed. But the market fluctuates greatly from year to year according to unpredicatble factors.

[clifton10]

Hmmm. Then January is not a determining factor for what the Turkish EFL market will probably be like 7 or 8 months down the road then?

[coffeespoonman]

Without fail, you can show up here at any time of year other than summer and have a job in a week. You may work split shifts 6 or 7 days a week. You may get paid 15 TL a lesson. You may only teach conversation. You may work 9 hours on Saturday and Sunday.

But you WILL find a job.

If you can't, walk around the bar streets, find people speaking English, and tell them you need a job. Or approach the people handing out flyers trying to sell English courses. They'll tell you if their school needs teachers.

[clifton10]

Hi there,

Thanks for the info. I'll then wait until late August before flying to IST. Also, are there any summer school positions such as in the UK or Nam? My question is, do EFL teachers work in such positions or travel around until schools reopen?

[billy orr]

Apart from the prep school situation that coffeespoonman mentioned, EF seems to be one of the better language schools, and big enough to make job offers for the autumn. If they offer you a job, it would be a good idea to say yes, in my opinion.

[clifton10]

I thought EF didn't have schools in Turkey; or do you mean EFINST?

[coffeespoonman]

Yes, EFINST. As far as I understand, it used to be a real English First, but then lost its franchising and changed its name to Engin Firsat, or some other Turkish name with the initials EF. Clever marketing.

I have no idea about the quality of the language school side of things, but I know that they work with ITI Istanbul, which is a great teacher training organization here, so I assume that they value professional development and education. That seems like a good thing for (professionally-minded) teachers.

[billy orr]

Yes, the one in your OP.

[clifton10]

I had a look this morning at the A-Z guide for employees9which I downloaded from their website) and that's one of the schools I want to apply to. Do you have any idea about their hiring process?

[coffeespoonman]

1. They look at your CV.
2. They ask you questions.
3. They offer you a job.



But seriously, none of the jobs that I think you're interested in applying for are going to involve much more than that. Turkey isn't the Middle East or Japan, and since visa rules are non-existent (because work visas are pretty much non-existent), there aren't a bunch of bureaucratic hoops to jump through. Add to that the fact that demand is higher than supply here in terms of teachers, and you have an atmosphere where hiring processes in most language schools are "Hi. Where are you from? Degree? Experience? When can you start?"

Just send your CV and a cover letter to the places that interest you, and take it from there.