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wholmes1325
Joined: 17 Aug 2014
Posts: 15
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 Posted: Mon Sep 22, 2014 5:32 pm Post subject: Newbie looking for employment in Saigon |
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Hey folks!
Title basically says it all. Been looking for a couple of months now and haven't been getting many responses back. Anyone have any advice for me?
Background:graduated college last august, work at a financial services brokerage firm now. Did some tutoring and mentoring in college also.
Was thinking I might not have enough experience to get a first time gig in Saigon.
Any other sites other than Dave's ESL, that I can find some opportunities?
What do you all think? No trolls please!!
Thanks for all your help in advance folks! |
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H5N1
Joined: 15 Feb 2005
Posts: 80
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| Posted: Mon Sep 22, 2014 7:51 pm Post subject: Re: Newbie looking for employment in Saigon |
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| wholmes1325 wrote: |
Hey folks!
Title basically says it all. Been looking for a couple of months now and haven't been getting many responses back. Anyone have any advice for me?
Background:graduated college last august, work at a financial services brokerage firm now. Did some tutoring and mentoring in college also.
Was thinking I might not have enough experience to get a first time gig in Saigon.
Any other sites other than Dave's ESL, that I can find some opportunities?
What do you all think? No trolls please!!
Thanks for all your help in advance folks! |
First we need more info, if you don't mind.
1. Do you have a celta? A tefl cert? |
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wholmes1325
Joined: 17 Aug 2014
Posts: 15
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| Posted: Mon Sep 22, 2014 8:01 pm Post subject: Thanks! |
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Thanks for the quick response.
I have an online TEFL cert (have had two companies already tell me they want some in class TEFL experience)
about 2 years of mentor/tutor experience
Anything else you need? |
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H5N1
Joined: 15 Feb 2005
Posts: 80
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| Posted: Mon Sep 22, 2014 9:05 pm Post subject: Re: Thanks! |
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| wholmes1325 wrote: |
Thanks for the quick response.
I have an online TEFL cert (have had two companies already tell me they want some in class TEFL experience)
about 2 years of mentor/tutor experience
Anything else you need? |
Some schools will want an onsite celta or tefl.
What subject were you mentoring or tutoring? Was this one-on-one.
I assume you're in your 20s.
I don't like to ask this, but schools are particular about: ethnicity
* Are you of Asian descent or "look" Asian. I suppose if you were you would have noted this by now.
There is more competition to teaching jobs now in Saigon than in years past, even though turnover can be high.
Have you done any demos? |
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1st Sgt Welsh
Joined: 13 Dec 2010
Posts: 946
Location: Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei
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| Posted: Tue Sep 23, 2014 6:01 am Post subject: |
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| Hi wholmes1325. I'm guessing that you are not currently in Vietnam and, if so, that puts you at a distinct disadvantage I'm afraid because most of the hiring is done within the country. |
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deadlift
Joined: 08 Jun 2010
Posts: 267
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| Posted: Tue Sep 23, 2014 7:05 am Post subject: |
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| 1st Sgt Welsh wrote: |
| Hi wholmes1325. I'm guessing that you are not currently in Vietnam and, if so, that puts you at a distinct disadvantage I'm afraid because most of the hiring is done within the country. |
...and the schools that do hire from overseas will require both a proper TEFL certificate and some actual experience.
In short, with your profile you'd be looking at the middle tier schools, and for them you need to be here to get a job. |
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skarper
Joined: 12 Oct 2006
Posts: 477
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| Posted: Tue Sep 23, 2014 9:32 am Post subject: |
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Yep - you'd have to be in HCMC to find work - and what you'd find would hardly be worth having.
If you really want to come or have very limited work options back home then it's up to you. But I'd advise against it with your apparent profile. |
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calidan
Joined: 06 Aug 2014
Posts: 44
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| Posted: Tue Sep 23, 2014 4:06 pm Post subject: |
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| skarper wrote: |
what you'd find would hardly be worth having.
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Could you explain what you mean by that? Is it his background/experience that makes you say that, or just the poor opportunities in HCMC? Or both? |
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skarper
Joined: 12 Oct 2006
Posts: 477
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| Posted: Tue Sep 23, 2014 4:40 pm Post subject: |
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The second and third tier schools this chap will find work in most easily will not pay particularly well and will not be a satisfying and enjoyable working environment. Soul destroying.
The top of division one places - the big mills - are just about livable if you can cope with modest incompetence and disorganization and they pay enough to get by on - but with an online TEFL cert he is not able to work for these places.
He'd earn subsistence and he'd have a pretty stressful working week.
Unless out of work and running out of savings/entitlements at home he'd be well advised to stay put.
That said - some people just have itchy feet and scratching it makes all the hassle and economic sacrifice worthwhile.
I wasn't built to work 9-5 in an office so I am happy with my choices - but I have no pension and have only started saving money in the last few years.
So - to sum up - it is partly his lack of credentials/experience but mainly the long term lack of return for working in TEFL that makes me advise caution. |
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calidan
Joined: 06 Aug 2014
Posts: 44
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| Posted: Tue Sep 23, 2014 5:01 pm Post subject: |
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| Ah, got it. So what do you think somebody with his skills and experience is looking at realistically as far as hourly pay, and work schedule? That might dissuade him from making a mistake coming to HCMC, or at least set some reasonable expectations. |
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Prof.Gringo
Joined: 07 Nov 2006
Posts: 2236
Location: Dang Cong San Viet Nam Quang Vinh Muon Nam!
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| Posted: Wed Sep 24, 2014 3:35 am Post subject: |
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| calidan wrote: |
| Ah, got it. So what do you think somebody with his skills and experience is looking at realistically as far as hourly pay, and work schedule? That might dissuade him from making a mistake coming to HCMC, or at least set some reasonable expectations. |
Well, he would be looking at the $12-18USD hourly range and could expect to earn about $14-16 an hour, IF HE IS LUCKY! He might only get $12 an hour. But the hours vary, a lot depends on the "teacher". Are you willing to buy a moto and drive it all over HCMC? Split shifts OK? 7am Saturday AND Sunday mornings? NO vacation-ever? NO sick days, NO benefits whatsoever as well as working on a illegal visa, if that sounds fine to the OP, by all means, get a one-way ticket, a visa on arrival and come on over. Be sure to set up shop down in the PNL/Bui Vien area of D-1 where he can "network" with dozens if not a hundred or more other folks with the same ideas and see who wins the race to the bottom.
Sure, somebody who has never been to VN might say: "No paid vacation? Who cares?" Wait until the Tet holiday comes around and you go about a month with very few or NO classes which means NO income...
Cheers! |
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