Job Discussion Forums

[Big_H]

Greetings,

I'm at the starting point in my TEFL career (1 year experience) and I'm considering Teach to Travel to act as my recruiter and finding me a school in Turkey.
Their website: http://www.teachtotravel.co.uk/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=67&Itemid=81

Anyone ever had any kind of experience with them before? Reviews online don't show much and my interview seemed rushed at best (No last names provided, voice-call interview not video, interviewer sounded preoccupied and unprepared mist of the time and the call lasted just 11 minutes including 4 in which I asked questions).

My two main concerns are whether they are legit, and what it is like dealing with them through a contract period.

Thanks

[misskismet]

Salary is rubbish and I've heard stories about them doing shit like keeping people's passports.

[CVN-76]

Considering agencies get a commission on each placement, know that turnover is in their interest. And they really love runners. They don't have to cover runners' airfare out. My point? Avoid 'em.

[Big_H]

Thanks for the feedback. Inadequate salary is always a given when applying through agencies, and avoiding them is a better option. Though it would help get my foot in the door since schools have started recently.

I always assume the worst in these situations til I get a reason to think otherwise. And so far they seem legit, but I can't find anything on what it's like to deal with them and the schools that they throw you into.

[VictoriaLaoshi]

I went to Turkey with Teach to Travel last year and I would not recommend them. As soon as I was hired they passed me over to an organisation in Istanbul called 'Teachers in Turkey' and that was who I dealt with for the rest of the year. I think Teach to Travel only recruit on behalf of other agencies - they certainly didn't show any interest in me after I got to Turkey.

Teachers in Turkey were awful - I can't even be bothered to list all the constant minor annoyances like being paid late, messing us around about accommodation etc. We were all working illegally, since we had residence permits but not work visas. The company did gradually get people work visas, but in April there was a rumour that inspectors might be looking around schools, and the company just fired 30 people at a stroke because they hadn't got them work visas yet.

Having said that, there are lots of other language mills that pay even worse and have worse conditions, so if you've got your heart set on Turkey they wouldn't be the worst place to start. Go over there with them and then defect if you can find a better job. Your best bet for a decent job might be a university, I know a few people who work in a couple of universities in Istanbul and they seem pretty happy.