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		| kirby42 
 
 
 Joined: 14 Nov 2014
 Posts: 55
 
 
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				|  Posted: Sat Jan 02, 2016 5:15 pm    Post subject: Getting a non-TEFL job in Russia... Is it even possible? |   |  
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				| Asking for a friend... It seems to us that there are strong measures in place making it extremely difficult for a foreigner to obtain a work visa in Russia. Has anybody ever come across an expat that works in Russia, but who is not teaching English? I don't know if it's even possible. 
 Nothing special in terms of qualifications. But degrees in history, English and international relations and experience in ESL teaching. Fluent English, intermediate Russian. Is teaching English the only option?
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		| nomad soul 
 
  
 Joined: 31 Jan 2010
 Posts: 11454
 Location: The real world
 
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				|  Posted: Sat Jan 02, 2016 10:54 pm    Post subject: Re: Getting a non-TEFL job in Russia... Is it even possible? |   |  
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	  | kirby42 wrote: |  
	  | Has anybody ever come across an expat that works in Russia, but who is not teaching English? 
 Nothing special in terms of qualifications. But degrees in history, English and international relations and experience in ESL teaching.
 |  Outside of EFL, why would an employer hire an inexperienced foreigner over a Russian national?
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		| jpvanderwerf2001 
 
 
 Joined: 02 Oct 2003
 Posts: 1117
 Location: New York
 
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				|  Posted: Wed Jan 06, 2016 7:13 pm    Post subject: |   |  
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				| The non-teaching foreigners I knew in Russia were entrepreneurs, expats (worked for international companies or for now mostly defunct NGOs), students, or government types. 
 I think the most reasonable non-teaching path would be for your friend to take another degree in Russia and improve their language skills and make contacts; then they may be able to find a way to stay, post-graduation.
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