Job Discussion Forums

[rycal1]

I'm just wondering if a person has much of a chance of getting hired to teach English in Turkey without actually being there for a face-to-face interview. I've posted a resume on a few sites, and checked out some of the university sites; but I haven't had too many responses so far, and I'm wondering if I'm just p--sing in the wind, so to speak.

I say this because the Korean recruiters are practically beating my door down, but I've been leaning heavily towards Turkey. Should I just pack my bags and head for Istanbul next month? Sounds iffy...

How'd you get your jobs? Over the internet, or did you simply waltz into Turkey and charm your way into a position? Share the love...

Gotta go now; there is a Korean recruiter banging on my door.

rycal1

[molly farquharson]

most places will hire you on the strength of your CV and a p hone interview. If you decide to come sans job, you will probably get hired, but I am not sure about the univs. You need a masters deg at Koc and Sabanci. The others (Bilgi ITU) might hire you if they have spots.

[saloma]

I have had experience with recruiters at home and abroad.

On one end they are looking for students in Asia to send to schools abroad. They demand the schools brown-nose in the most humiliating ways in order for them to keep recommending your school. (See blackmail).

On the other end, they are looking for teachers to send to Asia. They will gain financially for "pursuading" native speakers, (who are going anyway) into a school, and somewhere along the line it will probably come out of your pocket.

My advice? If you decide on Korea, don't go through a recruiter. Go on your own and check out the schools IN PERSON.

[31]

There is no charm needed to get a language school job. There is no charm in a language school.

You will get a job easily if you turn up next month. But at a university it won`t be so easy but you could be lucky. Not that I am saying anyone who works in private uni prep is lucky.

[dmb]

[hallelujah]

it's a strange market though...

i've sent my CV to all e-mails i was able to find on the net(meaning language schools, high-schools and private universities) but i've only got responses from 2 unis, telling me it's too late and they don't have vacancies.

on the other hand, a friend of mine, sent her CV from the states and got a job at uni in Ankara even before coming here to do her CELTA!

all this makes me think that a great part of the schools don't check/rely on the e-mail communications nowadays....

so i guess, my advice is pay us a visit here, walk around, find some place you think you like and arrange something that starts late september.

but what do i know... i didn't get myself a proper job yet!

[ZIA!]

Yes, you can get a job without being there. There will be some folks who will say that taking a job at a place without seeing it is a risk. I feel that even if the place is not the best you can manage to get something out of the experience.

Only posting your resume on a few sites is not a very active way to secure employment. Maybe if you are not a licensed teacher in your home country it is more difficult to find work.

From my limited experience, the process for the work visa is quite drawn out. I started communication with my school back in March and am still waiting for the visa to "show up". This tells me why the K-12 schools and universities are looking for teachers very early for the next academic year.

From what I have read it seems that the language school market is like most places......show up.....pound the pavement........and hopefully you get a job that provides for your personal standard of living.

Cheers!

PS...watch out for those crazy Korean recruiters!

[corall]

i got my job when i was back in canada and i was hired 2 months before i got here. it is getting a little late to apply for k-12 schools, and unis have pretty well hired already as well

work visas are tricky though. if the embassy and ankara are not working on the visa simultaneously then the application usually gets lost. but the process changes all the time

a language school seems to be the way for you to go. and its a lot easier to find a job at one once you get here.

[rycal1]

Thanks. What I'm learning is that I should have decided to go to Turkey long ago, like at the beginning of the year. This would have improved my job prospects. Only problem is, I wasn't even thinking of Turkey then.

Dammit. Why does it take my brain so long to catch up with my future? They need to start working together.

[rycal1]

...if anyone is aware of a position opening up at Koc, Sabanci, etc, feel free to PM me. Couldn't hurt.

[hallelujah]

[NMB]

Rycal1,

As long as you have a return ticket and money to back you up, there's really no risk in simply going to Turkey to have a look. The worst that could happen is you'd end up on holiday there. If the city and/or job scene are not up to your expectations, you simply move on to Plan B or backtrack.

I went to Istanbul on a package deal from Europe with the intention of simply leaving if all went badly astray. I had a job offer via email and telephone, but I wasn't convinced I'd want to stay. It was important for me to see the country and the job situation firsthand.

As for Korea, I had the same dilemma trying to decide between the two. I have a friend who's been teaching near Seoul for years, but she's a regular teacher in an international school. From what I've heard about tefl there and the xenophobia, I wouldn't touch the place. I've never regretted having chosen Istanbul.

[31]

''If job scene is not up to your expectations''

More like down to your expectations.