Job Discussion Forums

[steven_gerrard]

Hello all,

I am due to arrive in Istanbul in January. I don't have a job lined up, but I have been saving for a while and have a decent amount of money behind me to tide me over. I have been to Turkey before (most notably on 25th May 2005) but only as a tourist, not as a worker. I hope some of you established Istanbullers can help me out with a few questions:

1) Is part-time/ by the hour teaching work easy to come by?
2) How much should I expect to pay for a small but decent flat somewhere fairly central in the city?
3) Do I need any kind of work permit? (I am a UK national) If so, what is required for this permit? Will I need any health tests?


Thanks a lot.

SG

[dmb]

[Mark Loyd]

you don't need a celta and a ba to be legal.

[tekirdag]

[Mark Loyd]

There are two seperate issues here. Firstly what is needed to get a job and secondly what is needed to get a work permit. A possible third issue is what is needed to get citizenship or a residence permit.

Firstly, to get a job, we all know that a native speaker can do the rounds and get an hourly paid job. We all know that the job is likely to be poor and the poor unfortunate is likely to be ripped off but they can get a job. I personally know people with no degree, experience or cert who have got jobs at private unis, language schools, high schools, private primary schools etc.

Secondly, assuming you want to be legal, which many punters do not care about since they only plan to spend a year or two in Ist, you have to do the paperwork and hence you need qualifications. But nobody checks if the employer's documents are ok. Nobody contacts the unis or awarding bodies so if the paperwork looks good then you will eventually get your work permit. Google as dmb would say this topic because the UAE are now insisting that all qualifications for any work permit must be authenticated by a private company who check with all awarding bodies. They charge just ten pounds for UK qualifications.

It is absurd to say that teachers need a ba and a celta since the celta is largely a Brit qualification and what about those with cert eds. etc. You can buy a work permit from one of the many visa cos. in Ist if you are willing to fork out 2000 dollars or if you do'n't want to be legal why not just do the visa run. For those rare teflers with any money why not buy a cheap property in a tourist resort and get an automatic residence permit.

Lastly, language schools could weed out the fakes and the nutters if they really wanted for just 10 pounds a time but they don't. Says something about what they care about.

[calsimsek]

Mark:

[corall]

yes it is wierd. and once you get the work permit you have to apply for the residency within 30 days (if you don't have one) or else your work permit becomes void.

[rrrichard]

If someone was going to, say... pound the pavement looking for a job in Istanbul, where would one even start?
I can't imagine a local telephone book being any use, since it would be in Turkish. How would one find the schools!

[basiltherat]

[tekirdag]

[TeachEnglish]

Berlitz will hire you with before you get here.. But beware of them.. It can be a good place to get a start. They will not rip you off..too bad.. I suggest contact The Wall Street Institute.. they have a pretty good package. I would stay away from the other ones mentioned. Good Luck

[turkishlover25]

Well what is so bad about English Time? (I hope that isn't too much of a newbie question )

[BERRY]

I would suggest that rather than buying a property "on the coast" one would be better off buying one in Istanbul proper. Buying a flat in Istanbul can be relatively cheap - you WILL have to work on it though - DIY is a must! You will then be able to get into the Turkish property scene proper - chances are you will eventually flog it to a Turk and move on to your next property - could be "on the coast"...

[calsimsek]

Entrailicus: