Job Discussion Forums

[Michelley]

Has anyone ever used a job placement service to find a job in Latin America? I contacted innovative-english.com and for $200 they find you a job. They have found me a job in Cuernavaca, but I am hesitant to trust the agency entirely. They still will not tell me what company/school I'm working for, and the pay is 3500 pesos a month for part time (25 hours a week). Does this sound reasonable? If anyone has any advice to offer, I'd appreciate it.
--Michelle

[Michelley]

Also, I have a BA in Sociology and Women's Studies and have a 40-hour distance learning TEFL certificate, as well as a few months of teaching experience.

[dduck]

It doesn't sound too fantastic to me. It depends on your qualifications and experience has to how much you might be able to earn. Personally, I'm getting paid peanuts, less than your offer, but I'm without experience. Pretty soon, I'm going to be on a airplane out o' here ...

Iain

[Guy Courchesne]

Hi...I'm the guy doing the placement service for you Michelle...normally I wouldn't respond to your request for info, preferring to let you get a good response from people out there. But I usually post in here outside of the work that I do and thought I should clear one thing up with you...

You hadn't asked the name of the school we're trying to place you at! Will be happy to give you the name by email, as well as all the travel details, the name of the director, leads on sharing an apartment with the other woman going to the same place...as far as I knew, we haven't finalized details yet.

Guy

[lozwich]

My 2 cents worth...

I'm not sure where you're from, Michelle, but in Australia job placement agencies are usually paid by the employers, not by the employees. When I first heard about Innovative English, I was a little sceptical - "Why should I have to pay someone to be blessed with my wonderful English teaching skills???". Add to that a fairly common (mis)conception that all Mexicans think foreigners are fabulously wealthy and therefore prime targets to be ripped off, and you have a pretty easy mistrust of anyone.

BUT, finding a job and setting up in Mexico (especially at the moment) is a little tricky, especially finding a good one, and depending on your personality, can be quite overwhelming to start with.

This isn't an endorsement for Innovative English, but maybe the help you will get from them will be really invaluable. Some questions I would be asking:

1. Is it ok (and possible given class scheduling) to get a second job?
2. Does an apartment come with the job?
3. What other kinds of support will I receive from Innovative English and the school I will be working at?

Hope this helps..
Lozwich.