Job Discussion Forums

[suite1718]

Because of my commitments in the states, I will not be able to leave for Mexico until mid-September at the earliest. I am aware that this is well into the Fall semester, and have read many people recommend June/July as the prime time to begin locating job opportunities.

My question is whether or not I'll still be able to find employment (in Southern Mexico) at this time of the year.

Thanks for the help!

[J Sevigny]

It depends on what kind of work your looking for. If you want a university job, you kind of need to be here when the semester starts. The same goes for teaching kids. But if you want to do business classes through an institute, you can pretty much arrive any time.

[suite1718]

When exactly does the school year begin?

[dixie]

When does the school year begin?.....too soon!

I teach grade 4 and we don't finish until the first week of July (gag!) and return in the middle of August...I believe the week of the 13th.

Getting a job in mid-september at school can be quite difficult, unless you happen to be in the right place, at the right time and the school has lost a teacher for whatever reason and thus has a spot that needs to be filled.

What type of position are you looking for?

[suite1718]

Well, my original goal was to teach children. Its been something that I've wanted to do since discussing the education situation with my girlfriend's family - originally from Mexico. However I'm not sure that my Spanish skills (or lack of) would allow me to work with younger students.

I do have the background to teach business english, which obviously pays better but I would imagine is less rewarding. I've arranged things so that I can leave in mid-August at the latest, but that's as good as I can do without being let go immediately.

Any recommendations?

[dixie]

If you teach in an elementary school, there is no need for you to speak spanish, unless you are teaching the very young kids such as kinder. I find that those teachers always tend to be natives of the country who speak the native language and English. However, with the 'older' kids it's not really an issue, esp. because the school should NOT want you to speak to them in Spanish. My kids speak it to each other in the classroom, (simply because i have yet to find a way to stop them!) but I only speak English to them and they only speak English to me (more or less )

Do you have an educational background though? Do you have a teaching certificate? It is possible to get a job without one, although it is a lot harder and the 'better' schools tend to not even look at someone who has neither the certificate and a few years of experience.

Even if you can't be down here until mid-august, it is possible to search for jobs while at home and make the deal that way...and then come down when the school year begins.

[suite1718]

Yes, I am certified. My experience is somewhat limited, but I think there's enough to qualify me for a mid-level job. Originally I had planned to visit several places before taking a job, but that seems fairly unlikely because of the fact that I will be there so late in the summer.

[leslie]

Bye

[Thomcat]

Other than June?July, is there another good time to arrive, such as Dec/Jan o algo asi?