Job Discussion Forums

[ytuque]

I have been here about 6 weeks now trying to find work and arrange a proper work visa. What I have found is that there is an endless supply of work at extremely low wages, a reluctance to provide work documents to be used to obtain a work visa, a lack of competent and honest business professionals, and a surprisingly large housing bubble which has driven rents to close to US levels.

Given that Ukrainian wages are extremely low, for example I know a number of university grads making less than $300 USD per month, I don't see how $500-800 rents for marginal one bedroom apartments is sustainable. A one bedroom flat near the center sells for over $100k. BTW, work is being offered in the $5-6 USD range. A full time teaching job would just about cover housing expenses and nothing else.

Is this what is to be expected in the Ukraine? If anybody has a different opinion about Kharkov, I would like to hear it.

Now, I am considering moving to Belarus or Siberia.

[canucktechie]

[ytuque]

I only found one language school that offered to sponsor a work visa. However, first I had to give them $1000 USD to take their CELTA course since they don't recognize my TEFL cert. from a respectable US training program or my academic and professional experience. I also have taught English for 2 years.

As for housing, I did find an American who has been here over a year now, and he verified that $500 is the going rate for a one bedroom near a metro station that is close to the center.

BTW, is it common to have drunk men accuse you of being a spy in the Ukraine or is it just me? This is happening on a regular basis. The last guy threw a punch which missed me by 2 feet. I think he was seeing double and tried to hit the imaginary spy:) He then stumbled into a babushka who started clubbing him with her umbrella. If it wasn't happening to me, it would have been hilarious!

[maruss]

The country is teetering on the brink of either developing a western-style democracy or following Russia backwards to a totalitarian regime.There is a definite split between supporters of each faction,coupled with massive corruption and economic disparity, as you have already found out from experience!I would also fully agree with Canuchtekie about jobs there which seem to promise the earth and then give you nothing in return!Maybe its just a co-incidence but there are also more reported women scamming foreigners in fake marriage web-sites from there than in most other eastern-european countries!
But I wouldn't go to Belarus either as not only are there very few jobs there for foreigners,except occasionally via International House in Minsk,but it also has one of the nastiest regimes in Europe which has been black-listed by the E.U. etc!
There are jobs in Moscow,but as you can read from many postings by myself and others who have worked there,it is no bed of roses and especially with the continually rising living costs,you need to be earning at least $2000 per month to consider going there.

[maruss]

Whatever you do,DON'T go to Krasnoyarsk with LanguageLink-you can read all about why not from someone who did and has posted about it on this site.The only other firms with places in Siberia which advertise jobs are in decidedly unattractive oil towns like Nizhnivartovsk and Surgut,although there was one with British owned ETI in Noyabrsk quite recently which paid about $2000 plus free hotel accom.This seemed the best bet by far,bearing in mind the climate and conditions you will endure there,especially in winter!If you want to go as far as Vladivostok,there is a teacher there who also regularly posts about it.
All the best.

[ytuque]

Every time I meet with a Ukrainian to discuss renting a flat or paying for some service, they announce there is a new price or new situation from what has been previously discussed. What follows is a hefty increase for example a $600 flat went to $1000 per month. Is this a common business practice in the region?

The "you are here so you must be a spy" situation came as a shock. Is this what I can expect across the former CIS or is this a local thing? I was recently accused of being an Australian spy since I was wearing a baseball cap with a kangaroo on it at the time. If this is common, how do you avoid confrontations with these nut jobs?

Well, I haven't given up on living and working in a Russian speaking country, but I am getting close. Strangely enough, I have no desire to drink after seeing the locals in action. I was expecting to be drinking quite a bit of vodka.

I was hoping to teach at a university somewhere off the beaten path, but it seems only the language schools provide visa support. In the Ukraine, the visa situation is extremely difficult. I am assuming Russia is tough also.

[maruss]

If you look on the site there is a guy looking for a replacement teacher in this rather nice Siberian city and in a university etc.Especially as he is an ex-pat I would really recommend you contact him,even though it is not until May 2008 as it could be what you are looking for in every other way.
Nothing surprises me about Ukraine,especially anywhere outside Kiev!
Have you tried Odessa-it is better in many ways than other parts of Ukraine and not only for the climate?

[anubistaima]

[maruss]

This is a major industrial area(which is unhealthily polluted too) and one of the few parts of Russia where the economy is well-developed,allowing many people there to have a standard of living which would be considered as at least adequate by western standards.$500 per month to rent a flat is a clear reflection of the ability of people to pay that amount so why are foreign teachers expected to go there and earn such a salary?
Forget what the official figures say as I'm sure many people there are making far more than that in one way or another!
On top of all that they are now changing the visa rules to prevent us from coming there for more than 3 months at a time,following which we cannot come back for at least another three!
Not only do they try to screw us but are now making it difficult to come there as well......

[ecocks]

I almost went to work last year in Kharkov but eventually opted for Kyiv. Rent for a 2 room apartment with a balcony was only $400/month. Maybe things have gone up though. If you really want to be in Kharkov, see if you can't get a Ukrainian to rent the room for you. In Kyiv there are increasing reports of rent increases from original quotes the instant they realize they are delaing with an ex-pat, especially Americans. Make a friend and have them negotiate to rent the room in their name and you take possession. Hope it works out, I love Ukraine.

[Nexus]

If you're staying in Ukraine, I've heard good things about London School - accommodation etc. They also have a branch in Odessa I believe, if you fancy it down there.

[ytuque]

Strangely enough, it looks like a private university will be providing me with a set of work documents which I can have a local lawyer process into a work visa. There are numerous language schools which want to hire native speakers regardless of visa status. Unfortunately, it seems to be in the $4-6 range. There are only a handful of language schools which provide visa support. As for state universities, I was told that they are provided native speaker profesors via the peace corp and fulbright programs from the US govt.

I have yet to find a decent flat in the $400 range. The going rate anywhere near a metro and an easy commute to the center of Kharkov is $500+. The few locals that I know do not seem to have any business sense or common sense for that matter.

[ecocks]

Use the internet?

$440/month
One room apartment in 3 min walking from Independence sq and Shevchenko park!
Two Sofa / queen size beds
Telephone
Cable TV
Classic bath
Gas hot water system
Fridge, stove with oven
==============================
$450/month
One bedroom apartment within five minutes walking distance from the city center
Security entrance from street
Sofa - queen size double bed
Telephone
Cable TV
Gas hot water system
Shower cabin
Fridge and stove
=============================
$450/month
One bedroom plus lounge/bedroom within 5 minutes walking distance from the city center
Security entrance from back of apartment building
Queen sized bed and sofa- queen size bed in the other room
Telephone
Satellite TV, VCR and musical center
Classic bath with shower
Gas hot water system
Fridge, stove, fire place, microwave and electric kettle
=============================
$485/month
One bedroom plus living room / extra one bedroom apartment on the min street of Kharkov for RENT!
Double bed plus sofa / extra one queen size bed in the second room
Cable TV, DVD player
Classic bath
Gas hot water system
Fridge, stove with oven, electrical kettle
Complete cleaning service every 7 days, including change of sheets and fresh towels. FREE!
============================

http://www.ukraineapartments.com/apartments/Kharkov

and there are probably several others out there.

[ytuque]

Do I use the internet? Didn't see anything good some weeks back so I hired a couple of local agents who use Ukrainian sites among other resources.

The posted price in the Ukraine doesn't mean a thing.

[ecocks]

Good luck.