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DJames
Joined: 22 Jul 2004
Posts: 11
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 Posted: Wed Nov 14, 2007 12:30 am Post subject: Where are the jobs? |
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Hello All,
For about a month I've hunted for jobs in Russia and only to find a handfull of posted openings. I'm an experienced esl teacher who has been working in the US for the past two years. I hear about all of these jobs in Russia. Where do you find them?
In the process I've had some luck. As soon as I contact a school or company about a teaching job they respond with lightning speed and set up an interview. The problem is that every opening is in Moscow. It would be nice to avoid the living expense and congestion of Moscow.
Are there any good websites out there? Is Moscow the only option for the first year in Russia? Where do you find advertisements for jobs outside mighty Moscow?
-Dazed and Confused |
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rusmeister
Joined: 15 Jun 2006
Posts: 867
Location: Russia
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| Posted: Wed Nov 14, 2007 1:29 am Post subject: Re: Where are the jobs? |
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| DJames wrote: |
Hello All,
For about a month I've hunted for jobs in Russia and only to find a handfull of posted openings. I'm an experienced esl teacher who has been working in the US for the past two years. I hear about all of these jobs in Russia. Where do you find them?
In the process I've had some luck. As soon as I contact a school or company about a teaching job they respond with lightning speed and set up an interview. The problem is that every opening is in Moscow. It would be nice to avoid the living expense and congestion of Moscow.
Are there any good websites out there? Is Moscow the only option for the first year in Russia? Where do you find advertisements for jobs outside mighty Moscow?
-Dazed and Confused |
Why do you think there should be a lot of jobs in Russia?
Right now inflation is soaring and people are getting poorer as income fails to keep us with prices. Places like the British Council have been forced to close by political maneuvering. Add on to this new visa laws putting the squeeze on schools who hire backpackers and you'll see why a drop in offerings is to be expected.
Economic development in the rest of the country has been too slow to encourage the kind of job growth you'd like to see. |
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zeke0606
Joined: 22 Oct 2007
Posts: 185
Location: East Outer Mongolia
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| Posted: Wed Nov 14, 2007 5:59 am Post subject: what? |
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DJames --
Listen to the poster rusmeister, he is telling you true.
I have lived in Russia for a long time (have reidence) and have never lived in Moscow. |
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maruss
Joined: 18 Mar 2003
Posts: 1145
Location: Cyprus
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| Posted: Wed Nov 14, 2007 3:33 pm Post subject: Where are the jobs? |
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Rusmeister has hit the nail right on the head,just like he usually does!There are people who spend 6 HOURS daily commuting to and from Moscow in all weathers and horrendous traffic jams,overcrowded buses and trains etc. because that's the only place where they can find jobs to make enough to survive on!Actually there are sometimes vacancies for teachers in cities outside Moscow,particularly in Siberia and Samara etc.
But be very careful who you go to work for and where because you will be a long way from any other ex-pats and if things go wrong you cannot just go and work for another firm in the same town!Look on the tefl.com site for example and you will see a vacancy in Novokuznetsk for an IH franchise offering around $1000 per month plus free accom. etc.Sorry but I know nothing about the firm there or what the cost of living is in that part of Siberia etc.If I were you I would find out as much as possible about the climate and conditions etc. there before you even consider going!However,if you are going to Russia with the aim of making a lot of money,I would forget it as it is not the ideal place by far! |
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Deano1979
Joined: 02 Mar 2007
Posts: 34
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| Posted: Mon Nov 19, 2007 2:22 pm Post subject: Re: Where are the jobs? |
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| rusmeister wrote: |
Why do you think there should be a lot of jobs in Russia?
Right now inflation is soaring and people are getting poorer as income fails to keep us with prices. Places like the British Council have been forced to close by political maneuvering. Add on to this new visa laws putting the squeeze on schools who hire backpackers and you'll see why a drop in offerings is to be expected.
Economic development in the rest of the country has been too slow to encourage the kind of job growth you'd like to see. |
What a load of rubbish.
Firstly, if its harder for the schools to employ backpackers, it means that the long awaited shortfall of teachers you guys have been dreaming about will hit the schools even harder. That means one thing for you. HIGHER WAGES. Why are wages going to be crap if there is a sudden shortage of teachers? They have to pay more or close down because they dont have anyone to teach.
To DJames, there is plenty of work to be quite honest. Emailing schools is just not the best way to go. Your best bet is to actually look for work once you get there. Or bite the bullet and take a job with a big school. You get paid poorly, but it will allow you time to get yourself going. If you saw how many ENglish schools there were in Moscow, let alone the whole of Russia, you would understand that there is opportunity.
Dont let the negativity on this forum scare you away, just do your research and you will be fine. Saying that, the new VISA laws are going to have to be considered. |
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zeke0606
Joined: 22 Oct 2007
Posts: 185
Location: East Outer Mongolia
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| Posted: Mon Nov 19, 2007 4:38 pm Post subject: what? |
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deano1979 etal --
Why is it that almost all posters only write about Moscow? This is the biggest country in the world and there are so many cities and towns WITH language schools - so, I am at a loss as to why all of you harp on Moscow.
I've been here for over 5 years and NEVER worked in Moscow and rarely pass through there going on international travels.
I don't mean to be offensive to anyone, but there are more places to teach than the greater Moscow area and surrounding towns. The big three 'evil empires of schools' are there AND in many cities around Russia - read the posts from some very disgruntled teachers warning others about those schools in all of Russia. |
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rusmeister
Joined: 15 Jun 2006
Posts: 867
Location: Russia
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| Posted: Mon Nov 19, 2007 7:58 pm Post subject: Re: Where are the jobs? |
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| Deano1979 wrote: |
| rusmeister wrote: |
Why do you think there should be a lot of jobs in Russia?
Right now inflation is soaring and people are getting poorer as income fails to keep us with prices. Places like the British Council have been forced to close by political maneuvering. Add on to this new visa laws putting the squeeze on schools who hire backpackers and you'll see why a drop in offerings is to be expected.
Economic development in the rest of the country has been too slow to encourage the kind of job growth you'd like to see. |
What a load of rubbish.
Firstly, if its harder for the schools to employ backpackers, it means that the long awaited shortfall of teachers you guys have been dreaming about will hit the schools even harder. That means one thing for you. HIGHER WAGES. Why are wages going to be crap if there is a sudden shortage of teachers? They have to pay more or close down because they dont have anyone to teach.
To DJames, there is plenty of work to be quite honest. Emailing schools is just not the best way to go. Your best bet is to actually look for work once you get there. Or bite the bullet and take a job with a big school. You get paid poorly, but it will allow you time to get yourself going. If you saw how many ENglish schools there were in Moscow, let alone the whole of Russia, you would understand that there is opportunity.
Dont let the negativity on this forum scare you away, just do your research and you will be fine. Saying that, the new VISA laws are going to have to be considered. |
Dean, saying that what I said is a load of rubbish is really unfounded. I happen to live in the country, and have done so for years. What I said is quite true. I don't doubt that this year a number of temp opportunities will open up as schools that counted on employees with business visas will see them suddenly leave. The question is whether it will be advantageous for people to come on business visas at all. I think the obvious answer is 'no'. That forces schools to really open up to the authorities in many respects if they really really want to hire foreigners. Their operating costs will go way up (to maintain their levels of business). Saying that's negativity is just unreasonable.
I think it's true that wages may go up. But not by a whole lot (see operating costs). And the number of positions offered will still be forced down by the bureaucratic requirements to hire foreigners for a year. |
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rusmeister
Joined: 15 Jun 2006
Posts: 867
Location: Russia
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| Posted: Mon Nov 19, 2007 8:03 pm Post subject: Re: what? |
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| zeke0606 wrote: |
deano1979 etal --
Why is it that almost all posters only write about Moscow? This is the biggest country in the world and there are so many cities and towns WITH language schools - so, I am at a loss as to why all of you harp on Moscow.
I've been here for over 5 years and NEVER worked in Moscow and rarely pass through there going on international travels.
I don't mean to be offensive to anyone, but there are more places to teach than the greater Moscow area and surrounding towns. The big three 'evil empires of schools' are there AND in many cities around Russia - read the posts from some very disgruntled teachers warning others about those schools in all of Russia. |
Zeke,
If you really work here you can't be unaware that the number of teachers in the rest of the country is MUCH smaller and that you (like me) are more of a big fish in a small pond. If you're registered in a smaller city or town then you're probably on a list of a dozen westerners or less in the local OVIR and police and many locals know you on sight. Operations with foreigners teaching in them outside of Moscow (and to a lesser extent St Pete) are necessarily much smaller. |
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zeke0606
Joined: 22 Oct 2007
Posts: 185
Location: East Outer Mongolia
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| Posted: Tue Nov 20, 2007 5:51 am Post subject: what? |
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rusmeister -
I really live and work here and have a Russian wife! Please do not lump me in with the posters that lived in Moscow some forty years ago and still want to tell everyone how they had it and think it is current news. You have read them the same as I have.
Actually, I believe that I am the only American and the only foreigner registered with OVIR here. That analogy about the big fish, although appropriate, has never occured to me.
Since I have never worked in Moscow or that area, I find it interesting that 'westerners' only think of Moscow or St Pete as the only places that can and will employ English teachers. In this city where I live there are 10+ private foreign language schools and 4 universities and untold private Russian tutors for English language study. Of course, I am in demand and can now ask for a salary rather than just wait until I am told what they will pay. And I can choose the amount of hours I want to work and what days and how early I want to get up in the morning (or afternoon for that matter). My phone rings often from former students from those private schools and they have their 2 year certificates and can barely hold an elementary conversation - as I was usually employed only as a conversation teacher and saw each class once a month or so.... So the students understand after paying a ton of rubles that they haven't learned too much - grammar on top of grammar - but not much ability to speak in their newly acquired language, so they remember me and come for my private lessons. |
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Deano1979
Joined: 02 Mar 2007
Posts: 34
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| Posted: Tue Nov 20, 2007 6:39 am Post subject: Re: Where are the jobs? |
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| rusmeister wrote: |
Dean, saying that what I said is a load of rubbish is really unfounded. I happen to live in the country, and have done so for years. What I said is quite true. I don't doubt that this year a number of temp opportunities will open up as schools that counted on employees with business visas will see them suddenly leave. The question is whether it will be advantageous for people to come on business visas at all. I think the obvious answer is 'no'. That forces schools to really open up to the authorities in many respects if they really really want to hire foreigners. Their operating costs will go way up (to maintain their levels of business). Saying that's negativity is just unreasonable
think it's true that wages may go up. But not by a whole lot (see operating costs). And the number of positions offered will still be forced down by the bureaucratic requirements to hire foreigners for a year. |
Rus
This is a total contradiction of what teachers in Russia have been screaming about over the last few years. Backpackers are seen by you guys as a massive problem, simply because they will work for a pittance and they drive wages down.
Another complaint has been that the schools are employing people who should not be teaching in the first place, and as a result drag down the good name of proper english teachers. Along with wages.
I cant understand how the VISA issue is going to have a negative impact on teachers who can stay in Russia. Its borderline impossible in the long term. The demand for English teachers remains, yet the amount of teachers availible drops. Of course costs are going to rise for schools, but if they want to stay open they are going to be forced to pay teachers properly. Not only that, the schools who have been ripping off Russians by providing bad teachers they are paying next to nothing are probably going to close. Its going to force a correction in the industry if anything.
You guys are never happy. With Bels unable to live on $4000 a month anymore, I think gold could be falling from the sky and you would all still find something to complain about. With the new VISA laws, you basically have had your wishes granted. Backpackers gone, bad schools cant exploit students because they cant even get them there with false promises, teachers like a needle in a haystack again allowing you to once again live an extravagant lifestyle. Its paydirt.
I have yet to see a positive post from any of the old timers that are still teaching there. Why you guys all stay in that hell hole is beyond me. |
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Deano1979
Joined: 02 Mar 2007
Posts: 34
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| Posted: Tue Nov 20, 2007 6:42 am Post subject: Re: what? |
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| zeke0606 wrote: |
deano1979 etal --
Why is it that almost all posters only write about Moscow? This is the biggest country in the world and there are so many cities and towns WITH language schools - so, I am at a loss as to why all of you harp on Moscow.
I've been here for over 5 years and NEVER worked in Moscow and rarely pass through there going on international travels.
I don't mean to be offensive to anyone, but there are more places to teach than the greater Moscow area and surrounding towns. The big three 'evil empires of schools' are there AND in many cities around Russia - read the posts from some very disgruntled teachers warning others about those schools in all of Russia. |
Thanks for the tip Zeke
For most people, Moscow and ST Petersburg are where people want to teach not for money alone. Some are looking to experience the culture of the cities too. You make some valid points I have no doubt, but not everyone is looking to relocate permanantly to Russia |
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rusmeister
Joined: 15 Jun 2006
Posts: 867
Location: Russia
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| Posted: Tue Nov 20, 2007 7:30 am Post subject: Re: Where are the jobs? |
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| Deano1979 wrote: |
Rus
This is a total contradiction of what teachers in Russia have been screaming about over the last few years. Backpackers are seen by you guys as a massive problem, simply because they will work for a pittance and they drive wages down.
Another complaint has been that the schools are employing people who should not be teaching in the first place, and as a result drag down the good name of proper english teachers. Along with wages.
I cant understand how the VISA issue is going to have a negative impact on teachers who can stay in Russia. Its borderline impossible in the long term. The demand for English teachers remains, yet the amount of teachers availible drops. Of course costs are going to rise for schools, but if they want to stay open they are going to be forced to pay teachers properly. Not only that, the schools who have been ripping off Russians by providing bad teachers they are paying next to nothing are probably going to close. Its going to force a correction in the industry if anything.
You guys are never happy. With Bels unable to live on $4000 a month anymore, I think gold could be falling from the sky and you would all still find something to complain about. With the new VISA laws, you basically have had your wishes granted. Backpackers gone, bad schools cant exploit students because they cant even get them there with false promises, teachers like a needle in a haystack again allowing you to once again live an extravagant lifestyle. Its paydirt.
I have yet to see a positive post from any of the old timers that are still teaching there. Why you guys all stay in that hell hole is beyond me. |
So where's the contradiction? And who's unhappy about it?
I think you're right that the number of teachers will go down. All I'm saying is that it won't necessarily translate into significant pay rises because the businesses and schools are going to official hire foreigners as employees, rather than as consultants, which makes it much more difficult for them to do so. Avg offers may go up, but there still won't be that many offerings as a lot of the smaller and shadier operations close down.
I do agree that this won't affect permanent residents, who will mainly benefit from the new visa laws (when you capitalize VISA, looks like you're talking about the credit card), for now, at least.
I don't think we're disagreeing as much as you think. |
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Deano1979
Joined: 02 Mar 2007
Posts: 34
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| Posted: Wed Nov 28, 2007 3:32 pm Post subject: |
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Deano1979
Joined: 02 Mar 2007
Posts: 34
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| Posted: Wed Nov 28, 2007 3:33 pm Post subject: |
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| pls delete |
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MGreen
Joined: 22 May 2007
Posts: 81
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| Posted: Thu Nov 29, 2007 10:48 am Post subject: |
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| Deano1979, are you in Russia now? Are you talking from personal experience teaching and living there? |
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