Job Discussion Forums

[honky_mcgee]

Thanks to anyone that may have some extra time to answer a question or two for me.
I have a BA in English, TEFL certification, and three years teaching experience in foreign countries. I'm wandering what type of salary I could expect with these creds. I've read everything from 1,200 to 2,000 USD equivalent per month. That seems a bit high but I'd hope for something around 1,600 USD. Is this feasible?
Also from what I've read is that it is suggested to apply for positions inside the country. This isn't so much a problem for me as I'm homeless after my last job anyways, lol. Is late October/early November an ok time to be looking for jobs in Instanbul?
My last question is how hard is it to secure a working visa? I'd rather not have a job that won't sponsor me on one.
Thanks again and if there is anything else I might need to know please offer.
Cheers.

[ossie39]

Hi honky mcgee. Well i must say that job hunters appointed from inside the desired country, especially in the case of Turkey, don't get a return travel allowance (usually mostly paid at the end of a contract) , understandably so really.
Tecnnically you are supposed to apply from outside the country but I don't think applying in the country would be a real problem. Teachers do drop out for genuine reasons in the academic year and one or two language schools can experience a need for an additional teacher.
I think you might get a minimum $1500 in Istanbul, but think about other cities too which aren't so expensive. Good luck.

[tanzania]

19 - 21ytl per hour is about right. Schools often offer free accommodation, usually shared, on top of this. Flight money in advance is rare nowadays but you can expect a bonus of sorts at the end of a contract.

[coffeespoonman]

1600 US... That's... about 2300 TL at the current exchange rate I think(give or take a couple hundred TL). Yeah, that should be possible, though it may take a little while to work up to it if you start with a part time gig or a school that pays hourly.

2000 US? That's about 3000 TL. Yeah, that's certainly possible too with some luck or some time to get a feel for the scene. Istanbul's actually a great place to make a decent living... Or a great place to just be laid back and earn enough to get by. Depends what you're looking for.

[eclectic]

would savings as a percentage of gross salary be higher in places like Sivas, Urfa, Adana?

[coffeespoonman]

Probably not. If you're only eating at home and you're not going out in the evenings, the only real price difference between the smaller cities and Istanbul will be rent, and that's only going to be a couple of hundred per month if you take the time to find a decent and cheap flat in Istanbul. But your salary will be a LOT smaller (unless there are some super jobs out east that I'm not aware of).

[fishmb]

Well I've heard that in smaller cities/towns it's much more common for the school to put you up in a shared house/flat, which saves a lot of money. But maybe that's just hearsay. Plus you have to share space with complete strangers so it could work out well... or it could really suck.

[coffeespoonman]

Well, I think eclectic is bringing a wife, so I don't think he'd want shared accomodation... But maybe some offer a lojman?

[eclectic]

Yes coffee, Im bringing my wife, so shared would be quite out of the q, u r correct. What is a lojman?

Also, a few hundred a month is a good difference for me. Lets say I make 2000 minus rent/groceries/utilities in Sivas and I net 900 ytl a month, thats $600 US dollars a month, which I feel is OK.

But 2000 in Ist. less 1000 ytl rent/700 ytl groceries/bills leaves 300 ytl or $150-200 savings monthly. Assuming we cook 6 nights and eat out cheaply 1 or 2 days, like pide/lahmajun/salad at a local hole in the wall. No expensive habits here!

[coffeespoonman]

Well, your math makes sense, but I'd guess that you'd be more likely to make around 1500-1700 in Sivas (are there even any schools there?) and closer to 2500-2800 in Istanbul. Basically, the difference between salary will likely be greater than the difference in cost of living. But if others have a different feeling, please share.

[eclectic]

xlnt reply coffee. thx. i'd love to make 2500-2800 in Constantinopolis.

BA in English from Rutgers College, NJ, USA.
Master of International Management from Thunderbird in Arizona.
1.5 years teaching in Korea.
Not the certification credential/no tefl/tesol etc.

is it possible for me with only this? Coffee I know youve replied excellently to me b4 twice atleast, and Id welcome as many replies as you would make henceforth, if any; and would welcome others' opinions as well if I could earn the 2500 ytl in Ist. or the 1500-2000 ytl in places like Adana/Bursa.

[coffeespoonman]

Eclectic, there are a lot of people far less qualified than you making that much or more. It might take a bit of work at first, but 2500-2800 in Istanbul is a very realistic and attainable goal, especially if you get certified. With privates, part-time jobs, and/or better jobs, you could be making considerably more than that within a year or so (if money is a big priority for you, which it seems to be).

[eclectic]

i love the encouragement Coffee, thx so much again. Right now I dont have the energy here in Korea to do more than a $100 40 hour online tefl.
Im willing to give it a go with that, and if bears out that it wont do, Ill get the celta everybody mentions.

My goal is to save a minimum of $700 US dollars or the equivalent a month.

Here I save $1,500/mo. but b4 u get envious, realize what I go thru. How are the Turkish kids? Ahhhhhhhhh I know, all kids are the same right? sigh..............

[fishmb]

I just got to Istanbul and started working part time (23 hrs a week) and I'm getting 1700 TL a month. This was with no job search -just fell into my lap - and the simple base salary (18 lira a month). I bet you could get what you're aiming for, especially if you're a native speaker.

[fishmb]

Oh yeah, if I wanted to I could easily work 50 hrs a week and get 3600 lira a month, but I'm also doing my CELTA part time so I don't want to push myself too hard. My point is there is a high demand for native speakers.