Job Discussion Forums

carmo85 · Joined: 15 Nov 2009 Posts: 45 Location: Ireland

Hello,
I am a 2008 Irish graduate who is currently unemployed and looking for a chance to experience another culture via esl. I would love to come to Spain but I only ever hear bad things about it these days. For example the kinds of things I hear are as follows:

Poor wages
Poor living standard for esl.
Impossible to get work etc.

I am doing a 120hr I-ti-I TEFL course at the moment. I feel that Spain would be too hard but if someone has an alternative opinion or can maybe clarify my assumptions then I would be very appreciative.

Thank you.

mozzar · Joined: 16 May 2009 Posts: 339 Location: France

Is that an online cert? If so, have a look throught the General Discussion forum for opinions on that. Needless to say, they aren't the best.

I think the wages are pretty good in Spain. 15-20 euros an hour for a newbie, 20 hours per week. It's more than enough to have a good time provided you have no other financial commitments (this bloody masters will bankrupt me!).

carmo85 · Joined: 15 Nov 2009 Posts: 45 Location: Ireland

Ha, best of luck with that Mozzar. I am only financially obliged debts to two friends and they are not in a hurry.I was thinking about doing ESL until August and If I liked it then I would go somewhere lucrative like the mid east and pay off debts then head home for my masters. I am lucky in that my Govt will prob pay for the most of my Masters. Ireland has an exceptionally fantastic education system in that regard, it's football team? Not so much.

My TEFL cert is 100hrs online and 20 hrs practical weekend training. What would be my best line of attack for Spain. Where are the jobs, who has them etc??

Thanks.

mozzar · Joined: 16 May 2009 Posts: 339 Location: France

Not sure what you mean about who has the jobs. Best bet would be Madrid for jobs - lots of work here although it can take a while to get going when you first arrive.

With regards the certification, look into getting a CELTA or Trinity - there the most well known and most highly regarded. An online course isn't such a great option (although have a look through the forum for threads about this).

And for the Middle East you'll need much higher qualifications to earn the money, as well as more experience (2 or 3 years). You usually need a masters in TEFL/Applied Linguistics and an online certificate definately won't cut it there.

carmo85 · Joined: 15 Nov 2009 Posts: 45 Location: Ireland

That's strange because I have a friend who I graduated with working somewhere in UAE. She is getting paid a lot of money and she has no cert only a BA in Economics and Sociology. Actually, there is lots of Irish over there in the same position.

I don't have the funds to do a CELTA or Trinity. Is there any scope for setting up jobs from Ireland or it a simple case of pounding he streets?

mozzar · Joined: 16 May 2009 Posts: 339 Location: France

Ploughing the streets is the best bet as there are so many teachers here already.

That is strange about your friend. She must be incredibly lucky, or perhaps her expenses are just as high as her wage. Have a look on the Middle East forums.

carmo85 · Joined: 15 Nov 2009 Posts: 45 Location: Ireland

But you reckon that there is a good number of available places there? It's just I'm limited with funds and hence the intense research.I kinda have to put all of my eggs into one basket.

mozzar · Joined: 16 May 2009 Posts: 339 Location: France

Have a look at www.lingobongo.com - if you look at the Madrid jobs going at the moment there are quite a few. It's not an especially easy life for a newbie but what first time jobs are? Today I taught my first class at 8am, had a 6 hour break, then taught my second, then another 3 hour break before teaching my last one at 8pm. The classes varied in length but I enjoyed them all and the breaks inbetween allow you to get stuff done (not to mention you can go home and have breakfast/lunch/dinner between classes saving yourself some money).

If you come over it might be a bit touch and go but I believe it can be done. Just the first month or two are going to mean you might have to tighten your belt (literally).

carmo85 · Joined: 15 Nov 2009 Posts: 45 Location: Ireland

Wow, there is a lot there. I have not done my TEFL cert yet but should I send my CV to some of these people.I wont be able to come until January though.

How much money will I need to support myself until my first job/pay cheque do ou reckon??

Thanks mate.

mozzar · Joined: 16 May 2009 Posts: 339 Location: France

Wouldn't bother sending your CV yet. They'll simply forget about it in the meantime.

Money wise, you'll probably need (all in euros):

350 rent per month (plus maybe a month's deposit, athough some don't do this)
50 for a metro pass (absolutely essential)
100 for food

That's the basics. If you want to go to club it'll get a hell of a lot more expensive. The best bet is to find someone with a flat and drink around there. On average a beer is 4 euros. So you'd maybe need 1500 euros (safer 2000) for two months but by the end of that you'll need to have a pay cheque.

carmo85 · Joined: 15 Nov 2009 Posts: 45 Location: Ireland

To find a job in Spain would be ideal though. I am desperate to learn Spanish and I was even going to go to South America to do that, until recently. I am trying to keep positive about it now. Would you recommend I book a flight there for January an hit the schools for 2 or 3 days whilst staying in a hostel? Hand out CVs and head home? Is that how to do it? I am currently unemployed and I am saving my social welfare to pay for my TEFL cert (500eur). After that, I will be saving for first month living expenses and flight which will take a bit longer pending on my destination. You seem optimistic and I like that. Is teh job market any different in other parts of Spain?

mozzar · Joined: 16 May 2009 Posts: 339 Location: France

I'm not sure of the answer to all your questions but to give you some idea:

Madrid is the best place to find a job. You have to be in Madrid to get one though with a local mobile number. Often they'll call you up and offer you an interview 1/2/3 days later. So it's best to come to Madrid and stay and send out a shedload of CVs to every company you can. Madrid doesn't properly start up after Christmas until the Thursday 7th January so bear that in mind when booking a ticket.

It's by no means guaranteed you'll get a job but it's pretty likely that you should be able to get some hours. Even 10 hours a week will mean you can survive and then they'll increase (hopefully) over time. But you will be taking a risk but that's the norm for most ESL beginners.

carmo85 · Joined: 15 Nov 2009 Posts: 45 Location: Ireland

That's all positive news mozzar. I will try and head to Madrid on the second wek of Jan (14th) for one week. I will have roughly 800�, I hope that will be enough? I will have my TEFL cert and a "shedload" of CVs. It might be hard to get my bearings over there, have you any recommendations as regards websites etc to help me pound the streets?

I think my long term future careers will be in something related to procrastination! Embarassed

carmo85 · Joined: 15 Nov 2009 Posts: 45 Location: Ireland

So Ryanair have a sale on seats from Dublin to Madrid in January. What week should I go to get the best chance of picking something up?]

As always, much appreciated.

Paul

mozzar · Joined: 16 May 2009 Posts: 339 Location: France

The problem with only going for a week is that, by the time you send CVs out, get interviews and here back for them, you might be back in Ireland. You pretty much have to stay for a month to sort things out. The most important thing is having a Spanish mobile number as well so that they can contact you. If they see any other mobile number they'll just jump to the next CV in the pile.

With regards to websites:

www.inmadrid.com
www.lingobongo.com