Job Discussion Forums

kiwibird · Joined: 03 Oct 2009 Posts: 5 Location: New Zealand

Does anyone here have any expereiences working as a governess in Moscow?

A fairly typical deal seems to be live-in during the week, use of a flat in the city during the weekends. 3000 Euro per month and travel with the family in the summer. In return I drop the kids off at shool (with the driver) and pick them up and teach the children english and 'Western mentality' in the evenings. I would be working either in sole charge or alongside a russian speaking nanny.

Is this a good deal?? Has anyone done this??

expatella_girl · Posted: Sun Dec 06, 2009 8:14 am Post subject:

You have a Russian visa lined up, right?

Confused

spiral78 · Joined: 05 Apr 2004 Posts: 11534 Location: On a Short Leash

It sounds like a scam, honestly....3,000 per month and a flat too??!!

jpvanderwerf2001 · Joined: 02 Oct 2003 Posts: 1117 Location: New York

I'm not so sure it's a scam. I do know one girl who had one such gig in Moscow for a year. I don't remember her getting paid quite as much, but she saved quite a bit.

Sashadroogie · Posted: Sun Dec 06, 2009 7:21 pm Post subject:

It does sound excessive, but then there are lots of seriously loaded oligarchs about who think nothing about this kind of money. The part about the 'Western mentalitet' rings so so very true. So it could very well be for real. If a real offer, then grab it - there won't be anything better. They will probably work you hard, but you'll be well-rewarded ura! Far far better than any solelt teaching deal.

Velocipedaler · Joined: 23 Jun 2009 Posts: 45 Location: Earth

I worked in a similar arrangement four years ago in a suburb west of Moscow, and I know others who have done likewise. Please PM me if you have any specific questions.

Anything, of course, can be a scam, but nothing in the information you provided is unusual or suspect. This is a rather common arrangement.

kiwibird · Joined: 03 Oct 2009 Posts: 5 Location: New Zealand

Thanks for the feedback. I think I'll go for it.

spiral78 · Joined: 05 Apr 2004 Posts: 11534 Location: On a Short Leash

Good luck! I hope it's legit.

Don't send any money to them

and

let us know how it goes!

Maybe I'll try to overcome my aversion to kids someday, if it would allow me to live in Moscow or St.Pete...

JN · Joined: 17 Jan 2008 Posts: 214

Do you have any official certifications for being a nanny? I mean such as an Early Childhood degree or whatever the British equivalent is. I don't have those qualifications, although I was a nanny elsewhere quite a few years ago. If you don't have official certifications, I'd be interested in knowing how you got the job.
JN

Kootvela · Joined: 22 Oct 2007 Posts: 513 Location: Lithuania

kazachka · Joined: 19 Nov 2004 Posts: 220 Location: Moscow and Alaska

I used to be a PT governess on weeknights. I LOVED IT! I worked for Bonne and I had a WONDERFUL FAMILY and great kid! I was treated very well. I repeat, I LOVED this job. I am now extremely bitter and angry that the visa laws forced me to give up one of the best and most fun jobs I ever had! 2 yrs ago, I had to give this awesome deal up thanks to the new visa law change. This was goodbye great job, hello misery. Sure, I have a work visa now, but I never wanted to go back to corporate. I HATE the chasing around with a passion and life is just too d@mn short for this anymore. I did VERY WELL with my Bonne job and privates on the side as I was totally freelance back then. The problem now is that none of these nice governess gigs comes with a work visa. If they did, I'd not think twice about accepting one again.In fact, I'd have accepted one yesterday for the right client! I have had several offers since both live in and out. I personally would NEVER do live- in and I'm interested in a M-F afternoon/eve job like I had before. BTW, I had PAID holiday and PAID SICK LV(10 days/yr) at my Bonne job. I think it's WRONG for an employer not to cover sick leave if you work w/ small children as inevitably you will catch a bug or 2 from them. 5-6000$/mo is normal for a full time job 3000+for smthg like what I had is also normal. You should not accept less than 50$/hr for work with children as that is the mid-range salary even the agencies will start you at.

anglichanka5 · Joined: 06 Apr 2010 Posts: 5

I think it's now possible to get a nanny job with visa included.

kazachka · Joined: 19 Nov 2004 Posts: 220 Location: Moscow and Alaska

Yeah- the 3 month one and they only pay for the visa runs if you take the 50 some hr/week live in stuff. If anyone knows otherwise, I'd like to know. Others are on the 1 yr ME biz visa and the 90/180 rule doesn't affect them because their jobs involve heavy travel w/ the family-also not for me. I'm looking for the part time weekday gig similar to what I used to have. If anyone knows of this kind of thing coming with a visa, then I'm game.

Iceman33 · Joined: 08 Nov 2009 Posts: 91

Can a young man do this job in Russia?

There was a personal ad where a wealthy Russian family wanted someone to teach English to the family full-time (live with them). Requirements were native speaker status with high degrees in languages, lingustics, etc. There wasn't any talk of having a teaching background, or even a degree in education. It all seemed legit to me, but I can't say anything for sure (I think it was through an agency in NYC).

johnhearst · Joined: 26 Jan 2011 Posts: 16

Watch the movie, The Sound of Music Smile