Job Discussion Forums

[louiseamytaylor]

Firstly I would like to take this opportunity to introduce myself. My name is Louise Taylor and currently I am working as a Senior Recruitment Consultant specialising in the Financial Services and IT sector of the UK market. Previously I worked for 2 of the biggest UK Banks at a Senior Management level over an 8 year period. I started in Banking straight from school, working my way up through this industry and having significant success in both Banks.

However, I am desperately trying to find a placement in or around Izmir, Turkey, although I am not entirely adverse to other locations within Turkey. I have fallen in love with the country and at present speak little Turkish. I would very much like an opportunity to develope my language skills and start a new life in Turkey.

The main challenges I have faced are that the majority of jobs for English natives are that in the teaching industry (although I have some experience), of which I am not qualified or those industries in which a degree is required. As part of a programme called Face 2 Face with Finance with my previous employer I spent 3 years teaching Business Studies as GCSE and A level learners.

Having been working since the age of 16, I have no qualifications but have a world of knowledge and experience in a number of areas which I feel add just as much value to an organisation. I am an excellent communicator, have the ability to motivate and engage teams, pride myself on my sales force delivering excellent customer service, always exceed sales targets and have excellent sales abilities, both as an individual and as a leader of people.

Coupled with these attributes, I am a confident, enthusiastic and passionate individual whom always delivers and adapts well to change and new environments. Finally, I am a person who learns quickly and remains self motivated in any situation in order to achieve success.

Really, I am just looking for an opportunity in which to make my dream come true. I want to continue to have a successful career in Turkey so I can continue to build the future in which I have always wanted. I have attached my up to date Resume with recent photograph for your consideration. I am available for immediate relocation and can provide references upon request.

At this stage I am really looking for some guidance on how to achieve my goals, so any know vacancies or support, advice or insight. I understand time is precious but anything you could offer me would be greatly appreciated. I am available for immediate relocation and references can be provided upon request.

Finally, I would like to thank you for your time today and look forward to hearing from you.

Kind Regards

Louise Taylor

[PC Parrot]

Spare us the glowing self-evaluation, please. We're not recruiters here.

And guessing at the meaning of the most important (yet utterly mangled) part below:

[louiseamytaylor]

Really, I apologise. Quite simply, I do not know where to start and am open to any suggestions. As you pointed out this is not a recruitment forum so perhaps its a good thing that I didn't manage to upload my CV and photograph.
I was just advised to join this site as I may be able to get some insight or direction from people whom are currently working and living in Turkey.
I am aware that a degree as well as certification is required to teach (at least legally) in Turkey but I keep being advised by various sources different things in regard to this.
Sorry once again and thank you for taking the time to read and respond.
Kind Regards
Louise

[fishmb]

Welcome to the forum!

I think you'll get better results from this forum if you ask simple, direct questions - those are the easiest for most people to answer.

Best of luck to you, and I'll be looking for your questions in the forum.

-fishmb

[louiseamytaylor]

thank you for the advice

i definately will do....i have a million questions......

kind regards

louise

[louiseamytaylor]

so, i guess first question.............

although to work legally a degree and certificate is required, what are my chances of finding a teaching position within Izmir if I was to come over without these??

Any advice would be great

Regards

Louise

[fishmb]

Well, if you think you'd be a good English teacher it might be possible to convince someone. I"m not sure about the job situation in Izmir. A teaching certificate would definitely help with the job search if you don't have any teaching experience or college degree. And, who knows, it might make you a better teacher too! If you don't have any teaching experience, why are you so sure that you want to be an English teacher in Izmir?

[Dan The Chainsawman]

I'm not in Turkey, and probably won't be until 2011. However, I've done the ESL think in two different countries so far and I'll give you my thoughts on your situation.

I would seriously suggest getting a CELTA and directly after that get the TBE cert that you can do along with it. TBE, Teaching Business English, might well be right up your alley given your experience in the financial sector. Loads of businessmen and women in Korea would do backflips to have lessons from someone who is actually well versed in financial and banking matters.

Two of my favorite Korea adult students were Samsung execs and the majority of their questions to me were about business. Given my own experience as a budding entrepreneur didn't prepare me for such things I struggled. (Clearly running a bake sale at my Elementary school didn't quite give me the street cred they were looking for.)

Now, keep in mind part of what you'll have to do alot of is networking. That shouldn't be all that out of the ordinary for you. Get to know people, point out your strengths, and wave around that scrap of TEFL certificate and you should be fine. Just keep in time networking and building relationships can and will land you better jobs than someone fresh off the banana boat.

That's true for China and Korea anyway and I suspect it is true from what I've been reading about Turkey.

If I were you I'd prepare by doing the following:

1) Celta plus TBE
2) Study Turkish.
3) Get cellphone
4) Business cards in English and Turkish
5) Really take the time to clean up your resume. One complaint I hear a lot out here in China is the school officials often can't understand what is on the resume due to their lack of English skills. Not sure if this is the case in Turkey (hopefully a regular can confirm or deny)
6) Last and most importantly is boots on the street. Get out there and visit the schools. Go in person, look up the owner, let them hear your English, show them your CELTA, and leave a resume with your new Cell number and business card attached.

Good luck, I never regretted my decision to try Korea and China. I don't think you'll regret your decision to try Turkey.




Also, when approaching employers.. DO not make a big thing about what you don't have. Focus on your strengths and wave around your CELTA. There is no need to mention you don't have a degree unless they ask about it.

What I would do is under Education on your resume list your trainings and such that you've undergone.

[louiseamytaylor]

Thank you both so much for your responses. Its definately made me think about my situation. I have three years of experience teaching Business Studies to A level students here in the UK as part of a programme called Face 2 Face with Finance with my previous employers but no formal qualifications. I really am gonna look into getting a certificate, to see if that helps my chances.
At this stage, I am really just after an opportuity to get their so anything that helps me get closer to it will certainly be of great help to me.
Thank you once again.
Lou

[fishmb]

Yeah, business English is very popular in Turkey as well, so that could definitely be a good path for you with your business teaching experience (which I would definitely play up if/when you get here). But, like Chainsaw guy said, you'd probably want to beef up your teaching English credentials a little bit.

[Otterman Ollie]

Hi Louise

Welcome to the forum, you have a hill and a half to climb but a lot of people come over here and teach with a lot less experience in the workplace and even less creds on paper.
You may have to put up with a drop in your lifestyle until you start to pull in a half decent salary, but bringing over some spending funds will soften the blow. I would suggest that you think of 5 grand as a good starting point. I'm curious as to why you chose Izmir, its a great city but there is a limit on teaching jobs at this time. Business English teaching can be lucrative,esp if you have had hands on experience. Good luck!

[coffeespoonman]

Well, since nobody else asked, I guess I have to. Why? Why teaching? Why Turkey?

You say you want to start a new life in Turkey. Fair enough. But you've got no experience as a teacher and a heck of a lot of experience in Finance and IT. If it's just Turkey you're interested in, have you ever thought about working in the same sector here? Or are you tired of business life as well?

If so, like Ollie said, you've got a huge hill to climb. Your credentials aren't going to count for anything in the teaching market, at least not at first. You'll be working the same hours and making the same wage as the fresh-out-of-university kids who come over for a year for a cultural experience. Are you really prepared to start at the bottom?

If you're not married to teaching, I'd say to look through the ads on Monster.com, yenibiris.com, and kariyer.net (I think those are all right). You might be surprised - you could find something perfectly matching your qualifications. Heck, you might even be able to find a better job here than you could in the UK (position-wise, but probably not salary-wise). Even without Turkish, there are opportunities to be had.

But hold on. I just re-read your post and saw that you have no university degree. I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but you're going to find it VERY difficult to find anything here in any sector. If you're really self-motivated, you could go the self-employment route and advertise yourself as a sort of consultant/teacher, and probably get a few bites after a while (in Istanbul), but I think it would take a long time to get enough work to pay the bills. There might be some other business-related opportunities, but not many schools will hire you, I'm afraid.

If you're really serious about this - good luck. But unless your spirit is slowly dying in the corporate world, you really might be better served staying where you are and spending your holidays in the Turkish sun.

[Urban_Kitten]

Rumour has it that English Time is thinking of opening a school in Izmir in late 2010. Although they have, in the past, hired qualified & experienced teachers (like me), they are just as quick to hire people without qualifications or any experience whatsoever. Although I have several university degrees, in the end, they weren't necessary since I never did receive a work visa - although it was promised. Of course, working with ET may turn out to be one of the worst teaching experiences of your life (as it was for me), it would get you to Izmir. The question is, would it be worth it?

[Daddyo]

[fishmb]

"just do it..."

ugh.

There is no escape!