Job Discussion Forums

JLL · Joined: 18 May 2010 Posts: 36

If I were to go to Poland and spend some time traveling around to find a town I liked and then trying to get a job, what could I expect to spend roughly per day until I started working? (Assuming I got a job within a reasonable time.)

I taught for 3.5 years in Japan, but have no certification. I have read here that finding a job in country is easiest in Poland, or I'd just try over the internet.

Thanks.

JPM · Joined: 05 Sep 2005 Posts: 69 Location: Krakow

Budget about 50zl per night for a hostel room. A cheap meal in the milk bar will set you back 8 to 10zl. Beer's around 6 or 7 here in Krakow (off the main square!) and I don't know nothing about train fares. Good luck.

Master Shake · Joined: 03 Nov 2006 Posts: 1202 Location: Colorado, USA

JLL · Joined: 18 May 2010 Posts: 36

It'd be on the cheap, hostels and cheap food. Reasonable time would be enough to find a town I liked and a job there, and within enough time on my 90-day visa (from USA) to get all the paperwork done -- really, however long it takes X a rough daily estimate is what I was curious about.

Thanks for the replies, and yes you're right, this is still a somewhat vague plan but it is starting to solidify now! Smile

Want to make sure I have a reasonable amount of money to get me through.

JLL · Joined: 18 May 2010 Posts: 36

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

You'll want to time this trip carefully to co-incide with the main hiring periods to maximise your chances. Most contracts are Sept/Oct thru June, so if you get to Poland at the end of August, you'll have the most time within your 90 days to try to land a job that will help you get legal working papers.

Keep in mind that most school directors will be on holiday in August, so you may not find too many people around to talk to you then.

Richfilth · Joined: 24 Sep 2007 Posts: 225 Location: Warszawa

I really wouldn't recommend this approach. Maximum amount of time to spend cruising around Poland, looking at each city, would be about three weeks; then, you really need to knuckle down and find a school who are willing to start the paperwork process that lets you stay beyond 90 days. This is a continuing theme on the Polish forum, and well worth reading in to.

It's not easy to do Poland "on the cheap" these days; as soon as you plan to do anything in the evenings, that $30 a day can quickly double.

JLL · Joined: 18 May 2010 Posts: 36

Thanks spiral78 and Richfilth for your replies.

Around August is when I would probably be going anyway, so that's good.

Many seem to swear by fixing a job before going, and others swear by doing it once there; it's hard to tell really which is best, but I imagine that both are quite possible. The reason I was thinking of doing it this way is that for the past couple years I've been traveling around SE Asia and China, and often saw English schools and things in towns, and always thought, if I was in the market for a job, well I could try that place...

Now I am in the market for a job, and I liked the idea of getting the feel of a town before committing to anything. Though I certainly haven't ruled out the other approach.

Master Shake · Joined: 03 Nov 2006 Posts: 1202 Location: Colorado, USA

JLL · Joined: 18 May 2010 Posts: 36

Master Shake · Joined: 03 Nov 2006 Posts: 1202 Location: Colorado, USA

Just an idea, but why not research some Polish cities and pick one you very much think you'd like to live in before coming to Poland?

Then, apply to every decent school you can find in this city via email. (I'm sure people on Dave's, and searching old threads, can assist you in finding these schools.) Set up as many interviews as possible for after you arrive. Some schools will even send you sample contracts if they are serious about you.

Finally, go to that city and interview like mad. You should find something.

I think this would be a much better approach than touring a bunch of cities and bouncing from hostel to hostel. How are you going to teach demo lessons and keep the ball rolling with potential employers if you're constantly leaving town?

You'd want to start doing this now, as a lot of the better schools do most of their hiring for the coming academic year in May/June. Wait too long, and you will get zlich for interviews cause everybody and their dog is out on vacation. Cool

JLL · Joined: 18 May 2010 Posts: 36

Master Shake · Joined: 03 Nov 2006 Posts: 1202 Location: Colorado, USA

sharter · Joined: 25 Jun 2008 Posts: 878 Location: All over the place

I travel in Poland regularly. You will struggle to find ok accommodation for 30usd in a big city. A hostel in Poznan is 100zl/night. No cert is also a prob as is the visa issue. Check out up to date prices as you may get a nasty shock. I'd budget for 300zl/day.

JLL · Joined: 18 May 2010 Posts: 36

Thanks Master Shake and sharter. Poland may be slipping away from my realm of possibilities... at least the land-and-search approach.

Ukraine would be fine with me, but I understand that the paperwork is often (prohibitively?) difficult to arrange. Not sure about finding a job once there. Anyway, perhaps a question for the Ukraine board.

Thanks for the heads up on the prices in Poland.