Job Discussion Forums

Binary_Star · Joined: 13 Jun 2011 Posts: 22

Hi,

I'm from UK, so have no problems with having to get visa. I want to teach in Vienna. Happy just to make enough to live on. Was wondering if anyone could give me advice on the TESL scene there. I have no experience but intend to do a certTESOL. I did read one post where someone said their friend had no experience, went over and lied a bit and got a good job but I'm not really a very good liar! I'm hoping doing a certTESOL will be a worthy investment. What do people think? What kind of wages are the norm at the moment?

Thanks

Binary_Star · Joined: 13 Jun 2011 Posts: 22

oh yes, also I will probably be going over in January. Is this OK or are there certaim months that are much better than others to find a job?

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

Vienna is a very small market, and a cert will definitely be helpful. Highly unlikely that the 'friend' story is accurate!!

In your shoes, I'd do a google search for schools and send a CV in advance. Don't be discouraged if no-one replies, but hopefully when you are in Vienna, standing in the office, you'll be remembered (favourably).

I would expect that you'd have to cobble together enough work through more than one school plus privates in your first year to make ends meet. Building a local rep and contacts will help make things a bit easier as time goes on - as will functional/fluent German.

January's not the worst time, to go, though the biggest hiring time is early September. There are always a few teachers who don't return from their winter holidays, and some corporate contracts for schools begin in the new year, so there is usually a little bump in hiring in Jan.

Good luck!

General Disarray · Joined: 23 Jun 2010 Posts: 58 Location: Kent

I don't have experience of the scene in Vienna but have worked in Austria quite a bit, I can tell you that the living expenses in Vienna are high. A huge city with a lot of tourists in the Eurozone, it's not really my cup of tea.

It's a lot like marmite with the teachers I work with, some find Vienna boring and sterile (mainly the younger ones) while others will say it's the best city in the world.

It's certainly not short on shops though, thats for sure.

Budapest is a lot more fun to live in. Only �20 on the train if you want to visit Vienna for 3 days or so.

Binary_Star · Joined: 13 Jun 2011 Posts: 22

Hmmm.....maybe not Vienna then

Binary_Star · Joined: 13 Jun 2011 Posts: 22

Thanks for your help though those who replied. Budapest does sound interesting.....