Job Discussion Forums

[Qaaolchoura]

So people in Istanbul kept advising me to come to Izmir, because the job market here is considerably better. I was told that it's far easier to find a good job, and unlike Istanbul where jobs + hours, unless you're lucky tend to be enough to scrape by, in Izmir you'll make enough to support yourself, travel a bit inside Turkey, and still fly yourself home and then back to Turkey.

On arriving here I've found that 1. The job market is in fact a good deal worse than Istanbul, in pay, hours, and opportunities and 2. unfortunately, I like it a lot better than Istanbul, and have been trying to make it work anyways.

I've been lucky to get any hours, however I've been still trying to maintain standards. When I got here I turned down an offer where I would be paid 17 lira/hour 12 hours/week because I'd have been teaching children, and because the man claimed that having no experience in Turkey is the same as having no experience at all, though I'd be doing the exact same thing as in Korea. I found this both insulting and dishonest.

I then took a job at 16 lira/hour, with half the hours of that offer I rejected, (some other, better, offers fell through when the school couldn't scrape together the new classes) because the school seemed professional, and I'd be teaching adults.

I liked teaching their students (it's a nice change teaching adults), but at the end I was paid 3/4 of what I expected, as pay was for time-hours rather than teaching hours. Now as far as I know it's pretty pretty standard to pay by the teaching hour, regardless of whether it's 40 minutes or an actual hour. Schools in Istanbul were quite explicit on that point, so I didn't bother to clarify it in Izmir, and I suppose that's my fault.

On the other hand, I was told that in Izmir I shouldn't accept pay significantly less than in Istanbul, and 12 lira/teaching hour comes to about half what I'd have made in Istanbul. (Not to mention the hours, but that's not the school's fault.

So I guess I'm trying to decide two things:
1. How common is this practice, are they trying to rip me off, or is this more common than I've heard of?

2. Should I stay in Izmir? As things stand, there's no way I'm going to make enough to support myself on and honestly I don't like having a ton of leisure time if I don't have extra income to do stuff with, let alone if I need to borrow money. The only reason to stay is if there's a chance I can get a job of the sort that I was told I might get: work * hours = 480 lira or so a week.

3. If I shouldn't stay in Izmir, where should I go? In Turkey I mean. (Though I'm thinking about trying another country. While I love just being in the country, I'd like being somewhere I'm not bleeding money more.) Either the economic climate in Turkey is bad right now, or I'm really bad at job hunting. I could probably go back to Istanbul and scrape by. I'm also told that some of the interior cities like Konya and Gaziantepe are looking for teachers and have a decent pay*hours/cost-of-living ratio, though I was told that about Izmir...

Thanks,
~Q

[Sashadroogie]

This was common practice when I was in Turkey years ago. I would call it dishonesty on the part of your employer, akin to false advertising.

Sorry, I can do no more than sympathize with you. When I was living there only Istanbul and its environs, and possible Ankara, were really worthwhile. All the lovely Med coast didn't have much to offer. Looks like nothing has changed on that score.

Hope something works out for you.

[lucia79]

Have you tried the k-12 schools? After semester break there may be some vacancies.

[Qaaolchoura]

Thanks Sasha. Kind of figures.

[microbabe]

Hi Q,

We are thinking of Izmir and am wondering if it is a good choice now. Your post doesn't fill me with confidence. When did you arrive in Izmir ? We are thinking of end Aug/ Sept this year.

Good luck hope things work out.

[Qaaolchoura]

microbabe,
You might have an easier time if you come in August; this same school told me that they hire full-time teachers then, to start in September.

Another school (which also didn't pay well, worse than this one if they pull the same stunt) said that the best time to look for jobs in Izmir is August, because unlike Istanbul, most private language schools follow the academic year of the public schools and unis.

The job market in Izmir is terrible right now, and not just for English teachers from what all the locals are telling me but if you're going to find a decent job here, August is the time. I wouldn't do September, since most schools will have already started. If you do try it, let me know.

Regards,
~Q

[microbabe]

Q,

Thanks for that. Will keep you posted on progress . Are there many schools in the city? More than 10 ?

[Qaaolchoura]

microbabe,
It seems that you can't throw a stone in central Konak (the �ankaya-Basmane-Alancak area seems to be the main area for business) without hitting a dersane,. However they're almost all tiny operations, commonly run by a husband and wife. A lot of them either 1. don't teach English 2. aren't open most of the time, or 3. aren't hiring. They don't seem to be so easy to find in the rest of the city, I've only found a handful though I know they're present. I estimate that in all, I've handed out more than a dozen resumes. I had part-time work offers from three of them, one of which reneged and two of which don't pay very well at all.

Regards,
~Q

[Dedicated]

Qaaolchoura,

Have you tried contacting universities in Izmir which all seem to offer English or a foundation year (Hazirlik)?

There's Ionian Uni; Ege Uni in Bornova; Dokuz Eylul Uni in Buca; Izmir Uni of Economics in Balcova; Yasar Uni in Alsancak/Seferihisar; Izmir Uni; Katip Celebi; Sifa ; Izmir Inst of Technology in Urla; University of Gediz in Menemen.... maybe even more new ones.

Try sending a CV to those, and posting up flyers for private lessons. Students are usually desperate for help, particularly for IELTS preparation.

Good luck!

[Otterman Ollie]

Like the op I prefer teaching adults and found myself looking for alternative employment in this fair city last August. Be warned, it is too late unless someone happens to drop out at the last minute and you just happen to show up, it happens but not very often. Working in a dershane does have severe limitations earnings wise and really if they want to see anyone off its usually the token yabanci, coz you cost too much.
At the moment I am teaching kids, it does not sit that well with me but I need to keep earning and they do offer a better package than any of the so-called language schools.
I am currently looking for a new place to taech adults for the 2012/13 year now, so you would be well advised to do the same!

[microbabe]

[Otterman Ollie]

A lot of schools are starting to recruit earlier these days, you need to network with a vengence and get your name on peoples lips, don't just send a cv, they get binned by the dozen every week, you need a face to face interview. Start knocking on doors now!

[microbabe]

[Otterman Ollie]

Frankly, thats too late!

[microbabe]