I’m really very happy that I was given my notice almost 2 months ahead of time. This gives me plenty of time to prepare for whatever is next. I joined xing.com to connect with a German business woman I met, and my network has just kept growing from there.
I first started networking here simply by going to the weekly German meetup my first month here. Many of the Germans here are much older than your average English teacher and have great jobs with lots of connections. While it was not my main intent, it happens very naturally anyway. They have been a great help with suggestions of places to go and look for work.
After joining Xing, I was sent a message by a contact of one of my contacts about the meetup that they have a few times per year. I went to the first one 2 weeks ago only to discover the official meetup had been canceled, but returned Thursday night for the real one. I met so many people there. Many Germans, too. One guy who works for a hotel/spa said they’re looking for an English teacher and while I wouldn’t take it as a first choice, I would do that if I had to. I emailed him my resume and he will let me know if there are any open positions. The only problem this poses is that I would not be able to start working til the end of March.
Then I met another German who I was told just got a job with a relocation company which helps people move all across the world. I spoke with him and told him I am interested in doing that kind of work, and living and working in Germany as well. He is going to check with his company and see if there are any open positions and will get back to me. I first became interested in this industry while talking to a German woman who does her own freelance intercultural training and relocation business. I didn’t realize at the time that it was freelance, and thought she worked for a company. I emailed her when I got the news and told her I’d to do what she does. It turns out I’d have to open up my own business in the US and people move to and from Germany/Austria/Switzerland. I emailed her back asking for some advice about doing this with so little experience, and she suggested finding some companies to work for first before going out on my own. I’ve found a few other companies in Seoul that I will be checking out once I get more free time in the mornings to go out and visit them, hand out my resume, and ask for an interview.
I’m very glad that I’ve taken the time to build a network here, for 2 reasons. The first is that it is such an international city that you can meet people from all over the place. Second, these people I meet are all established and connected and willing to help out. Most of my coworkers only go out to get drunk and have fun, and I think that this view is a bit detrimental to their future, as when they get home there’s an “OMG” moment as they wonder what they will do next. Sure teaching may look great on the resume, but I think that without meeting all kinds of professionals it’s so much more difficult to find people who are able to help you get a job.
I am fortunate also that my family is also looking out for me. My dad and mom both are looking for things in their areas of the US, and my brother is going to look into jobs at the UN in NYC where a friend of his works. Meeting Germans here also gives me the chance to find a job that would allow me to live in Germany too, which I find very exciting.
My last option is to go back home. If I do that, I’m not sure what I would do between March and May, but I’m definitely going to apply at Concordia Language Villages to work at the German camp if I do go back. I’ve found that, while I find English teaching mostly not fun, I am very passionate about German and helping students learn my favorite language. This is more of a last resort as the job market in the US for young grads is very dismal and it would be depressing to be constantly on the lookout for jobs that barely exist.
Networking is so important, as this was recently made even more clear to me. I just got a job through networking. I wish you the best of luck in this next chapter in your life. I think that you are already far ahead of the game, and will achieve success.
Another random question, how did you get into teaching? Did you have to get certification?
bittersweetm
January 18th, 2010
I do not have a degree in teaching, but in global studies. My first real teaching experience was working at Concordia Language Village speaking German with high school students on the weekends. It is a language immersion camp, and I had fun every time I went there.
Teaching English in Korea only requires that you have a BA. It can be in any subject. This is both good and bad. Good because it lets anyone leave the US and teach right away, and it’s really good money. Perks like free rent make it a very easy decision. However unless you have real classroom experience, you will get no training from most schools. Instead they throw you into the classroom a day or two after you arrive and tell you to teach. Not fun.
Justin
February 7th, 2010