GETTING THE JOB.
This link to ESL Teachers United gives details of the more important schools and colleges. Some comments on each are included.
Here you will see web-sites, e-mail addresses and sometimes names of people to e-mail.
Employers in Vietnam will usuallly NOT offer employment from an e-mail, but WILL employ you once you are here and visit them face to face;
Recruiters will offer employment on conditions, BUT beware- you will probably end up in a low paying job. Doing it yourself will be much more rewarding.
So here's what long experience has proven to be the correct way to go about this.
1. Select the establishment you think you want to talk to
2. Send them an e-mail cover letter, and attach your CV and scans of qualifications.
In the cover letter indicate that you WILL be coming to Vietnam and that you will contact further on arrival.
3. Send this package to AT LEAST 10 possibilities.
4. Keep track of who you have contacted- you will need to contact when you have settled in in Vietnam.
5. Get a flight that arrives IN DAYLIGHT HOURS- This is simply so that you do not get disturbed by the strange sights and smells and noises in the dark. They will probably be strange enough in the day time.
6. Once through the Immigration and Customs (You are very unlikely to be asked if you have anything to declare- the only time will be if they suspect you have drugs or a motorbike engine in your luggage), head for the Currency Exchange counter, (near the exit) and change what money you have to local currency. US$ ARE acceptable but they are quite a problem as they must be clean, not wrinkled, and certain numbers are suspect. Quite honestly, save the hassle and change to Vietnamese Dong. It will make you feel very rich as the rate is about 17,000 to the $US, and about 15,000 to the Aussie$.
7. Outside there will be taxis- Cheaper than them are available, but for the little extra they are worth it after a tiring flight.- Get one and show him this address:
PHAM NGU LAO--KACH SAN--Q1. THERE IS NO NEED TO BOOK A HOTEL BEFORE YOU COME- There are plenty!
The driver will most probably speak enough English to get by and he will understand you.
8. The taxi will take you on a drive that should take about 40 minutes to the centre of the city, and cost you about 80,000-100,000 Vietnamese dong.
If you arrive in Hanoi, the airport is 40 Kms out of town and the taxi will cost about 300,00 Vietnamese dong, and there is no alternative transport available.
Ask to go to the Old Quarter in Hanoi. (QUAN HOAN KIEM).
As you drive through the city, you will get your first glimpse of how hectic the traffic is, and if you have not been here before, it will be a little frightening. So get in the front seat and hang on! If you are a bit shattered, get in the back seat and close your eyes.
9. The driver will canvass a few hotels for you- Dont panic, there will definately be one available- the driver will most likely get a small commission from the hotel, but after a long trip, what he gets from that wont hurt much. The hotels will quote you in $US, and they can be had for as little as $10 a night, but for your first night I suggest you treat yourself to one for about $25.
It should be on either Pham Ngu Lao st or Di Tham St, or in an alley off either of these. There are literally hundreds. When you know you will stay a while, you can negotiate a better deal, OR move to another- The mini hotels are a very good base and cheap- You get all the amenities of home and at about $200-$300 a month.
10. Settle yourself in your room- It should have air con, cable TV, and its own shower/toilet, and be within easy walking distance from numerous food places.
You will NEED to allow the hotel to hold your passport, as they can not allow you to stay unless they can show the Police a passport. They will likely want to keep it to ensure you pay your bill, which you will be expected to pay either at the end of the month, or when you check out. They wont take credit card-cash only. You can get cash from the teller machines on Pham Ngu Lao St.
Your first pay should be at the end of the month, so you need to ensure you have access to about $1000 until pay day- Persinally, I would try to have at least $2000 available- Who knows, you may really hate the place and want to get back home quickly.
Take a shower, a nap and spruce up- Get a card from the hotel so you know where to come back to, and hit the street. This is the "foreigner" area and you will see lots of tourists- No chasing up work today, BUT there will be numerous places where you can get a SIM card for your phone- Look for the sign MOBI, Its the best company for phone, and you can buy a card for about $20, and it will have credit for about $25. You CAN choose the number, but it will be more expensive.
Most shop keepers in this area speak pretty good English.
The shop assistant will set up your phone for you- Tell her you want it in English. Make sure you know your new number- Call home and give the folks the number (they have to put +84 and drop the 0 to call back).
If you have a charger and it doesnt fit the local system, ask the hotel to get you an adapter- IR buy one at the electric shop on the north east corner on the outside of the Ben Than market- they are about $1
11. Drop into a cafe and check out the monstrous menus- before long you will find a favourite.
12. If you are up to it, ask the hotel to organize a "CYCLO" tour of the city for you. The driver will quote you a price but he will always exceed it.- NEVER go at night with a cyclo.
Alternatively, you could take a Xe Om- Motor bike taxi, who will show you around- About 7-10,000 per Km should be enough. Ask to see the People's Palace, The Post Office, Notre Dame Cathedral and Ben Thanh Market- (Shoppers paradise, but touristy and tourist prices- about 2/3rds of asking price is still good for the vendor).
13. Rest in Hotel, and get to the night market at Ben Thanh Market to sample excellent Vietnamese food in an outdoor setting. The best curried chicken is at "Pho 2000" on the corner opposite the market. Also a good outdoor restaurant is "Sao Dong" on the eastern side of the market. Many foreigners go there.
14. Next morning_ Get to an internet shop and print more copies of your cv etc and collate them, and e-mail the places you sent to from home, saying you are now in Ho Chi Minh City, and your phone number is..........., and that you would like to set up an appointment.
15. Back at the hotel, take it easy or go shopping- It will take your employers a day or two to do anything anyway. Take a one day tour down to the Mekong- about $12 for the full day, meal included-great value- OR if you are into War stuff- take a tour to the Cu Chi Tunnels, and fire an M16.
16. Next day- check e-mails- If you have a wi-fi lap-top, its most likely you can hook into the public wi-fi in the Pham Ngu Lao area.
Start calling employers to set up appointments. Remember the receptionist may not speak good English.
17. Put on your good gear and get a taxi or Xe Om to the place- make sure the driver can read the address. He will wait for you if you want, and usually at no extra.
18. At the interview- Be natural and positive- Smile- In Vietnam, the best teachers are the friendly ones, not the qualified ones. Business is done here by network. The Director may ask you to do a demo class before offering you a position- this is normal- and he/she will give you the book, and indicate the page you are expected to teach, as well as the class time.
19. Follow this procedure with a couple more schools, and before long you will have 3 or 4 possible employers asking for demo classes.
20. Dress appropriately for the demo classes- someone will observe you. Remember, it is not the qualification that gets you the job now- Its how friendly you are and how much the students like you. After your class, you will have an iterview with the director or DOS, who will make you an offer, or will ask you to come again in a day or two when they have some classes for you to start.
21. About a week later, you will have a full schedule and you will be deciding which schools you want to stay with, and which ones you will leave. Try to cut it to about 20-24 hours a week, and at least one full day per week free. You work to live, not live to work.
22. Your employer will handle Visa requirements when due, BUT if you work for a few schools, its best to get your own- Your hotel will arrange for you- its very easy to do.
So there you have it- the world is now your oyster, and you did not pay a cent to a recruiter to tell you what I just told you how to do for free.
WELCOME TO VIETNAM!
