How do I
find a financial situation
Teaching English Overseas
that meets my needs?
Assure your
financial survival
Living and working overseas is a real thrill. But the
thrill quickly fades into a day to day grind if you
can't pay your bills, can't afford to go out to eat, and
are living just on the edge of financial survival. Or,
if you are making a lot of money, but dating (if
important to you) might get you thrown in jail and
deported (Saudi Arabia, for example).
Ask, Ask, Ask
Go
to
ELT World and
TESALL discussion boards and ask about wages AND
savings. Average what people tell you. Some people
will exaggerate their situations both favorably and
unfavorably. Make no decisions based on the information
of just one person. Get as many opinions as you can.
And, it is not just each person's opinion to consider,
it is that everybody lives a different lifestyle. See
the page on this website about
How much might I earn or save?
Country versus Lifestyle
Balance your financial needs/wants with lifestyle
issues. Particularly if you are single and/or gay. You
can earn/save a lot money in Saudi Arabia - but your
life might not be enjoyable. South and Central America,
Eastern Europe, and parts of Asia sometimes have active
dating or "alternative lifestyle" communities, but
sometimes, also, pay poorly.
Go
to the discussion boards and ask about lifestyle. Do it
as frankly as you would ask about wages. As
with most things in life, find a balance of what fits
you best and will keep you happy.
Don't Forget
That you are just starting out in a career. Sometimes
you have to start at the bottom and work your way up.
Networking will help you find better jobs over time. So
. . . don't assume that your first job will be a
template for every job. In almost every occupation you
would tend to assume that you would start at the bottom
and as you learn more, and network, you would be able to
move up and improve your situation.
