Keeping a "Plan
A", B, and C:
Contract “flexibility” and other problems.
Should I
keep a "Plan B" in my back pocket?
Yes!
In
the developed Western world, we tend to think of things
like contacts as being written in "stone - but in many
countries, contracts can be quite - uh . . . "flexible".
This can mean that your employer may not do the things
they said they would do. You may not like that. It may
be time to move on.
Plan B and Plan C
When you do your research about countries and jobs, keep
a second and third choice in your mind, just in case
things don't work out for Plan A. Keep these in the
back of your mind, keep your resume up to date, and fish
to see what is out there from time to time. With a
decent Plan B and Plan C you won't have to worry about a
surprise.
There is also the possibility that you just won't like
the job you took, or the country you moved to, or some
other unforeseen problem may sour you on the whole deal.
Your First Country - Your First Job
Keep open the possibility of going back home. Don't
burn your bridges to anywhere, ever. You just never
know when you might need to head back where you were
last year. I've never had to back track, but I do try
to keep my options open. I try to leave every employer
on good terms, with them ready for my return. I try to
maintain and network with people from previous
employment. And, it all works both ways - you might
need to help a friend come to where you are some day.
You
may never need them.
I
am just cautious by nature, and the TEFL world is just a
little less stable than other types of employment. I've
never needed my Plan B or C, but they are there, just in
case. It helps me sleep at night.
My
first year in Saudi Arabia was quite a difficult
adjustment for me. Though I didn't bail out, it was
nice to have my options already mapped out. It took a
little pressure off the situation, allowed me to adapt
and adjust - and succeed.
