Work Visas in Spain

My husband looked into work visas in Spain and it sounds like getting one can be quite a challenge. Apparently unemployment there is high right now, so foreigners are low on the list of people to employ. Also, he found that you need a work permit in addition to the visa, which can take 3-6 months to obtain. Considering that info, we're not sure we could support ourselves in Spain with the $820/mo. I'd make as a North American culture assistant. That was a little disheartening, but I will probably still apply and inquire to find out what our options are.

I also spoke to my current employer about my plans, and he was very helpful and kind. As it turns out, he studied Latin America in school and also travelled all over the region in his 20's. He had lots of awesome tips on connections that the university may have down there. He also offered his opinions on the different regions and provided in-depth descriptions that I've yet to find online or in any article. I plan to solicit his help and advice in the near future, when I've done a little more research and can ask intelligent questions.

My boss Margie has also been very encouraging and has expressed excitement for me throughout the process, despite the fact that I will regretfully have to leave my job as her assistant behind as I pursue this future.

I'm so happy to have shared my plans, because I find that people are generally kind-hearted and supportive, even when your plans are not necessarily in their best interests.

Lucky me

I have to share my luck with applying for a passport at the post office the other day.

I went down there at 12:45 on Friday, but ended up having to leave for a meeting at 1:30.

My meeting finished earlier than expected, at 3:45, and I quickly hopped in the car and raced back to the post office, knowing that the passport office closes at 4:00.

I got there and they had already taken away the "take-a-number" stand. They would only serve people who had a number.

Then, one of two women still waiting for a passport pointed out that a number had been dropped on the ground. Apparently someone took one and then decided to leave.

Holding that number got me in as the last passport application of the day!

The guy handling applications was extremely nice, and gave me a document to show that I'm in the process of applying so I wouldn't have to pay the extra $60 to expedite the passport.

Lucky me.

Getting a Valid U.S. Passport

I'm currently clamoring to get my passport by the April 16th application deadline for the Ministry of Education grant. Unfortunately, passport processing times are high right now "due to high volume." Even expedited service will take 3 to 4 weeks.

It's also a lot more expensive that I figured. $97 for adults, plus $60 for expedited service. Anyhow, I'm heading down to the post office today with the necessary forms, my birth certificate, and 2 photos. Hopefully it won't take long. The best source for figuring out how to go about getting a passport is the U.S. Department of State. They offer a detailed page on passports with info on locations and documentation requirements.

An opportunity arises!

I thought that after 21 required posts that I'd want to take a little break from the blog scene. But, I'm finding that after a couple days without writing I feel strangely suppressed. So, here I am. I'm also writing, however, because I am extremely excited by a job opportunity I just received notice of.

I got an e-mail from the Romance Languages Department at the University of Oregon informing me that there are approximately 1000 grants available, offered by The Ministry of Education and Science of Spain (MEC), for "North American Language and Culture Assistants in Spain."

I meet the requirements insofar as I have a B.A. and intermediate to advanced Spanish skills, but I do not, however, currently hold a U.S. passport. I'm worried that I won't be able to get one by the application deadline of April 16, but I plan to head down to one of the many locations that offer passport services in the Eugene/Springfield area as soon as possible.

If I get this grant, I would work as an English language assistant teacher, which would be perfect considering my aspirations to teach abroad. The duration of the grant is 8 months, from October through May. This timing is perfect for me considering that I will complete my final class for graduation in August. The grants include medical insurance, something I hadn't even considered when looking for a teach abroad job in Latin America. They also include a teacher orientation course. Additional expenses, sucha s food, lodging and transportation, would be my responsibility. This was actually a relief to me considering that I am married and a homestay or host family situation would not work for us.

My only concern is that I would not be able to get a second job in Spain because I'd be there on a student visa. The pay is $820 U.S. dollars a month after taxes, but I'd need to support myself and my husband until he is able to find a job, which may be difficult for him considering that he doesn't speak any Spanish. I'm sure, however, that we can make it work. We're both able to live on very little, and I'm sure there are opportunities for strong, English speaking lads like hisself.

There are a lot of documents to gather and have prepared by April 16. In addition to clamoring for a passport, I need a medical certificate of good health, which I just learned can be obtained from my primary care physician. I also will need to get a certificate of good conduct from the police department. Then, I will have to gather the usual scholarship materials, including a personal statement, letter of recommendation, transcripts, etc. I guess I better stop blogging and get started!

Just the beginning

I've delayed in posting this blog because, while it's the last required post for my J333 Writing for Multimedia course, I feel like I'm just getting started. I know that things will get a lot more interesting once I actually begin applying for jobs, and I can't wait to start posting based on experience rather than research.

The goal of this blog was to illustrate how helpful the Internet and sharing technologies can be when it comes to conducting an international job hunt and preparing to live abroad. I've seen the benefits firsthand and am ever more convinced that:

• The Internet is an invaluable resource for networking
  Forums from sites like Dave's ESL Cafe and TESall.com feature posts from thousands of veteran and aspiring teachers who offer encouraging and honest advice.


• Forums can reveal untruths
  Posts from forums can help you see through the claims and charisma of company websites. While a company or program website will always say it's first-rate, disappointed consumers are more than willing to attest otherwise.


• The Internet is the best source for "destination investigation"
  While books and magazines are fabulous for sprawling picture spreads and engaging editorials, they can't beat the up-to-date nature of the Web. If there's an unprecedented coup in Uruguay, I want to know about it before I book my plane ticket.


• The Internet allows for visibility
  Because anyone can publish information to the Web, its easier than ever to get your name out for all to see.


• The Internet is a great source for learning about cultural acceptability
  There's no better way to access information on and from anywhere in the world. You can find out with the click of a mouse whether or not your idea of professional conduct aligns with that of your intended destination.


• Online job search engines, like Monster and Career Builder, are perfect for passive job hunters
  Because I won't actually be available for global employment until August, I don't feel that I should contact employers for a couple months yet. However, I can post my resumé on career sites and hope that an employer will come to me.


• For job hunts abroad, the Internet is the way to go
  Most employers post job openings online now, because it's cheaper and easier. Also, when conducting an international search, you can access resources you'd never even consider in print—a Peruvian newpaper's classified section, for example.

As a result of this project, having endowed me with these insights and more, I feel well prepared for whatever international opportunity may come my way. It has turned teaching abroad from an unlikely and frightening possibility into something I'm confident I can and will do.

Getting a job—Preparing for an interview: Part II

The CareerFrames International Job Search site also offers an article on "International Interview Advice", written by Mary A. Schumacher. She emphasizes that knowing how to conduct yourself in an international interview is very important, because it will show the employer that you can manage yourself effectively—and without offending anyone—in your new cultural setting.

For example, looking an interviewer in the eye is common practice for Anglo-Americans, but it may be viewed as too forward in another culture. In order to find out about cultural differences such as these, Schumacher recommends searching the Internet and also talking to people who have lived in that country. More specifically, she advises that you "contact a chamber of commerce in that country, and ask about getting in contact with expatriates."

Online you can also check out examples of ESL teacher interviews. In an easy to read question and answer format, these examples provide great insights into what an employer might ask and, even better, how you might respond.

You also may be asked to prepare a sample lesson plan. While this will less likely occur when applying from abroad, I still feel it's a good idea to have one ready. This will make it easier to answer questions about your teaching style when you haven't taught in a formal setting before, like myself. You need only search to find an array of books and online sources that can help you put a lesson plan together. For example, at everythingESL.net, there is a whole section devoted to lesson plans. The site's author, Judie Haynes, also sells a variety of books specific to the age group and your needs. Many of the books even include reproducible classroom activities.

Finally, it's important to make sure you find out what you need to know from the interview. Sometimes you get so caught up in trying impress the employer and fit his or her ideal that you forget to assess whether the situation is right for you. In an article from Transitions Abroad, available in print and online, Jonathan Clark lists the "10 Most Important Questions to Ask" in a TEFL interview. This includes questions regarding hours, class size, teacher resources, benefits and more. I know I'll bring his 10 questions with me whenever I interview, as a reference and as a reminder that my needs are important too.

Print Source

Clark, Jonathan. "The TEFL Job Interview: The 10 Most Important Questions to Ask." Transitions Abroad. May/June 2004.

Getting a job—Preparing for an interview: Part I

I've finally caught up with the progression of my blog and posted my global resume, thanks to an example from The BIG Guide to Living and Working Overseas by Jean-Marc Hachey. Now that that's done, it's time to start thinking about interviews. After all, if we're going to put our resume out there, we have to be prepared for the phone call and know how to respond to some commonly asked questions.

According to Hachey, who has written an entire chapter on "Interviewing for an International Job," it's very important to "be able to discuss your professional work history in terms of specific skills that match the overseas position" (466). This is what I attempted to do in my global resume. Feel free to take a look if you have any doubt as to what that might entail.

Hachey also offers some very helpful examples of questions unique to an international interview, for example:

• "Are there limiting factors to your availability such as health, family or other extenuating circumstances?"
• "Do you have a realistic understanding of overseas living and working conditions?"
• Do you have the . . . social competence (or soft skills) to work with colleagues of different nationalities?
• Will you fulfill the terms of your contract and demonstrate loyalty to the firm in the face of frustrations?"

From The BIG Guide to Living and Working Overseas, 467.

He also points out that an international employer will more likely ask about personal information, something I've heard and read many times. For that reason, I included a short section on "Personal Data" in my global resume and know not to be surprised when an employer asks about my marital status.

Hachey points out that international employers really want to know "how you deal with people in different situations," and recommends that you emphasize your interpersonal skills in the interview (468). He also provides a list of typical interview questions, which cover but are not limited to: personal information, strengths and weakness, working style, knowledge about the employer, and adaptation to overseas working and living conditions.

Hachey's interview chapter, which includes a lot more tips and sample questions, can be found in The BIG Guide to Living and Working Overseas or online (for a fee). There are also a lot of free online sources that discuss international interviews, which I plan to discuss in tomorrow's blog.

Print Sources

Hachey, Jean-Marc. The BIG Guide to Living and Working Overseas, 4th edition. Toronto, Ontario: Intercultural Systems / Systémes interculturels (ISSI) Inc., 2004.

Getting a job—Methods and resources: Part III

Continued from March 1, 2007

Yet another resource for international job listings is the International Employment Gazette, a magazine that Transitions Abroad describes as “the best job listing for those interested in the field of international education” (87). The Gazette website, however, doesn’t offer much. Even after registering you can’t search for jobs there except for among the “Job of the Week” postings. Articles are simply adverts for directories you can buy, though most of the information is available for free online.

If you’re still a student, I recommend you take advantage of all those university career center resources. I know I have. At the University of Oregon, for example, the Career Center features a small but well stocked international library, an international resources webpage, and international job listings that you can have sent to your e-mail daily.

Last, but certainly not least, Susan Griffith’s Teaching English Abroad provides an invaluable “Country by Country Guide” that includes most every location of interest to an EFL teacher. For each country, she includes a list of schools along with the following details:

• Address
• E-mail
• URL
• Number of teachers employed
• Preference of nationality
• Qualifications
• Conditions of Employment
• Salary
• Facilities/Support
• Recruitment, and
• Contact information

. . . everything you need to see if you qualify and to make contact. I definitely intend to use these listings as a guide for a speculative job search once I feel ready to start sending out my resume.

Print Sources

Griffith, Susan. Teaching English Abroad: Teach Your Way Around the World. 8th Edition. Oxford: Vacation Work, 2006.

“Resource Guide Working, Interning, & Volunteering Abroad.” Transitions Abroad. September/October 2006: 86-87.

Getting a job—Methods and resources: Part II

As mentioned in earlier blogs, a great way to start your online job hunt is to post your resume to career sites like Monster International and CareerBuilder. Imagine how great it would be to have an employer seek you out and offer you a job.

These sites, and many others, also allow you to search for openings in the country of your choice. Monster makes it extremely easy. You can simply select a country and field and then view a list of results.

You can now even find job listings on Craigslist, which has gone international. I was able to choose from 9 different cities from within the Americas and could then easily navigate to the “Education” link listed under “Jobs.” There I found 8 EFL job listings, all written in English and most with salary and qualification requirements posted.

Another approach is to check out classified sections of online newspapers from your country of interest. This will often require, however, that you can read the prevailing language.

When I looked at the job listings in the classified section of La Nacion (an Argentinian paper), I was redirected to ZonaJobs Argentina, which yielded 331 education-related job listings.

Zona Jobs has turned out to be an amazing resource, and also offers sites specific to Colombia, Chile and Mexico. If you're interested in any of these countries, I strongly recommend you check it out.

To be continued . . .