Teaching English in Poland
What do you need before you start searching for work?
Let’s assume this situation:
You’re in Poland and you haven’t got a job. You’ve made a list of schools that you’d like to work for by using the advice given on the find a school in Poland page, so what else do you need? (I'm not going to consider accommodation here.)
- A mobile phone number. There are lots of ‘pay as you go’ sim cards in Poland, get one as soon as you land and put the number on your CV.
- A map of the city you're in. Mark on the map where the schools are.
- Make copies of: your CV, your degree, your teaching qualification and any reference from previous teaching jobs (if applicable). Staple all of these together and create one pack of photocopies for each school you want to visit.
- Smart clothes, that first impression in Poland is vital.
- Respectable appearance (according to the Polish ideal). Hide tattoos, remove unnecessary piercings and tone down any weird fashion statements you’ve made with your hair. You’re going to represent the school if you work for them, so you have to look right.
- An assertive voice. Speak to the secretary and leave your information. Try to agree a time to meet the DOS or get the DOS’s name and contact details. Take the name of the secretary you’re speaking to as well. Do this by taking the school's business card and writing the details on the back of it.
- To go to at least 10 – 15 schools, sometimes you have to play the numbers game.
