(no subject)
Well, I had my interview with Kadir Has yesterday. It was a surreal experience. I interviewed with the principal of the department, a woman in her fifties, I'd say (though I'm terrible with ages) who spoke quite impeccable English. She was a largish woman, with perfectly coiffed bleached dark-blonde hair (short of course) and her clunky red and silver jewelry matched her red fingernails. Not to be catty but clearly an ageing successful female secularist. Towards the end of the interview two young men came in, obviously to argue about their exam results, and called her "hocam" (a very respectful term for "teacher") several times. It was amusing.
Anyway. She told me that back when they gave their entrance exam, they had 150 candidates show up for 8 positions. Whoof! There were 4 Turkish teacher positions and 4 native English speaker positions. About 100 Turkish teacher candidates showed up, and about 50 native English speaker candidates. Obviously, they're hired up, but she said it may well turn out, in the fall, that they'll need new teachers. She delicately hinted at the possibility of the ones they had changing their minds and going elsewhere, and added a complicated explanation about the Turkish student placement system, the upshot of which is that there might be a flood of extra students into the school sometime in October.
Final result: They'll keep my CV on hand, but they won't let me know if they need me until mid-late October.
One thing was sorted out though, if anyone remembers my shock at being told by the woman at Yıldız Teknik that I'd have one day, or a half day (!) off per week. This woman, the one at Kadir Has, said the exact same thing, and this time I was convinced there must be some other explanation, so I asked for clarification, specifically, if that meant I would be working six days a week.
Oh no! Of course not! I'd have my weekends of course! But, for example, if I need to do something at the bank, I wouldn't be able to do that on a Saturday or a Sunday, would I? So I'd need a day, or at least an afternoon, off, during the week, wouldn't I?
Ah. So I'd be looking, not at a six, but at a FOUR day week. That changes things considerably.
Entering the realms of cynicism, I think I know why Kadir Has was so popular. Their salary is US$1800 per month, as compared to US$1300-1500 at Fatih (granted, plus a US$400 accommodation allowance, which KH doesn't have) and US$1200 at Yıldız Teknik -- no accommodation allowance either.
Speaking of which, I got an email today from Fatih saying they want to arrange an interview. Still waiting to hear from Yıldız, who I'm feeling more kindly inclined towards. Although kind of hoping they won't get themselves in gear to contact me until I'm back in Canada, in which case I won't have to give the Stupid Sample Lesson. Onwards, ever upwards!
Anyway. She told me that back when they gave their entrance exam, they had 150 candidates show up for 8 positions. Whoof! There were 4 Turkish teacher positions and 4 native English speaker positions. About 100 Turkish teacher candidates showed up, and about 50 native English speaker candidates. Obviously, they're hired up, but she said it may well turn out, in the fall, that they'll need new teachers. She delicately hinted at the possibility of the ones they had changing their minds and going elsewhere, and added a complicated explanation about the Turkish student placement system, the upshot of which is that there might be a flood of extra students into the school sometime in October.
Final result: They'll keep my CV on hand, but they won't let me know if they need me until mid-late October.
One thing was sorted out though, if anyone remembers my shock at being told by the woman at Yıldız Teknik that I'd have one day, or a half day (!) off per week. This woman, the one at Kadir Has, said the exact same thing, and this time I was convinced there must be some other explanation, so I asked for clarification, specifically, if that meant I would be working six days a week.
Oh no! Of course not! I'd have my weekends of course! But, for example, if I need to do something at the bank, I wouldn't be able to do that on a Saturday or a Sunday, would I? So I'd need a day, or at least an afternoon, off, during the week, wouldn't I?
Ah. So I'd be looking, not at a six, but at a FOUR day week. That changes things considerably.
Entering the realms of cynicism, I think I know why Kadir Has was so popular. Their salary is US$1800 per month, as compared to US$1300-1500 at Fatih (granted, plus a US$400 accommodation allowance, which KH doesn't have) and US$1200 at Yıldız Teknik -- no accommodation allowance either.
Speaking of which, I got an email today from Fatih saying they want to arrange an interview. Still waiting to hear from Yıldız, who I'm feeling more kindly inclined towards. Although kind of hoping they won't get themselves in gear to contact me until I'm back in Canada, in which case I won't have to give the Stupid Sample Lesson. Onwards, ever upwards!