Girl looking for job speaking English apart from teaching English. Ideas?

I will be moving to Poland soon to live.

I know it's cheeky but as I am only learning the basics of Polish language and I would say I am not on a conversational level as yet, I would perhaps like to work for an American/U.K company that's based in Poland.

I have been looking for companies that hire English speaking people but I can't find any. Even a Polish company that needs an English speaking receptionist, accountant or even working in the background.

The down side is I can't speak Polish but I am learning hence why I need to work in an enviroment where my speaking English is essential or normal without having to essentially speak Polish too. I am not bilingual as yet but it sure is my goal.

Anyway just wondered are there any expats from English speaking countries that works for a company that pays well where they don't have to speak Polish or any agencies or companies looking for an English person to work for them?

p.s, I know I can become a native English teacher, so apart from the obvious teaching choice, i would like other options and opinions that would be appreciated, Thankyou :)

This is the problem - you're looking for jobs that pay well, yet you're not as well qualified as native Polish individuals. To be brutal - forget about it, unless you're sent to Poland. There are occasional jobs advertised, but these jobs almost certainly go to people who are connected in some way. I know of several jobs that required English only staff - and every single one of those jobs went to someone already connected to the existing staff.

Your only way in is to get sent here - and that's easier said than done.


Again - you don't speak Polish, so what's the point in hiring you when they can hire bilingual staff? The fact that you're looking for a "well paid" job is also going to make it even harder for you - why hire a foreigner on 3000+ zl a month when you can hire an English speaking Polish person for 2000zl a month?

If you don't want to teach, then the only realistic option is to start your own business.

However - call centre work is always available for native English speakers. But the pay is quite frankly rubbish.

I would echo Delph with what he says. You dismiss teaching but I think before you look at employment in other sectors you should consider teaching as a way to get started in Poland.

It's a great way to know the market and how it works, I think. There's always other ways, but in the beginning, you can make a lot of valuable contacts and gain a lot of valuable information simply by teaching the right people.

Exactly. I wouldn't be where I am now if it wasn't for teaching.

*and ill edit this before people find out what I do in Poland :)*

Thats a good statement, makes sense.


Where? Anywhere is a start i guess

I know that the level in Polish I have is limited therefore I cannot get a job in the chosen sectors I would have liked first choice, but I always believe in hope and chances. Going to Poland is a risk in itself, for anyone to up and move to another country with a complete different language and culture is'nt an easy choice but I am positive with my decision. I never ruled out Teaching, but sometimes its good to look outside the obvious box other than teaching, it maybe hard but not impossible. I am continuing learning Polish so Im getting there. Like I said, i'll take a shot with Teaching but I can still look whilst.

If you taught English you could also get some help to improve your Polish from your students perhaps :)

or find places that teach Polish to Foreigners many schools teach it in an evening whilst looking for work :)

Also it depends on what area of Poland you are planned to go to of which you havent indicated .. this might give people here on PF a better insight in how best to help point you in the right direction :)


perservance thats all ill say on the matter ;)

Hi,

what is your professional background / education? Do you have by any chance a citizenship of any of the EU-countries?

I might know an American company in Warsaw looking for English speaking people and they don't require Polish. However the potential employment would depend on yours skills and experience. So could you give me some details?

You might try some of the translation services as a proofreader. To be honest, some of the so-called "professional" translators need shooting for taking money from people. A friend of mine makes a nice little earner sorting out some of the messes supplied to his bosses by a local firm.

yes i am an EU citizen. i cant translate as i ONLY know English. can u send me the companies email address or website so i can contact them

Ok, I sent you private mail with some details.

I am not saying it will be easy to actually get one, but there are many jobs offered in different Polish cities on this website for which native English speakers should be suitable. They are in international companies where the language of the business is English: jobrapido.pl

Hi

If you check out the extreme South of Poland and the South West Borders, a lot of Hotel are desperate for receptionist with good English. Many of the Polish/English speakers have now gone BACK to the UK as the pay and conditions are so bad here. BUT if you are ok to work six days a week for 1000 zloty a month, then you should find it quite easy to get a job even with no Polish. The hotels main guests are German and Czech and they use English, so you should be ok. Some hotels even offer live-in accommodation to try and entice staff. HOWEVER as already pointed out on the forum, you could teach English and earn 45 zloty an hour instead!

that seems the most sensible thing to do. its a no brainer really :)


thanx, ill check it out :)

Hello! I am an Indian student doing my engineering in warsaw at Politechnika Warszawska. I am looking for some some summer jobs to gain some experience. Would you be kind enough to give me some lead in this direction. I am easily able to converse in Polish, but would like to have a job related to English.

Any help would be appreciated. Thanks!

Teaching English is very rewarding but also hard work. I've just completed my very first year teaching as I am like the OP.. lack of Polish but really wanted to work and get to know people as well as generate some cash. I get paid 50zł for a 45 min lesson and charge 60zł for private hour long lessons.

Good luck.

P.s. Translator .. could you PM me please re jobs for English speakers. I tried to PM you but I'm new here and I've not posted more than 4 useful posts so can't get to you :-)

60 min per hour is quite reasonable in Warsaw. Some charge over 100PLN but I'd only charge senior directors that rate as I feel that they don't deserve their money. Many know their function and work hard for much less.

It's going to be very difficult unless you've got something that is in huge demand. People in Poland simply don't rate speakers of Indian English - no matter how your accent is, it's the perception that Indian English is inferior that you will have to deal with.

LOL.. perhaps I need to put the prices up

Sure, take what you can get. But remember that with a higher price comes responsibility.

I was only joking, I'm happy with 60zł an hour as I only do it to fill in time as my main focus us my studies.

i was also looking for a job in poland.. i visited poland in 2010 april , for 6 days..its beautiful country.Right now I live in Florida USA..work as an IT professional.If you know american companies who will hire english only people , let me know please..priyadarshi786@gmail

850-284-5397

Sounds Indian to me

If you can find it, voice-over work or narration for things like tourist tapes, English language cassettes and radio is possible. I've done a bit but it was few and far between. It might be something to look for and offer services to publishing/recording companies.

What's the going rate for that kind of work?

An Indian IT outsourcing company called HCL is based in Krakow - they do a lot of work with Hewitt I believe and have brought over a lot of their Indian staff to work here. You would appear to be well suited to this company! hcl.in

I teach English, it's not something I ever wanted to do, but, as several people have mentioned, it's a way to earn a living if you can't speak Polish. Up until this year I didn't really enjoy it either, however, after parting company from a rather dodgy language school and going out on my own, I've really started to relish the job, getting clients who have chosen me for my 'specialist' language knowledge and am keeping my fingers crossed that one of them may be able to get me an opportunity that allows me to use my previous experience more effectively.

That said, even if I were to get a different job, I'd still want to teach occasionally. It was so rewarding to see a student who had been told they are 'too old to learn English, just be satisfied to understand the basics' by a previous 'Native' speaker she had been seeing for 2 years, come out from her performance review having been rewarded for the 'unprecedented improvement' in her abilities in just 3 months :D

I would add, that while there is good money to be earnt for a 'Native Speaker', having a Tefl has proved invaluable when it comes to being taken seriously in certain areas - well worth investing in if you can afford it.

no idea, I've just done a few one-offs for private recording specialists doing local jobs. I tended to ask a few hundred, depending who it was for and for how long.

It was a while ago, tho.

I've also done things like cultural presentations and performances with local culture houses and schools. Asked a couple of hundred a time (or the box office). Sporadic though.

yes i am also an english speaker that does not speak polish but i am also fluent in italian and spanish could you send me the link or website of that company ?

hi may you contact with me on Hudaqa@yahoo

Thanks

Huda Al-Hariri
Kuwait