Tips for getting your first job in Kazakhstan

I am keenly following this topic. Please someone, with an experience of Kazakhstan Job Market, can enlighten us on this?

It is very unlikely that you will get a job in Kazakhstan by simply replying to an advertisement and having a Skype Interview - it simply doesn't work that way in Kazakhstan...

If you are serious about getting a job in Kazakhstan and suitably qualified, I strongly suggest you come over for a holiday and attend the interviews during this time... You will then have to leave when your holiday has come to an end and the employer willdo all the necessary paperwork for the correct visa and work permit etc. for your return.

A friends of mine came over in January and we got him an interview at one of the top schools here... The end result was that they sent him to Bishkek (they paid for his flights and accommodation) for a week whilst they processed his visa and work permit etc. and he started work on the same day he returned...

Some schools do offer teaching jobs from a Skype interview, but the salaries offered do tend to be approx half of what you can expect if you were to apply for the job and attend an interview from inside the country. Other perks when you are in demand simply because you are actually here and a real person in the flesh is included accommodation and often a shared driver...

I hope this helps.

KInd regards,

Darren Thompson

Hi Darren, Thanks for your inputs on the topic.

From your reply, I understand that the job is of teaching (at schools)? Do you have any idea what about other types of works? Any tips you give to people who have background of management, finance, law, social sciences, or software engineering?

Reg. teaching, I understand the job market is open only for native English speakers. What about the chances for non-natives? What you think?

Kazakhstan companies have to prove that they have indeed searched the local market for their requirement prior to looking at foreigners to take the position.

Of course this is a given for teaching English - as you wont be able to get better locally than a native speaker...

However there are specialists jobs in Oil and Gas, Marketing, Internet Related and Television such as BBC Style voice-over work.

www.hh.kz (headhunter) is a good place to start...

Kind regards,

Darren

Thanks for your reply.

When it comes to teaching, do you think the market is over-crowded by native English Speakers? or, someone (like me) who speaks good English but from India/Sri-Lanka etc. also has a chance to get a job? I am trying to understand where people like me stand in this job segment. Thanks!

It is not over-crowded as such - but if it is for your main job - you need to be "qualified" in some way... This could be a simple TKT Certificate from Cambridge University etc.

If it is your second job for a bit of fun and extra pocket-money - then being a genuine native speak is sufficient; the Indian accent however as I know it is quite strong and not necessarily sought after here.

A native speaker can expect 6,000 tenge (about $32 an hour) whereas a local and non-native can expect a quarter of that i.e. 1,500 tenge closer to $8 an hour... Make sure everything you do is above bored and within the law - they are quite casual at throwing foreigners in jail...

I hope this helps,

Kind regards,

Darren