How to get hired in Poland teaching EFL?

I am moving to Poland in June of 2016. I am open minded as to where exactly to live, and of course that mostly will depend on where I can find decent work.

My job experience consists of childcare, retail management and I am a licensed beautician in my country. I am currently finishing my EFL certification. English is my first language. I also speak Spanish, but I only know a few polish phrases I use in passing.

In the US, I have never had an issue finding a job I want because I take an aggressive approach. I show up in person, professionally dressed with resume on hand and make a request to meet whoever is in charge. We make small talk and then talk business. Within a short time I find myself with a job offer.

However, I am not sure about professional ethics in other countries. Because native speaking EFL teachers can be a dime a dozen in most big cities in Poland, my first thought is to take the aggressive approach to job hunting. But is this a proper way to find work there?

Any suggestions or advice you have for someone looking to teach EFL would be really appreciated.

Thanks!

Hi! As a NON EU national (I understand that you are American, aren't you?), you'll need a work permit to be issued through your potential employer and considering the hordes of British ESL teachers who don't need work permits in Poland, it is very unlikely that potential employers in Poland goes through the hassle when they can choose among so many British teachers more especially when you are not qualified and don't offer anything special. Also, in order to be issued a work permit, you need to have a full time income and no language school can guarantee fixed numbers of hours . In addition, you would need to pay for State heatlh insurance since language schools don't.

Why your idea of teaching ELS in Poland? If you were qualified, you could teach in a lot of countries for quite good money....

Childcare and the beauty business must be dog-eat-dog in the US, but I guess that's how life is over there. Here in Europe your approach would not work, as what you have to offer is limited. You would be in competition not only with EU nationals, but also with Polish English teachers with higher degrees in Philology. I know several excellent Polish teachers whose English, and knowledge about the language, is far superior to most native speakers. Having said that, if you get here in late summer (June is the worst possible time) and start knocking on doors, you might find something.

Absolutely no. Being aggressive like that will not get you anything - mainly because you have very little to offer them. Good jobs require a degree, the CELTA/Trinity TESOL (anything else is simply toilet paper) and experience. Banging on doors and demanding to meet the decision makers at your convenience will simply irritate them - it's not the way that business formalities here. You need to leave CV's and wait for them to contact you at their leisure - which will be rather in August. At the end of June, school directors will be busy with the end of the school year, and recruitment will not be on their mind.