Jobs for foreigners living in Chennai?

AlohaKona

Hi, I'm moving to Chennai with my girlfriend who got a job there as an int'l teacher. I'm wondering if anyone would know if it's possible for me to find a paying job in and around Chennai working in the social services field? I currently am a social worker and fully enjoy working with the underprivledged and underserved. Any info is welcome. Thank you!

Ps. Can I teach english even though I may not be certified? English is my first language.

Raghu.Kumar

Hi Great to know u and ur girl friend are coming to Chennai. When are u planning to come over here ? I can send you a few websites of HR Consultants whom you can get in touch with and check out the opportunities. Its is at no cost, all you have to do is to prepare a nice resume and mail it to them.

Have you finalised your apartment etc ? are you aware of chennai topography ? need any help, give a shout . India Mikers are here.

Await to hear from you ,

Weclome once again, Raghu

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sahana_kumar@yahoo.com

Nick-H

Usual caveats apply, though --- as you probably know from your friend, you have to get an employment visa in your own country, and that it will be issued only against the offer of a specific job. Makes it hard, if not impossible, for any sort of casual employment.

Merely speaking English is not much of an earner here, as all the best schools teach in English, so many are fluent in the language. Trainers in call centres are specialists, and usually qualified.

If you want to spend your time, if you don't find a job, you might be able to teach in a non-English-medium school as a volunteer.

AlohaKona

Hello Raghu! Yes, we plan to arrive around late this summer '09. As far as accommocations go, the int'l school will be taking care of all our moving/relocating needs. Its really nice actually. I'm amazed at the extent of their hospitality to arrange everything for us. But i'm sure I'll be asking more questions on this forum from time to time regarding India life aspects

As for the HR consultants you mentioned, that would be very helpful if you can pass those along? Right now, any advice is good advice

Nick-H, thanks for the heads up on the employment visa. I'm having my girlfriend check with her school sponsor about that since i'll be arriving under the same visa (i think?)

But good point about teaching english. I figure my other option to "spend time" is to volunteer my time somewhere.

Thanks all for the tips... keep'em coming!

Yuri_S

Employment visa is strictly personal (no contract - no visa), almost 100% you can get only tourist visa. What means only option left is 'spending time on casual way'.

Nick-H

Yes, absolutely right, and whereas a spouse can be granted an entry visa to run with the spouse's employment visa, a boy-/girl-friend/fiance will not be.

As an American (I assume) you will be able to get the wonderful 10-year tourist visa --- but you will still have to leave India for a day or two every six months: maximum stay 180 days.

Yuri_S

... for exciting Nepal or Sri Lanka trip

AlohaKona

hmmmm... this sounds like me alright. Even as a fiance huh? Well, guess we can take an early honeymoon say... in the Maldives? Think it can out-rival my Hawaiian islands??

but Nepal/Sri Lanka sounds just as exciting!

Haylo

That's right, as far as the Indian authorities are concerned, your being engaged or even your living together for decades has no status whatsoever - they way they see it, you're either married or you're not.

Guess you've got no choice but to take that trip to Thailand or the Maldives or Nepal...

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The world is mud-luscious and puddle-wonderful - E.E. Cummings, poet (1894-1962)

Raghu.Kumar

Hi Alohakona,

You may browze through the following website. www.naukri.com www.monster.com www.jobsdb.com www.timesjobs.com

I guess you can get sufficient leads from those websites. You might have to regester amd upload your resume. As Nick rightly ponted out, your employer in India has to sponsor your work visa and you would have to apply from your country of residence at the respective Indian High Commission.

Is your Girl Friend joining the American School here ?

Regards, Raghu

Yuri_S

Quite useless. I hate to say something, what can hurt someone's er... "patriotic feeling", but no one Indian from HR will even have a look to the foreigner's CV.

PS: a good friend of mine is the HR consultant, and we know each other quite enough to discuss "sensitive" issues openly.

Nick-H

Quite useless?

Well, no company is going to employ a foreigner when they can easily employ a local person, for a heap of reasons, cultural, practical, linguistic, and more. What's more, the visa authorities will not issue a visa unless they are satisfied that the job cannot be filled by a local person.

But ex-pats work here. I have no idea of numbers, but we see quite a few on this forum! Whilst it is true that most of them are being sent to India by their employers in their own country, that does not include them all.

So, perhaps not entirely useless --- but it is a case of finding a niche that you are needed in.

Bear in mind, also, though, that India as an international service provider is suffering from the current conditions.

Yuri_S

Not in my case - for me, it was absolutely clear DIY

Well, not entirely useless - but interaction to HR directly is useless for some 99,99% To be more specific - someone must find a boss here, who will tell to HR - "I need this guy! Take him."
Correction: alternatively, one must have local experience&references.

Nick-H

Ah, yes, I see what you mean

Yuri_S

And, it's much... MUCH better to plan to come here say, at December, NOT NOW!