Top ten tips for finding a TEFL job
Wednesday, 28th January 2009
Getting your TEFL qualification is the first step. The next is finding your first teaching post - what can you do to help your chances?
1. Be there
If you have a specific location in mind where you’d like to teach, it can definitely be advisable to go there and visit the schools you are interested in working for, in person. Schools that recruit online especially will receive hundreds of CVs, so it’s a sure-fire way of making sure that yours stands out from the crowd.
2. Speak to the right person
Whether you visit the school, or call from home, it is important to establish who the right person to talk to is. Generally speaking this will be the Director of Studies, or in smaller schools possibly the owner. It tends to be these people who do the hiring and the firing.
3. Time it right
There are usually teaching vacancies available all-year round, but by the far the biggest recruitment period tends to be April- September, when schools are trying to organise their teaching staff in time for the coming academic year. South America is an exception - their academic year tends to start around February/March time.
4. Be flexible
There are certain locations that are always going to be popular with teachers. These tend, as a rule, to be tourist hubs and large cities. If you find it impossible to get work in your desired location, give something else a try. It might not be what you had hoped for, but may make your experience even more memorable than you had anticipated.
5. Check your CV
When sending and submitting your CV, be sure that any grammatical or lexical errors have all been eradicated. Mistakes of this type really won’t inspire confidence in a prospective employer.
Try also to ensure that there is no missing information (e.g unexplained ‘gaps’ in your employment history), and that all contact information is correct and up-to-date too.
6. Don’t ‘blanket’ apply
Make sure that you don’t simply send the same CV to any prospective employer as soon as you have it perfect. It needs to be relevant to each job you are applying for. You should read applications carefully and adapt your CV to reflect any particular features of the job or the location that you feel are well suited to you. It shouldn’t take long, but will make a big difference.
7. Translate your CV
If you’re keen on finding a job in one country specifically, getting your CV translated into the local language will no doubt reflect well on your commitment to finding work. You must remember to ensure, however, that employers are aware if this has been done on your behalf and you can’t actually speak the language.
8. Be confident
Irrespective of whether you speak to a potential employer in person, or on the phone, it’s important to be confident. No school will be keen to take on a teacher who is introverted, ’shifty’ in demeanour, or who mumbles!
9. Be enthusiastic
It’s important to remember that the job you are going for many have attracted hundreds of other applicants. A great way to win some brownie points from the outset is to be enthusiastic - about the school, the culture and the job as well.
10. Be patient
You’ve finished your course, got your certificate and you’re raring to go… Woooaaahh there!
It can be tempting to take the first job offered to you, but sometimes getting swept up in the excitement and prospect of a new adventure can take hold a bit prematurely. If the job isn’t quite what you’re looking for, don’t be afraid to wait. There are plenty of jobs out there and it’s worth taking your time rather than making any rash decisions that you might live to regret.
Tags: job, destinations, employment, tefl
Posted by Laura Lippert 2009-01 under Teaching Languages, Ask a Language Expert,
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Posted by mike on 11/11 at 12:06 PM
Also important is know all about your employer