Job Discussion Forums

[Carlicks]

Hello Vietnam Enthusiasts,

I recently graduated with an International Business B.A. in Germany, as well as an International Business B.A. from Finland. I have lots of experience abroad and I am qualified to work internationally with an excellent level of English.

My goal is to start a career in Vietnam, especially in HCMC. By that I mean a proper career in marketing, international sales or product management, as I specialized on those during my studies.

A few days ago I stumbled upon the whole ESL Teaching with TEFL, TESOL and CELTA certificates and I spent many hours scanning the net and reading this forum and now I am facing a little dilemma.

I figured that it would be great idea to just fly to HCMC, do a 4-week programme for a TEFL certificate as it looks good on my cv and I like to teach, and then to spend maybe two or three months (maximum!!) teaching and using it as a foot in the door to the job market and being able to score a nice job that is related to my business field while I teach. It did sound like a good plan, but now I am not sure anymore and I don�t want to waste ~1200� on a certificate if it doesn�t help me in my professional life.

Does it make sense to do as I just wrote or is it delusional?

Should I just go to HCMC and directly look for fitting jobs while living on savings?

Do I have chances to teach without any certificates or teaching experience and not being a native speaker or should I maybe do a cheap online TEFL for the short time??

In order to bridge time, is it wiser and possible to find a rather low-paying job with my degrees in the business field while looking out for more?

I don�t know much about the rules and chances on the market in Vietnam for me.
I appreciate every response, thanks in advance!!!

[LettersAthruZ]

If they're asking you for 1200 Euros for a four-week TEFL cert.....don't walk away: RUN away.......

If you're looking to teach for three months MAXIMUM, you really shouldn't waste your money and your time with a cert - just backpacker it, latch on somewhere, teach and make business connections while you're teaching.

[Tigerstyleone]

Delusional

[skarper]

I'll try to be serious and positive too.

I don't know about your chances in marketing etc. If you have no experience only education I'm guessing not much chance but really can't say.

On the positive.

You can find work as an English teacher without any certificates/degrees and even as a non-native. As long as your English is fluent and your accent is not too strong you will get away with it for 3-4 months before it starts to matter.

You may also find private students who will pay to for help with IELTS etc and you would I think be able to help them as well as most native speaker teachers - even those with CELTAs and DELTAs up the kazoo.

Don't bother with any cert - save time and money. Focus on your real career goals and just use TEFL as a way to make a few dollars while you find your feet.

As per usual, bring a return air ticket (or keep the money to buy one) and about 3000USD to live cheaply on while you get organised. I think you'll know within 3 months if things are not going to work out for you and don't stick around if they don't.

[Carlicks]

[charlesmarlow]

With regards to obtaining a job in markeing, sales or project management, highly unlikely in fact impossible. The days of the white man/european landing in Asia and getting a job with no experience are finished. The majority of expats in Vietnam etc are managers or directors with years of experience in a particular field and a track record. If they are not a manager then they have technical skills that the Vietnamese do not have. Both foreign and Vietnamese companies only employ foreigners who have skills and experiece etc that the Vietnamese dont have. You have no experiece etc etc, why would they hire you? They will employ a Vietnames who has qualifications and experience, and most of the Viets will be cheaper than a foreigner.

Also with no TEFL cert and being a non native english speaker, you will be working in cowboy outfits if they will hire you. You better have a round trip ticket because you will be returning very quickly to Germany. You need to stay in Gremany and get a job and gain experience.

[skarper]

[Tigerstyleone]

In other words, delusional.

Go to China. Much bigger market to find your niche. I think you could make it there.