Job Discussion Forums

[Augustus]

Hello

I gained my CELTA qualification last May 2013 and after some unsuccessful applying I have started again. I have applications in with a few Korean recruiters and directly with the government (SMOE) but due to starting late / Incheon closing application I am concerned I am not going to get anything.

I'm now starting to look at International House again and any job boards such as TEFL.com / Dave's and I have managed to find a couple of reasonable - ish sounding jobs though the amount of research to find out that the salary is very low / conditions are poor is immense. So far not so good.

English First contacted me through TEFL.com about one of their positions and it seems thats extremely low paid! Anyway, how has everyone else managed to find work abroad?

Thanks for any advice

[MuscatGary]

You need to get your foot in the door and with a new CELTA and no experience you're not going to get a great job with a big salary as a newbie. Do you also have a degree? What's your nationality? (It affects where you can apply to).

Maybe your cover letter and c.v. isn't grabbing the attention of the recruiter, remember that they can get hundreds of applications if they advertise on here or tefl.com. I've been a recruiter and any cover letters/c.v.'s with spelling mistakes, grammatical errors were discarded immediately.

Good luck!

[Augustus]

Sorry! I'm from the UK, native speaker and have a degree in Psychology. I'm not looking for a great salary but livable i.e able to afford to have a flat / share with one other, maybe and spare cash available to travel a little.

I am keen on South Korea but they seem to be dragging their feet at the moment.

[golsa]

China and Korea are both pretty easy places to get started and that's what many of us have done, including some of the IH and BC DOSes and ADOSes I've met.

EF isn't an ideal employer, nor do they offer much (if anything) in the way of development, but a year or two with them will allow you to get some experience and move on to something better. You'll certainly get something out of working there, despite the problems with their curriculum and methodology, and future employers will appreciate that.

IH would be a great place to start. They usually only hire people who got an A or B, but will consider you once you've got two years experience. But entry level at IH will pay a bit less than entry level in China or Korea. BA + CELTA + 0 experience should get you at least $1,200 mo + flights reimbursed + apartment in China and you could do much better than that.

Don't forget that better positions are often unadvertised as good schools have no problem filling positions through word of mouth. Making contacts once you arrive in your start location will always be your best bet for finding better paid positions.

[MuscatGary]

I've pm'd you.

[suphanburi]

[Augustus]

Thank you. Very useful comments. I will just have to keep at it for the time being and if not then there is always early 2015.

Augustus

[Augustus]

Well I was shocked to check my email yesterday and find an email from SMOE offering me a public school job (in Seoul, public school) to begin on the 25th August. I know its could all fall through if my VISA doesn't come through quickly enough or they could just find they don't have the positions they thought they did ....

I'm in shock to be honest! I've also had an email back from International House Ukraine with a list of questions and mentioning the possibility of an interview. I am concerned that it could all fall through with SMOE so should I pursue the position with IH.

Should I be considering the position with IH anyway? Is it a "better" position, from those with experience?

Augustus

[spiral78]

Congratulations!

In your situation, I'd go ahead with both until it's necessary to make a choice. IH is only possibly offering an interview, so don't throw out the offer in Seoul; an offer is obviously far more concrete than a chance of an interview!

Knowing nothing about the Seoul public school gig, it is impossible to say if IH Ukraine would be better. In general, IH is kinda middling-ok, in that they usually offer ongoing professional development and support, and that they are franchised, so working for one IH gives you a bit of an 'in' for other IH locations later on, assuming you make a good impression!

But the Seoul gig may have strong points over IH as well - you don't give us any information to judge:-)
One thing might be that Korean students may be a bit easier to work with than Ukrainians....easier on the teacher, anyway.

Anyway, congrats on the offer!
And good luck, as always.

[MuscatGary]

Congrats! Spiral is right, keep both going until you know for sure either way.

[golsa]

+1 to both posts which said you should keep both going.

Working in Ukraine and for IH will, in general, look better on your resume than working for a public school in SK. Teaching experience gained in SK and China has quite a few problems when it comes to long term experience, but is ok for a year or two. In Ukraine you will be expected to teach all four skills and both systems, while in SK, you'll only be expected to teach speaking. Working in Asia often leaves teachers weak in other skills, notably how to teach lexis and grammar, as they've never had to do it while being observed by a DOS :?

On the other hand, SK will pay better and, as others have said, the students will be easier on your as a newbie. European students can be a bit unforgiving as they really expect teachers to know their stuff and eastern European students in particular will have no problem challenging you in class. You won't see this in Asia as foreign teachers are simultaneously given more respect and expectations are lower than in Europe.