Job Discussion Forums

miniuser · Joined: 30 Jun 2013 Posts: 16

I am in my late 20s but just finishing my BA from a US university. Other than a couple odd jobs during and shortly after high school, I've been self-employed as a freelance writer. I assume employers are only looking for education-related experience, but I'm also worried that listing no work history at my age might raise some eyebrows. Any advice on how to handle this on my CV? I plan on applying for positions in East Asia and probably Southeast Asia as well.

nomad soul · Joined: 31 Jan 2010 Posts: 11454 Location: The real world

Under 'Work History' simply put Freelance Writer, the years self employed, and a short summary of what that role entails. Since you're a newbie, you're applying for entry-level TEFL positions anyway.

By the way, so you decided not to pursue teacher licensure/qualification after graduation?

miniuser · Joined: 30 Jun 2013 Posts: 16

Ugh, too many forums to keep track of – I didn’t mean to ignore your reply, sorry. Thanks.

I’m still pursuing teaching certification through Teach Now while teaching ESL on the side. I may still end up doing Teach Now at a DS if I can't find a quality IS that will let me do the required field experience (the ESL apps won't go out until I find an IS to work with).

nomad soul · Joined: 31 Jan 2010 Posts: 11454 Location: The real world

miniuser · Joined: 30 Jun 2013 Posts: 16

I may still end up in a domestic school, but I'm taking a swing at some ISs. It was suggested to me that I might be able to get in by researching the individual schools to see if their curriculum is lacking something (SPED, ESOL, etc.) and pitching a proposal to meet whatever need they have. In that sense it seems like it doesn't really matter what subject I'm initially a trainee for, since once I'm certified I'll still be able to take whatever praxis I want. So I'm basically hoping to be a 'whatever-they-need' IS trainee who eventually gets certified in Math.

It may not work, but I think it will be relatively easy to find a domestic school to fall back on, especially since I'd be willing to move most places within the US.

nomad soul · Joined: 31 Jan 2010 Posts: 11454 Location: The real world

miniuser · Joined: 30 Jun 2013 Posts: 16

Well, I'm mostly applying to legitimate embassy schools - http://www.state.gov/m/a/os/c1684.htm - although I'll probably try a few lesser schools as well. Maybe a long shot but can't hurt to try.

Regarding the degree-cert-experience alignment, my understanding is that in practice schools can hire a teacher to teach the subject their degree is in for the purpose of securing a work visa, and then assign them to whatever classroom they want - i.e. what they actually hired them for. I think the right combination of finding a 1st-tier school in a hardship area + targeting school's particular needs gives my idea some hope.

Have also heard that after a couple years as a certified IT nobody cares where or how your certification was received. However I do think that starting at a domestic school is probably better than going to a 3rd-tier trainwreck "international school" despite my desire to teach abroad, so if it comes down to that I'll probably stay in the US a couple more years.

nomad soul · Joined: 31 Jan 2010 Posts: 11454 Location: The real world

JohnD47 · Joined: 31 May 2016 Posts: 10 Location: Quezon City

Chroniclesoffreedom · Joined: 13 Jan 2015 Posts: 261

If you are thinking about China, you must have two years of verifiable experience and a degree before you can work there. A degree isn't enough (for some provinces in China, it is) but you may want to consider another xountry to teach in to get your two years experience so you can qualify for China later on. If that's what you want.