Job Discussion Forums

[double agent]

HOW TO LAND YOUR FIRST JOB...it t'aint so hard babes.

Okay NEWBIE. Have your certificate and diploma scanned.
Keep a copy on your lap top, floppy; and send yourself
an email which contains your CV, and documents.

This ensures that if you are unhappy where you end upyou can easily start hunting for a new gig.

No experience! will they hire me???...that was once ME..haha...

Don't worry, a lot of schools claim to be seeking lots and lots
of experience, but many take first times. LIKE MANY.

A lot of Newbies go to Japan cause they get a flight, an apt. and a job.
Go only if you are truly interested in living the LIFE there.

Some go to Thailand, Vietnam, it is easy enuff to get in with the ol'
tourist visa...and the other teachers will give you the low down on
how to get it re-newed.

How about TURKEY? Bright Lights Big City. Easy to get work and
make a living. Just check out the reputable schools on the job
information journal.

Working in Europe without an EU passport is near impossible.
Give up if you are not an
experience TEFL'er it wil only make it that much harder. Unless you
can afford to hang out for a month seeking freelance work, then
you have 'a chance'. But do you really want to live like that ?
Be sure you are ready for what is coming.

The Middle East, easy to get work in the UAE, QATAR, BAHRAIN, OMAN,
and TURKEY. Very safe, very very. My friends live there and make
a hell of a lot of money, drive 4 wheel cars paid for by there vehicle allowance, and usually great big apartments or houses. You swim,
drink, but baby...who do you love?

Who do you love? Remember the choices for girlfriends and boyfriends
become slim when you leave the ranch kiddo. But then again you
are travelling around the world, and this will make a great chapter
in 'that book you are writing'.


What about religious differences? Don't worry. Unless you
are going to Saudi or Afghanistan....most Mideasters all WANT what
is Western. It is freaky friday.

BUT...don't break the LAW. The law will go against you almost
everywhere outside of your own ranch. If you think they will
take it easy on you cause you are a Brit or a Yank. You have
never been more niave in yourlife. Don't drink and drive.

Besides that most of us have no worries.

Ready to go...pack up your stuff. Travel light. You can buy shampoo,
clothes, sandles, cigerettes, peanut butter and all the really important
stuff practically anywhere in the world. Often the stuff you buy
while working overseas is cheaper and more interesting, and HAND MADE.

Well, don't get your tefl and sit on it. Go and get a job. Remember,
you are not the FIRST person to go to these countries. They have
seen WHITY before. So relax.

Most of all be a good person to the other older tefl'ers. It is
hard being away from home for three or four years..and we get edgy
and are weary of JOHNNY KEEN.

GO GET A JOB.

Check the on-line yellow pages for language schools, in the country
you want to work for if you can't find AD's. It is the cold calls that
ofter yield warm responses.

[johnslat]

Dear double agent,
Good - very good - post, Should be a " sticky ", I'd say.
Regards,
John

[minnie]

Wow, That was really encouraging!

Being a 'newbie' I've been reading lots of posts looking for helpful advice and I've come across so much pessimism. It's refreshing to read something positive.

[PanamaTeacher]

Minnie

The truth lies somewhere between the pessimism of others and this post. Be bold, but be careful. Note what Double said first:

Okay NEWBIE. Have your certificate and diploma scanned.
Keep a copy on your lap top, floppy; and send yourself
an email which contains your CV, and documents.

This ensures that if you are unhappy where you end up you can easily start hunting for a new gig.

My advice--Look before you leap!

[double agent]

I hope the Newbies have good first experiences. I have
found so far FEW without major to several minor bordering on
major agonies when working overseas at tEFl.

But, depends on your standards. And the most disappointing
thing I find is the CLANISH behavoir of many teachers. The in-fighting
and childishness. May TEFLers are young, first time away from
home and work becomes a gossip hell and destroy the
other teachers GAME.

Some are mature. But not many. Try to JUST BEHAVE when
you are outta your nest NEWBIES....

[Sherri]

Double Agent wrote: "A lot of Newbies go to Japan cause they get a flight, an apt. and a job. "

Just for the record if you are lucky enough to find someone to hire you before you come to Japan, getting your flight paid for is extremely rare and the apartment is usually not free, just already sorted for you.

[double agent]

A few companies which actively recruit newbies do
in fact pay airfare etc. This is the incentive for
first timers...

Personally I do not pay my own airfare. Then again,
I am picky. Unless I am going to work in a poor or
eu country...then of course I get at least something
for my airfare if not the full amount.

Sure some people pay, and some don't.

As I was taught by my great TEFL TRAINER, YOU DECIDE
THE TERMS OF THE CONTRACT to a large degree.

If not you may as well stay home.

[Sherri]

"A few companies which actively recruit newbies do
in fact pay airfare etc. This is the incentive for
first timers... "

Are you talking about Japan? Yes a very few may pay airfare, Westgate is one. I can't think of any others apart from the government-run JET program. If you know of any others I am sure the newbies would like to hear from you. If you want your airfare paid, Korea or China are better bets.

[double agent]

there are several programmes which pay airfare.
in fact i only take paid airfare to wealthy countries,
and often recieve a supplimentary amount to not so rich countries
to aid with my airfare.

It is up to the jobseeker to search out the jobs. Your tefl course
should have helped you with this, and your local University definitely
can.

go get it....