Job Discussion Forums

[enter6382]

I am twenty years old and was considering getting a certificate from Oxford Seminars. What are the actual chances of getting a job somewhere. I'm not picky about what country I go to or making a lot of money. I just want some new experiences before I finish school and am stuck here for good. I would appreciate any info you could give me.

[MO39]

[naturegirl321]

I second that. At least a BA is needed for most jobs, just take a look at tefl.com or here at Dave's. Sure, you might find a job, but you'll be at the bottom of the TEFL ladder.

YOu might want to look at camp positions though, just for the summer, try England, Italy, Spain, Ireland, China. Good luck

[sweeney66]

A degree is not required to work in Mexico, but you need a more widely recognized cert than Oxford, such as CELTA or Trinity.

[Glenski]

I agree that you will probably go farther with a degree than without.

Still, if you insist, see what countries interest you have working holiday visa relationships (like Japan does). No degree (or certificate) needed. 12-month stay only.

[Kootvela]

No degree status is not good at all if one would like to get a serious job one day. I don't know why some countries don't require a degree for work, maybe because then they would have to pay high salaries and be competitive for employees, but doing away with higher education for incoming people ic just welcoming trouble.

[basiltherat]

My opinion, for what it's worth. Unless the country's authorities require a degree in order to get an employment visa, a degree usually opens doors especially when it comes to making a short list of candidates for an interview and thereby the probability of procuring a teaching position.

After that, personality, experience, knowledge, skills and referals etc are the keys to obtaining a job.

Once you have the above and you 'promote' yourself well enough, a degree, I think, becomes less important to an employer.

If you are fortunate and dedicated enough to have persevered in this gig and have diversified your skills through simple determination and interest without having a degree, it is possible to get both financially rewarding and respectable jobs.

my tuppence worth.
basil

[Kootvela]

Yes, it may be so. But I'd like to highlight a few points:
1) while doing one's degree, one spends time with theoretical and practical skills for the job. It's 4 years of such experience to a school-leaving diploma with general education knowledge, so I think a degree is important.
2) in some fields they can only hire people with a degree, no matter how charming your personality is. I'm not sure how about where you are, but here state schools and universities hire only people with degrees because that's a requirement for them.

[denise]

[jpvanderwerf2001]

[Marcoregano]

A degree is akin to a passport. Without one, your mobility is limited. It's as simple as that.

[naturegirl321]

ONe thing about a degree is taht it shows you're committed enough to finish it and mature enoguh as well.

[Gringo Greg]

At 20, you NEED a degree. I don't know that you could get hired with anything more than the worst language schools.

If you were 30 and without a degree, it would look and be different. You could draw on a wealth of work experience to make up for your lack of college experience.

[Glenski]

[Kootvela]