Job Discussion Forums

[ryuro]

This goes with the rant I recently posted. I've actually posted it a few times before, but felt it could use yet another airing. Any additions people want to make are most welcome.

Cheers
- ryuro
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HOW TO LAND AN ESL JOB (I think this is good info for getting ANY job)

Having recruited and interviewed ESL teachers for several years in Asia (mostly Japan) I would like to post a bit of advice for prospective ESL teachers that I think applies to an ESL position anywhere in the world (probably to any job for that matter). My apologies in advance if I tend to go on and the sarcasm starts to get thick. Please remember this is NOT a PERSONAL ATTACK on anyone, but if you take it as such, perhaps you�re guilty of some of the �crimes� listed below. Regardless I hope it�s of use to some of you out there.

1. LEARN HOW TO WRITE A PROPER CV/RESUME!!!!
- I CANNOT stress this point enough. I�m truly shocked at the number of resumes that- excuse the language- are pure CRAP that hit my inbox/fax. They go straight into the rubbish bin. There are literally thousands of websites out there that will give you free advice and tips on CV/resume writing so I won�t get into any details. However, I�ll give a couple general tips- the CV/resume should be concise and the experience/education listed should be relevant to the position sought. You may have done a six-month stint as an underwater basket weaver in the Himalayas, but how that relates to teaching English to children may be a bit lost on the recruiter. And make sure the spelling and grammar are correct- if you�re applying to be an English teacher- come on, get it right! You are SELLING YOURSELF and the resume is that foot in the door- if it�s a smelly, dirty foot you�ll see the door slammed shut on it.

2. LEARN HOW TO WRITE A PROPER COVER LETTER
- Again, thousands of websites exist to help you with this and the same things I mentioned about the CV/resume apply here too. My general advice for the cover letter is to be sure you craft it specifically to the position sought and address it to the appropriate person. I want to know why you want THIS PARTICULAR POSITION and why you think you�re the best candidate. Cover letters that go straight into my trash can start something like, �Dear Director�� Sounds nice, but my name is actually listed as the contact in the ad so address it to ME. This is not an egotistical thing, but for those of you using the shotgun approach to applying for jobs (the same general cover letter sent to a number of prospective employers) try again! How lazy are you?! Is it really that difficult to cut and paste the name and organization to which you�re applying into the cover letter. Be warned though, be sure you send the right letter to the right person/organization. I�ve lost count of the number of times I�ve received letters saying something like, �I�m very excited about the opportunity to work for ABC English School and believe I have the experience and qualities necessary to make a positive addition to your teaching team at ABC School.� Great sentiment, except that I�m recruiting for XYZ English School- oops! Click, drag into the trash. Finally, the cover letter is not the forum to ask a hundred questions about the job. You are SELLING YOURSELF as the best candidate. If you get an interview, that is the appropriate time and place for any lingering questions.

3. READ THE AD CAREFULLY
- Know what you�re applying for and the terms/conditions listed in the ad. Also, be sure you�re actually qualified for the job. Many ESL positions have only basic qualifications (e.g. a degree, a pulse and an outgoing manner), but they are usually necessary to obtain the proper working permits. Many positions, particularly in Asia, request a certain gender/nationality/age limit. By western standards this may be judged discriminatory and unfair (and often I agree) the harsh truth is that it is perfectly legal and acceptable in most Asian countries to make these kinds of preference statements when recruiting teachers. While I have never outright told potential male or British female candidates not to bother applying when asked about �PREFERRED: NORTH AMERICAN FEMALE� however you should realize almost every position for which I�ve recruited over the years has brought in a couple hundred applications each and the chances of not finding the �preferred� candidate are almost zero. So use your energy and time wisely when choosing which positions you�ll go after.

4. SEND ALL THE INFORMATION/MATERIALS REQUESTED- NO MORE, NO LESS
- This goes hand in hand with number 3. Send EXACTLY the application materials that are requested and in the form in which they are requested (e.g. MS WORD files, jpg files for pictures, etc.). Incomplete applications go straight into the trash can. If they request a picture, don�t get into some self-righteous huff about how this is �discrimination� and �why should a picture matter, blah blah blah.� I�m sorry, I may agree with you completely but you�re not applying for a job in your home country where certain laws forbid such requests and the truth is my bosses want to see the person they may be hiring. Pictures should be professional looking, (smile- please!!!) passport style, head shots. Sending additional pictures that show-off your happy-go-lucky personality can back fire. The interview is the place to let your personality come through.

5. IF YOU GET AN INTERVIEW- BE PREPARED
- Again, re-read the ad carefully (take some brief notes). Try to research the company for which you�re applying and the area in which the position is based- this actually does impress interviewers. Be sure to make yourself available at the INTERVIEWER�S CONVENIENCE. Be prepared for what we westerners would consider personal and private questions- asking about health, family and relationships is very common. I�ll be honest I don�t like asking these questions, but if I don�t my boss certainly will. Basically they�re looking to see if there are any issues that might result in a teacher having to break a contract early so the best way to approach these questions is in a manner that conveys you are definitely committed to the contract for the duration (typically one year) baring some tragic unforeseen event. Often I have very little time in which to interview candidates and my BS meter is very sensitive so do us both a favor and make sure you ACTUALLY ANSWER the question asked. Elaborate only when asked and don�t be afraid to ask the interviewer �did I answer your question adequately?� Also choose your words and tone wisely- smiles can be �seen� even through a phone and if you�re going to be teaching English to non-native speakers it would help you to avoid colloquialisms, slang and to SPEAK CLEARLY. Finally, although not everything can be covered in a small ad and it�s always a good idea to reconfirm certain points or get clarification on anything that�s not clear, NOTHING earns the biggest black mark in an interviewer�s notebook than asking a question about some aspect of the position that is CLEARLY STATED in the ad. �So, is airfare included with this position?�, when the ad states ALL TRAVEL EXPENSES WILL BE BORNE BY THE SUCCESSFUL CANDIDATE. Read between the lines and you tell me. Finally, DO think of some thoughtful questions for the interviewer to show you actually have an interest in the position. I�ve rarely had an interview in which every stone has been overturned by me.

6. WAITING TO HEAR/FOLLOW-UP
- This is the nasty part. You sent off the winning resume and slam dunked the interview now it�s wait-n-see. Any reputable organization will give you a time frame as to when a final decision will be made, but an exact date may be difficult after one brief interview and often there may be follow-up information/interviews needed. If anything more is requested of you and you want the position, it is in your best interests to submit any information/materials ASAP when requested. Nothing moves a candidate to the bottom of the short list (for me usually off the list) than a recruiter actually having to �chase down� requested materials from a candidate. Again, you�re selling yourself and the deal ain�t closed yet.

That covers most of the problems I�ve experienced when recruiting over the years. Again, I apologize for the heavy sarcasm and occasionally condescending manner- most of it is meant to be tongue in cheek though. I do hope some of you find it helpful.

Cheers,

ryuro

[Gordon]

Good advice. I agree with everything you've said. I've hired teachers before and am appalled at the number of spelling mistakes teachers have made in their resume. Hello spellcheck. Absolutely no excuses for that.

Ryuro, you may want to go back and change it from ESL to EFL for teaching in Asia.

[shmooj]

yeah spellcheck won't pick up that one Gordon!

Ryuro - what's with the reposts? I've read this one at least once before. Surely if it is somewhere on this forum it can be drawn up by anyone searching for this kind of info? Particularly if you've already posted it before.
What gives? Just curious,