Job Discussion Forums

[Dragonsheart]

Hi everyone!
Yes another newbie on board!
My situation is that i`m 40 years of Age. I`m an Australian native, I also have my EU Passport (polish) and i`m currently doing a 240 hr TESOL course here in Melbourne.

I was thinking of finding work in Portugal later on this year. I was wondering if my age will be a factor against me when applying for positions??

I have noticed that on the WALL STREET INSTITUTE - School of English in Portugal that they are looking for people aged between 21-35...

So i guess i was just wondering,has anyone found that their age has been a issue for them when applying for positions?

Thanks in advance

[hollysuel]

I guess it depends on the country and the language school where you apply. I don't about Portugal, but I know here in Finland, most EFL teaching jobs are for corporate clients and they prefer people who have some life experience and are in the thirties, forties and fifties. I have heard that in some Asian countries, people in their late fifties and sixties also experience some age discrimination, but can't recall which countries. I don't think that you will have a problem at the age of forty, but someone who knows Portugal might be able to answer this better.

[naturegirl321]

YOur age, 40 won't be a hindarance. It's those teachers in their 60s that have probs. Forget Wall Street, tthere are plenty of other good schools. They have an age limit becuase oder teachers tend to have more experience and want more pay.

[coledavis]

I'm in my early 50s and have no problems. I only started a couple of years ago. Ok, you get some employers who say in their advertisements that they want 'young dynamic people' (it's not illegal in their countries to say this, presumably), but plenty of good schools are perfectly happy with us old and middle-aged dynamic types.

[dialogger]

50 is the upper limit in China now.
Even if you are known to the school and they want you (ie taught there previously) they cannot get you a visa.
Teachers with continuous service can get visas to 70 years and maybe beyond.

[sojourner]

Dialogger,

"50 is the upper limit in China now". 50 ? Is that a typo ? From what I have heard from other FTs, as well as what appears in job ads, 60 appears to be the maximum age ! But, I'm sure that with respect to someone 60 +, with good qualifications, well-experienced, good attitude, etc, but new to China, FAOs would "find ways" to employ such a person - especially with regards to job vacancies in the "more remote" parts of the country!

You are probably right with respect to FTs up to 70 ALREADY holding jobs here - well, I certainly hope that your are right !

Anyway, if your initial comment was not a typo, how, exactly, did you hear about the 50 years age limit ?


Peter

[dialogger]

Thanks for your comment sojourner.
It is a typo but reading the email again I see that the limit is 55 not 50.
This is a direct quote from the recruitment section of a high-end Western-run chain.
I'll PM you the name of the school if you like.
Either way it shuts me out.

[Ariadne]

Re age limits in China.. this topic has been discussed frequently on the China boards and there is no real agreement. People say, someone has heard, my school will, their school won't. You get the idea.

My personal experience.. the university I'm teaching at will hire folks up to 65. After that it gets tricky, but not impossible.

.

[dialogger]

Ariadne, is that fresh hires up to 65, or people with continuous service?
I have a friend who just turned 69 and has been at his uni for abt 5 years. His FAO says continuous service outweighs the general restriction.

[Ariadne]

Continuous, those returning after being elsewhere, and new hires. My uni tends to have an older staff of FTs. But, as has been said so often, this is China and things vary from place to place and moment to moment.

.

[dialogger]

Thanks Ariadne.
As you (and many others) say 'this is China'.
PM me if you want to share info about your university and vacancies for fall semester. I'm getting nowhere with the ones I've approached in NE region, which is area I know best.
Smiles

[Prof.Gringo]

Age discrimination cuts both ways.

Many places don't want to hire someone that's too young. And being too old is also a factor.

Most ESL jobs tend to be in 3rd world countries. The laws and their enforcement are very different from most English speaking 1st world countries that TEFL teachers come from.

I would say the "prime" age range for teachers is 25-40. Perhaps as low as 20 and as high as 50 in some schools, places.

Why? If you're too young you're seen as being immature and having a lack of life experience. Let's be honest, who would want to pay a bunch of $$$ to have an 18 y/o fresh from high school as a teacher?

For older teachers, the ability to adapt, and health care concerns are some reasons.

Also, many schools are very shallow. They want to see a pic and of course they are looking for certain things (good or decent looks, conservative dress, race, etc) and of course none of those things has anything to do with being a good teacher.

That's the world we enter into when we choose to teach in "emerging" countries. Even well established countries are known for discrimination.

[jdl]

"Never too young and never too thin" or "50 is the new 30"? Of course a good resume, clear record and reasonable health always help level things out. 40 seems to be the great middle ground...... so "life begins at 40"

[sollettspain]

I'm 46 and started working as an EFL teacher here in Spain a couple of years ago.
I haven't experienced any resistence to my age while looking for work. In fact if anything I'd say that my professional and life experience prior to working in EFL has been looked at very positively. Also the fact that I'm a parent seems to be regarded as an advantage.