Job Discussion Forums

Dragonsheart · Joined: 23 Mar 2009 Posts: 21 Location: Melbourne Australia

Hi everyone!
Yes another newbie on board! Smile

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 · Joined: 07 Oct 2007 Posts: 225 Location: Connecticut, USA

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 · Joined: 04 May 2003 Posts: 9041 Location: home sweet home

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 · Joined: 21 Jun 2003 Posts: 1838

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 · Joined: 14 Mar 2005 Posts: 419 Location: China

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 · Posted: Tue May 26, 2009 5:50 am Post subject:

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 · Joined: 14 Mar 2005 Posts: 419 Location: China

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 · Joined: 16 Jul 2004 Posts: 960

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.

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