Job Discussion Forums

EvilTwin2000 · Joined: 01 Mar 2009 Posts: 34

Practically all TESL courses say they will help with the job search. Few of them specify to what degree. My uneducated guess is that in most cases, such help boils down to a brief �self-marketing� unit within the course. But a lot of places make it sound a lot more pro-active than that�as if hoards of potential employers are deluging them with enough jobs for all.

What�s the reality, in general, if there is a general? What percentage of folks out there would you figure got their first job with their TESL school acting as midwife/middleman?

Any variables to consider? Is a school offering Celta or Trinity more likely to be alerted to job prospects than, say, Cheapo-teach.com? Are there regional or national distinctions?

Your answers will be illuminating�thanks.

Glenski · Joined: 15 Jan 2003 Posts: 12844 Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN

One place that has been talked about on this forum is very strict about helping with job placement. You have to look for work their way, using very precise paperwork. Bear that in mind. Some people have written about such places, claiming that their ad "results guaranteed" is false, but they failed to read the fine print and could not get their money back.

spiral78 · Joined: 05 Apr 2004 Posts: 11534 Location: On a Short Leash

The reputable training centres I know personally keep in touch with the directors of a range of schools - mostly in the region, but they usually have some contacts in far-flung places as well.

'Job placement' essentially amounts to putting you in touch with directors. You're always going to have to go to the school director, CV in hand, and likely to teach a demo lesson.

No director in his/her right mind hires anyone based on what ABC from any training centre said without checking out the candidate first. Obviously training centre staff have a vested interest in promoting their grads.

That said, the contacts can be very useful, and training centres should be able to tell you who the more reputable/dodgy employers in the region are - and possibly put you in touch with their earlier grads working at school ABC.

Another reason to take a course in the country where you want to start teaching, if at all possible.

denise · Joined: 23 Apr 2003 Posts: 3419 Location: finally home-ish

When I did my TEFL course in Prague, the program invited a number of local schools to a small recruitment fair, so in week three of my course, I already had a number of interviews lined up, and in week four, before even finishing the course, I had a couple of offers. Still, as spiral said, I did have to go through the interviews and do some demo lessons--the recruitment fair was just a way to make contacts and interviews lined up--no guarantees of anything.

My course did, though, guarantee employment, which basically meant that after the TEFL course finished the newly-graduated teachers could teach a couple of classes (in addition to offering a TEFL course, the school also offered its own EFL classses). I think it just added up to a few hours, not enough to make a living on.

d

Justin Trullinger · Posted: Tue May 19, 2009 2:48 pm Post subject:

It may be significant to distinguish between those that offer jobsearch help, and those that guarantee employment.

I have seen varying degrees of involvement in job searching, but virtually all guarantees have a loophole. Which is common sense, if you look at it- why should a course provider offer a refund because you couldn't be bothered to look for a job properly?

(I'm not defending fraudulent guarantees- just pointing out that it would be hard for a guarantee to be legitimate.)

I run a TESOL course in Ecuador. We offer assistance, but no guarantee.

I think the appropriate question may be "What percentage of grads are successfull in finding work?" If it's high, then the assistance provided is sufficient to the market.

BEst,
Justin

nickpellatt · Joined: 08 Dec 2006 Posts: 1522

I didnt enrol on my course with any thought to the assistance they may offer, and because this wasnt something of interest to me, I dont really remember it being discussed during my initial course interview.

There was certainly no offer of a job with them, and the 'job assistance' part of the course (a single lesson module) was (IMO) the weakest part of the training course. This module was with the DOS, who went through some ideas for compiling a CV, and suggested a number of sites to consult, including this one! They also wheeled out a rep from Cactus who was trying to recruit for ILA Vietnam ... I asked about visa regulations, and as she didnt know ... she lost the interest of everyone in the class at that point.

Whilst the advice offered by the DOS was (IMO) sound, I felt it didnt really cover enough bases, and everything was geared towards applying for only one type of job / one type of school. I took the course in a seaside town which has thriving summer student programs, yet the DOS didnt introduce or offer much advice towards these type of positions, which are as valid an opportunity as IELTS courses with British Council schools, especially for newbies.

Im not in contact with all my classmates from my course, but I dont think many of them have secured EFL positions. Interested to hear what the drop out ratio is?

naturegirl321 · Joined: 04 May 2003 Posts: 9041 Location: home sweet home

Basically, they get you in the job search, but they can't guarantee you a job, unless it's with their own institue.

Justin Trullinger · Posted: Tue May 19, 2009 6:19 pm Post subject:

christine13 · Posted: Thu May 28, 2009 2:35 am Post subject:

christine13 · Posted: Thu May 28, 2009 2:46 am Post subject:

spiral78 · Joined: 05 Apr 2004 Posts: 11534 Location: On a Short Leash

Yes, christine, you've got it about right.

I also did a generic TEFL in Prague, but like Denise, it was years ago now (ITC, 1998). Obviously I can't recommend it or not now!

Caledonian have been around for quite a while and have a generally decent rep. However, you might want to read some of the recent posts on the Czech Rep forum - I seem to remember that someone was writing about visa problems recently, but don't know the details. YOu want to be sure you are with a school (training centres don't get involved in visas normally) that will definitely support your visa process.

denise · Joined: 23 Apr 2003 Posts: 3419 Location: finally home-ish

I also did ITC, way back in 1999. It had a good reputation at the time, but there was some sort of financial problem (I think with its branch in Barcelona--not in Prague) that hurt it. I don't know the details so I can't really comment.

d

christine13 · Posted: Thu May 28, 2009 3:39 pm Post subject:

Prof.Gringo · Posted: Sat May 30, 2009 4:28 am Post subject:

Any decent school will tell you they can offer job placement assistance. Pretty much any school that gives a job "guarantee" is a scam of one sort or another.

When I took my TEFL they said I would receive placement assistance. That was the low point of the course as that turned out to just be some vague career "advice" and that was about it.

Anyways, it didn't really matter. Even though I couldn't speak much Spanish I had two job offers within a week. I just cold called the schools (both language institutes) and I had two interviews and two job offers.

Personally I think it's best to take a TEFL course in your target country.