Job Discussion Forums

[hallidayml]

Hi, I am feeling massively overwhelmed looking for my first teaching job. I have heard great things about this forum and appreciate any guidance you may have to offer.

I have many questions right now but a couple of more pressing ones are with regards to finding a job without a BA. What Countries or areas are still open to me without a degree? Is it ever advisable to use a recruitment agency? If so any suggestions?

Again hats off to your bravery! Thanks for the help. Michelle H

[Irish]

If you feel overwhelmed now, just wait till the replies to your post start coming in.

It's not enough to know that you want to teach without a degree. What's your nationality? What's your age? (I hope you're not offended but this matters for visa requirements in certain countries.) Do you have some idea of where you want to go? What age group would you like to teach? What languages do you speak? Do you have some type of TESL/TEFL certification? If not, are you considering one?

If you haven't done so already, look through the Job Information Journal and read the posts there to get a feel for the different countries. For questions about specific countries, post in those forums where informed people are more likely to see your questions. If you're really brave, read "I want a job, but I have no degree. Gimme!" in this forum.

Finally, I have to ask why you want to do this. Are you looking for adventure or money? Are you considering teaching as a career and think this is a good way to do a test run? Maybe you should first determine what it is you want out of this experience then try to figure out where and how you can make that happen.

I know you're still in the information gathering stage but you really do need to narrow it down in order to get good advice.

[TokyoLiz]

Look again at the thread "I want a job, but I have no degree. Gimme!" and read it carefully.

Irish asked the essential question - why do you want to go?

[scot47]

You can write off the ME if you are not a graduate.
Thailand ? People's Republic of China ?

You will get the worst jobs. Low pay. And all the rest.

[Albulbul]

Do youself a favour. Go and get a degree. It will make life easier in getting a tecahing job and it will make it easier when you get back to wherever home is.

Now I expect you to throw a tantrum because this is not the advice you wanted, But it is the right advice. If you do not like it I am sorry.

[bnix]

The reason you are feeling"massively overwhelmed" in looking for a job without the degree is that you are competing against a lot of people out there WITH degrees.This is just the reality of the situation.Of course,this does not mean you are a bad person,or anything.It just means you need to get a degree, as the other posters told you.They gave you EXCELLENT advice....and I definitely agree 100 percent with them.As one of the other posters also noted,why did you choose this field? It might seem like"the path of less resistance"...but it usually isn't ...and as one of the other posters pointed out....if you try to go into this field with NO degree....you will probably be limited to scammy,semi-volunteer jobs("think of the experience,but very little money"!!)

Please do not do that to yourself.There are people in this field who will give you good advice.We do not want to see anyone else get burned.Most of us have already seen enough people burned in this field and have probably been burned ourselves.Take the excellent advice of the other posters and get that degree.Also,look at non-TESOL options.Do NOT put all of your eggs in the TESOL basket.Best of luck to you.

[scot47]

The question of how to get a job without a degree comes up againa and again. Now over on thge Teacher Training Forum they are asking iof they can a job without finishing High School ?

What next. ? "My partenr don't read too good but she wans teach English in Japon ."

[Joachim]

I've said it before and I'll say it again. In all three (Asian) countires where I have taught before, I've taught alongside people with degrees who were terrible, uninspired and dull, and people without them who were innovative, creative and original.

There are more important things than documentation and employers do realise this. Your job hunt will be harder without a degree, but by no means impossible.

If you are American or Canadian you can get a working holiday visa for Japan without a degree, although you'll be taxed more than if you had one.

In Thailand, the PRC, Eastern Europe, Indonesia you should be able to get a job with no qualifications whatsoever, so long as you're willing to sign a one year contract. In Hong Kong you should be able to as well, although you'll probably only be able to find part-time work unless you really manage to prove yourself.

Good Luck!

And by the attitude of some people on this board, I'd think they were afraid of the competition.......just a thought.

[denise]