Job Discussion Forums

[steviok85]

Hi
I know the economic crisis is affecting everything, but I am getting really fed up with applying to school after school and sometimes not even getting a response.
I have a degree, CELTA and two years' teaching experience. I appreciate it does not automatically qualify me for a job even if six positions are available.
I have had six interviews, all of which seemed to go well, and have been turned down for all of them.
I have also applied to 15 other schools, many of the jobs advertised on tefl.com, and not a peep back from them.
Anybody else in the same position?
I'm considering just giving up - and heading for the streets of Krakow next year with my guitar (where I made more money in an hour than working in a language school) and giving private lessons.
I could also fill next year with doing the DELTA or an MA.
Sorry to moan a bit!

[jdl]

Do you have your references on side?

If you feel your qualifications are good enough and your interviews going well it may be advisable to look for more controllable factors for success than the economy. When the economy is tighter it is even more important to have a personal strategy well in hand when seeking employment. Review your checlist: references, performance reviews, personal presentation (dress, appearance, manners, etc), and interview skills.

If what you are doing now in terms of job search is not working for you, adjust, adapt and change rather than continue in the same manner.

[steviok85]

Actually, they were telephone interviews.
I have got decent 'official' references from my schools so I may start sending them as e-mail attachments in addition to my resume. Every little helps.
I'll leave it a few weeks until I return to the UK where a few of my references lie in wait.
Cheers

[jdl]

Good luck. Get a friend to do some mock interviews with you and get feedback or do a self video that you and a friend can critique. It helps.

[Glenski]

In any career, I've learned that one should expect to get a 10% response rate from prospective employers. You've had 6 interviews and 15 no answers. Do the math and you'll see you've actually had a better response rate.

Failed 6 interviews? Review your interviewing skills. Sounds obvious, but go over the moments with a friend. Remember that phone interviews do not rely on visual cues (unless you did the calls with a webcam, and even then the field of vision is limited).

For the cases of 15 no responses, reevaluate your resume and cover letters. Did you customize the letters to each employer (perhaps the resume, too)? Employers don't like getting "form letters" as much as you do.

DON'T put references on a resume! If you don't know what the employer is like, do you want them contacting an employer before you do?

Lastly (or perhaps this should have been first), are you sure you're even qualified for the locations where you applied? You didn't state where you are looking or what type of jobs they are.

[naturegirl321]

Are you applying for jobs that you're not qualified for? You might be over qualified, or have visa issues. Keep applying, some schools just take forever to get back to you. Hey, did you really make tons of money busking in Krakow?

[parrothead]

OP, where are you applying? What country? The demand for teachers varies greatly depending on the country.

[steviok85]

In response to previous comments and questions:
1) I have mainly been applying to schools in Poland and Czech Republic which I am certainly qualified for - CELTA minimum. I have also tried contacting a few schools in Cambridge.
2) Yes I did make good money busking in Krakow. I guess I can't prove it. It certainly made for an interesting alternative 'occupation' to teaching.

[gaijinalways]

Some of the street performers (or buskers) in Japan have made a lot of money. It can be irregular work depending on the weather and which locations you're allowed to play in by the police and local gangsters.

[parrothead]

Don't give up. Prague is definitely saturated with teachers, but there are a lot of institutes. Look outside the capital. Try www.expats.cz for a good list of schools and jobs in the Czech Republic.

[Shelly123]

I agree with 'parrothead' and think you shouldn't give up yet, but look outside of the capital. I've been hearing from friends in Europe (a friend in Germany and even Turkey) that they're having to wait longer than usual to hear back. I think the industry is definitely slower for the economic crisis but you're qualified and if you're presenting well in the interview, it's just a matter of time before a school will respond positively.

[spiral78]

I think a big part of the problem is the time of year. The Sept-June contracts have just ended, and there is little work now until mid/end Sept. Employers really don't necessarily plan this far ahead for the Sept season - and in this economy, many of them may be waiting to see how many clients they'll have for the next season before commiting to hire someone new.

I think you'll get little response until the first of September, due to holidays and the economy. Don't take it personally.

[ESL Hobo]

A lot of good advice in these posts.
I think part of it could be the economy and the time of year.
Another part is that there are so many Teflers nowadays that schools are getting pickier because they have so many people applying for the same job. In that case it's not your fault, it might just be that someone else fit more into the line of what they were looking for.

When I started tefling 25 years ago, for the first 15 years I got almost every job I applied for, immediately. Teflers were scarce and there were less restrictions on being hired. Nowadays, I am going through the same thing you are, lots of interviews and resumes sent out and it has taken me almost a year to land a job that suits me.

Busking sounds like a great idea!!!
Less pay but more fun and you could probably fill in some gaps with private classes. Best wishes.

[naturegirl321]

I seond what ESL Hobo says. Before when I had no experience I had no problems getting jobs. Seems like I'm overqualified with an MA and 6 years experience. Plus, I'm not to keen on taking a job that pays me what I made 6 years ago.