Job Discussion Forums

[Knexus]

I was wondering if any of you experienced ESL teachers (by that I would include even people who have only gotten their first ESL contract so far) could set my mind at ease a bit.

I've been trying to get a job now for 6 months with a college education (BS in Int'l. Business) and certification (dare I say it, Oxford Seminars TESOL/TEFL/TESL). As far as goes for the ESL route, I've been trying now for a couple of months and will be activating Oxford's "Job Placement" service very shortly.

How long did it take you experienced people to get a job? Specifically those of you who found employment in any of the following:
Brazil, Argentina, Chile
Japan, Thailand, Hong Kong, Taiwan
Anywhere in Europe

Additionally, what was your method besides just showing up "in-country" hoping to land a job? I just got out of college so just showing up somewhere, crossing my figures in this global economic environment, and hoping I get a job before I spiral into international debt isn't really an option. I'll think the travel part of the ESL experience when I have a job.

[Glenski]

I spent 6 months looking for what the market held, what jobs entailed and paid, and what people had to say about employers and the whole EFL game. It was time well spent. In today's economy, I'd say that even more strongly. Don't rush into things.

If you've been applying but not been hired, have someone look at your resume and cover letter. You never know.

[spiral78]

I can only speak for Europe, but I can cover that base in general.

As a US citizen, you are essentially only eligible for legal work permits in the 'new' EU member states of central/Eastern Europe.

European schools almost never hire anyone sight unseen, from abroad. The exception is for those with specialist qualifications. You really have to be here, on the ground, CV and certification in hand, looking professional to get a hearing.

Finally, I'm afraid your cert is a bit substandard for this region. The standard for Europe in general is 120+/- hours on site, and including teaching practice with acutal students, and feedback from experienced teacher trainers. CELTA is the brand name.
It's simply that 95% of newbies on the job market here have this - and so anything less puts you at the bottom of the hiring market.

I think your options for Asia are probably much stronger. I believe that schools there commonly DO hire from abroad, and may even help pay for your travel there, making start-up costs much easier to bear. The start-up costs for Europe are very high in comparison.

Good luck with the 'job placement' service....I don't have any personal experience with this, but have heard from others that it's nothing to brag about.

[naturegirl321]

For Latin America, a couple of weeks, show up and knock on doors.

Asia, they seem to recruit year round, though the market in Japan is supposed to be saturated.

Europe, visas will be an issue, if you look at the newer EU countries or non EU countries, a couple of months, becuase as Asia you should have the visa in hand before you go. BUt those that high abroad are usually on the low end of the pay scale. And may have a high turnover of teachers.

[Knexus]

I'll keep going at it then.

The saturation of the Japanese market must be why my advisor in Oxford's Placement Services is being dodgy even on Japan after the truth about Europe was discussed (see my post in the general discussion area).

I'm hoping to at least continue getting "professional" review of my cover letter and resume. I also think having Placement Services will filter out the bots, the broken English, and mass emails from recruiters concerning South Korea and China I've been getting since I started the job search on my own a few months ago.

CELTA and Trinity are certs I've heard of related to Europe. If I land a job doing this somewhere in Asia and like it I will probably get my masters in TESOL/TEFL/TESL. How's that stack up compared to CELTA and Trinity?

[spiral78]

CELTA and Trinity are common in Europe - but they still won't get you a work permit in Western Europe. You're eligible for Central/Eastern Europe with them, obviously.

An MA is the basic key to university positions in the Euro region. Be aware, however, that the job market is pretty full of very well-qualified British teachers these days, and it's likely to be difficult to compete in terms of getting visa exceptions.

I can vouch for this, being one of the exceptions: a US citizen with a uni job in Western Europe - I have the MA + 12 years of experience - but I would not have this job if it weren't for specialist qualifications and local contacts and reputation here in advance of the job search. It wasn't easy - and it took TONS of luck.

We are currently advertising for one new teacher, and I am on the interview team. We're very busy, having been innundated with CVs. We're interviewing only people with related MA, European citizenship, who are in the area - we have been able to get THAT specific, thanks to the overwhelming interest in our one paltry little job opening.

I''m not arguing that it's impossible to make it work in Europe - I'm living proof it's not. But I will say that there is no clear, simple, easy road to making a career here as a non-EU citizen, regardless of qualifications.

[Glenski]

[Jetgirly]

I moved to Barcelona the day after my university graduation ceremony (I had finished courses two months earlier and worked sixty hours a week in the interim). I started the CELTA there about four days after I arrived. When I finished the CELTA it was mid-December. I applied for jobs during the last week of the course and the week following the course. No luck. I spent the Christmas holidays with a friend in Sweden, and applied for jobs from there. I hadn't heard anything by January 5th, so I went back to Barcelona. A week passed and I didn't hear anything. Around January 10th I got a call from a school in Italy and accepted the job; I started there on January 15th.

[Knexus]

[Jetgirly]

I didn't move in-country. I am from Canada. The day after I graduated from university in Canada (with a four-year BA in English), I flew to Barcelona. That was November. I finished the CELTA around December 15th, job-hunted unsuccessfully, spent Christmas in Sweden, flew back to Barcelona, stayed in a hostel, didn't get a job, accepted a job in Italy, then flew to Italy (and because my flight to Italy was cancelled, I arrived around 1:00 am on Sunday morning before starting work at 8:00 am on Monday). Upon arrival, I stayed in the only hostel in my Italian city for three weeks while working full-time and looking for an apartment. I was twenty years old.

[Knexus]

[spiral78]

What about Eastern Europe and the countries there which are new entrants to the EU? What about those that are not? Anyone have any good info on employment/working there?

Yes, lots of us live/work in the region. If you scroll down Dave's Job Discussion Board, you'll find country-specific forums.

The two problems you would have with Central/Eastern Europe is that 1) reputable schools don't usually hire from abroad - you have to be here. and 2) teachers don't make enough money here to pay back debts at home.

I realise it's not happy info, but it's realistic - and that's very important when you're contemplating a move abroad.

[Knexus]

If any of you would care to weigh in on my other posting I'd really appreciate it (especially you spiral!).

I've only seemed to hit more snags.

http://forums.eslcafe.com/job/viewtopic.php?p=783507&highlight=#783507