Job Discussion Forums

[SaratheSlytherin]

I realize that this might seem like a naive question, but I'm brand new in this field. I really could use some help. I'm very, very ready to search for an EFL job but there are some problems. I'm hoping that someone ca help me!

I successfully completed my Tefl course, a month ago, and I'm now a qualified teacher with the Trinity Cert. Tesol.

I'm really concerned about finding a job. I'm very eager to start looking for jobs and get my first EFL job... but my question is... how can this be worked out?

How can anyone afford to search for a job?

I know there are jobs out there, but I'm worried about the LOGISTICS of interviewing and securing a job. I realize that employers prefer to conduct interviews face-to-face, and that a good deal of hiring goes on, on-site. The costs of airfare just overwhelm me... you pay for a plane ticket in order to have an interview, you may or may not get the job... and if you do, it doesn't exactly pay six figures. How does anyone afford that?

One of the things that attracted me to Tefl (not the only thing) was that I wanted to have a respected career. I'm ashamed of this, but I'd never had a decent job before, I graduated from school and had a series of crappy jobs. I wanted to change that and get into a respected career.

Right now, I'm working as a supply teacher (sub teacher) and I barely get paid anything, certainly not what I deserve, and it was all I could do to scrape together enough money to go to Tefl school.

During my course we had information sessions about looking for jobs, but I still feel OVERWHELMED!!!!

Of course, I did some research on EFL before I committed to a Tefl course but after a month of Tefl school, my brain is fried... I could use a little advice!!

My dream location to teach would be a latin country... I'm homesick for Mexico and Spain (yeah, everyone knows how difficult Spain is for North Americans) and Central/South America seduce me. However, I just want to get established in the field. I'm so ready to make something of myself and be somebody.

I look at this forum a lot, and I realize that this topic may be covered elsewhere in the forum, but searching for it is like searching for a needle in a haystack... I am sorry if I come across as redundnant; I don't mean to.

Thanks so much if you can help!!

Also, thanks for reading my post. I know that I'm a windy writer... writing is my hobby, btw.

[santi84]

You don't fly to interviews. You either fly to the city of your choice with some money saved up and start looking for a job right away, or you do phone/video/cam interviews. The type of interview depends on the area (sorry, I have no experience with Latin America, I don't know how it is done there). If you are a supply teacher, does this mean that you are already a certified teacher with a degree?

[Glenski]

[denise]

I know it's tough, but you need to have enough money saved up to fly out to wherever you want to go. But as santi84 said, you're not just flying out for one interview. Once you get to the country, you start doing face-to-face interviews. Do a bit of research before you go so that you know the names of a few different schools, contact them to let them know you're coming, and continue your research when you arrive--check in English newspapers, ask around at hostels and wherever else expats hang out, etc. That can be nerve-wracking, and it's not something that I feel comfortable with personally, but you simply have more access to more schools that way. If you limit yourself to schools that do phone interviews, you might end up with some bad schools (I'm speaking from personal experience here--I had a phone interview for a job in Chile, and it was a terrible job!)

If your TEFL course trainers didn't tell you about the financial costs of getting set up, well... shame on them. You need money not only for airfare (unless you go to a country that typically pays flights--not the case for Latin America), but for living expenses for the first couple of months.

And in order to make a respectable career out of this, you will ultimately need more than a TEFL certificate, but that's something to think about later, after a couple of years of teaching.

d

[SaratheSlytherin]

Hi Denise,

I just wanted to say thank you... I do appreciate your answer and I can see that you and Santi are trying to help. Thank you.

Denise, your tips about preparing and doing research are helpful... thanks.
I can see what you're saying about preparing, about making a list of schools and having enough funds to cover your living expenses for a little while, and what you're saying makes sense.

It's my goal to go on and have more schooling and education in the future... I don't think of my Tefl certificate as the end of my education, but it was really hard work to get it and I feel that it should open up doors

I guess what I'm trying to say is that when a person has invested time and money getting the Tefl certificate, they do it to improve their chances in the field. By then, you've already spent a lot of $$$ and time getting the certificate. If you don't even have a job yet, how can you invest a fortune looking for a job?

The point of my frustration, is it seems that it costs a fortune to fly out to the country where you want to teach and talk to the people at the schools there. People have to have a job, so they can earn money... where would a person get all this money to travel in the first place, without a decent job? I love teaching, of course, but I still have to have an income.

To me, it seems like saving the $$$ ahead of time is the only solution, but that's really risky and time consuming. What if you invest thousands of dollars visiting a country and talking to people at schools and find... nothing? Furthermore it took me a really long time just to save enough $$$ to get the certificate, and the goal was to start a new life, a better life.

May I ask you this: Is it true that some countries do typically pay flights? Which countries are they? I understand that they wouldn't pay just for you to interview, but I suppose you mean that they would pay for your transport once they hired you.

Thanks if you can tell me this, I hope you can help.

[SaratheSlytherin]

I have a question for anyone on the forum:

How did you manage to save money to fly to the country where you wanted to teach? If someone already has a lucrative job, they wouldn't be searching for one... at least by my logic.

To be a sub teacher you don't necessarily have to be certified. I have my university degree, and a Tefl certificate. Eventually I'll have more credentials, but for right now, that's it. Getting a credential improves a person's chances in life, but I'm just not sure as to how to make the most of this.

I can take an honest answer, but if you have a nasty one, it's better just to move on.

If you can help me, thank you.

[Justin Trullinger]

Some thoughts:

Hang in there- the first steps are the hardest. Once you get moving, it will be better.

Choose a country. You've got a lot of generalities going on in your post, and the answers are too varied from place to place. Choose a country, or a few to investigate, and go from there. Statements like "employers prefer to conduct interviews face-to-face" are simply to broad to have any reality. Some employers prefer this, and in some countries it's the norm. In other countries, it's the exception. I've been hired after phone interviews with some frequency. Depends on where you're going.

[santi84]

[naturegirl321]

With the internet, it's possible. I've researched job offers, seen what schools look like, emailed current teachers, had interviews, web interviews and have even done a demo class. All with the help of internet

Yoiu don't have to be in coutnry to get the job.

Another thing, if you're set on Latin America, ask about visas. They're not always included. Mexico, yes, Ecuador and Peru, probably not.

As for the places that prefer face to face interviews, sorry, but these are usually very competitive, very coveted jobs, you'll need experience and qualifications.

If you have those, but still can't go in country for the face to face interview, try to work out something with the interviewer. I was offered a very good, (five month vacation, less than 15 hours a week of teaching a week)d job from abroad, even though they said that they required face to face interviews.

Also, a lot depends on luck and being there at the right time and in the right place.

As for finding a TEACHING job that pays six figures, dollars, you mean? Good luck. Even Saudi probably doesn't pay that much.

If you want money, stay away from Latin America. Sure you live well, but can't really save. And if you save, then you're not living well.

If you ARE a licensed teacher, you go to intl school recruitment fairs. Have 15 to 20 interviews and viola! get a job.

As for flying to another country once you have the job, you have to save and budget. And don't forget money for the first month as well.

Yes, you CAN save, but it depends on how you live and what your salary is.

[naturegirl321]

One last thing, there are TONS and TONS of EFL jobs out there. They may not be in prestitgious companies, or pay well, or be the best out there.

BUt everyone has to start someone. PUt in your year at one of those schools, you'll have your foot in the door, then you move up.

I personally would be wary about flying in for an interview. Sure, there are legit places out there. BUt some places would rather hav eyou work on a tourist visa, then let you go once it expires. And you can't do anything ebcause you were working illegally. NO fligths, housing, bonuses, etc.

So if you DO fly in for an interview, fly back home and wait for your WORK visa.

AS for phone interviews, they're pretty common nowadays, or MSN ones, or Skype.

[Glenski]

[denise]

You asked how we saved the money to get started--I did an office job for two years. Answered phones, made photocopies, even attempted to make coffee a couple of times (I don't drink the stuff, so never bothered to learn how to make it properly.) It certainly wasn't fun, but it was a means to an end.

That was before I got my TEFL certification, though. I saved up a few thousand, flew to Prague, did my TEFL course, and stayed there and worked. I can see how your situation might be more frustrating--you're got your certificate and are ready to go.

d

[Dan The Chainsawman]

Sarah,

What countries do you want to work in? When I started in Korea I was paid for my flight over. When I started in China I paid my own flight over. Oddly enough I showed up in both countries with about 100 US dollars in my pocket.

So not going through that again, jesus what a nightmare. I suggest narrowing down where you want to work and then investigating the specific requirements needed for working in those countries. It varies a great deal from country to country so one general approach may not be the best way to go about it.

As the other posters said there are a slew of ESL possibilities out there, however, not all are equal. My suggestion here is for you to consider saving up a good fund as your get out of town money. Have enough for airfare and WAM (walking around money) in case you need to split. I'm very very lucky in the sense that most of my jobs have been good ones.

Not everyone can say the same. *goes and knocks on wood*

Good luck!

[JZer]

SaratheSlytherin,

You can get a job in China just based on having a B.A. and an American passport. It is as easy as that. I have been offered a university job without an interview.

Currently a ticket from Charlotte, North Carolina to Shanghai is $1,306. You could probably get to China with only saving $2000US. $1300 plus $700 US until you get paid one month after your job begins.

It is best to have enough money to get back to the US encase your employer is not reputable. I am not recommending showing up in China with only $700. Saving $5000 would be better. I am just saying that you could make it to China with only $2000.

[JZer]