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carl33p
Joined: 01 Apr 2010
Posts: 4
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 Posted: Thu Apr 08, 2010 6:09 pm Post subject: CELTA Certified / 2010 Job Market |
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My job hunt experience should be useful information for people in a similar situation to me.
Native English speaker from USA. Have had jobs dealing with children. No formal teaching positions. JLPT 4 skill level.
 In 2008/2009 I applied for JET, got an interview, but didnt make it.
I graduated college in 2009. Computer Science B.S. from UF.
I got CELTA certified in 2009.
Applied to JET 2009/2010. Did NOT get an interview.
Since early February I have applied for around 30 TEFL jobs. Just about every one I qualify for, and even some schools that are not hiring. I have got responses back, but nothing solid.
Twice, I put all my eggs in one basket(JET), and missed the hiring season with other companies. I'm not complaining, since it seems this the reality of the job market. Just want to inform others that are contemplating doing CELTA, that it alone does not guarantee anything, at least in Japan. |
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yangyoseop
Joined: 30 Mar 2010
Posts: 47
Location: #1 Sandra Bullock fan in Tallahassee, FL
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| Posted: Thu Apr 08, 2010 7:12 pm Post subject: |
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Yeah, I didn't have CELTA and I was accepted... didn't even have any experience at the time. Guess there's no guarantee.  |
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Mr_Monkey
Joined: 11 Mar 2009
Posts: 661
Location: Kyuuuuuushuuuuuuu
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| Posted: Thu Apr 08, 2010 8:19 pm Post subject: |
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| There's no guarantee of anything regardless of your qualifications. You can be a brilliant and well-qualified teacher with loads of experience and still not get a position because you smell. |
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Glenski
Joined: 15 Jan 2003
Posts: 12844
Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN
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| Posted: Thu Apr 08, 2010 9:56 pm Post subject: Re: CELTA Certified / 2010 Job Market |
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| carl33p wrote: |
My job hunt experience should be useful information for people in a similar situation to me.
Native English speaker from USA. Have had jobs dealing with children. No formal teaching positions. JLPT 4 skill level. |
JLPT4 is nothing in terms of fluency or "skill" I wouldn't even mention it on a resume.
Jobs dealing with kids, yet no teaching experience. Uh, doesn't tell us much. If you didn't teach them, what did you do?
| Quote: |
I graduated college in 2009. Computer Science B.S. from UF. |
As you wrote, despite having a CELTA, you are still pretty much a generic teacher wannabe, so sending out 30 resumes is just the beginning. You know that the market is flooded, and the hiring season is behind you, so it only gets tougher.
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| Since early February I have applied for around 30 TEFL jobs. Just about every one I qualify for, and even some schools that are not hiring. |
Don't waste time applying to places that aren't hiring.
If you aren't even in Japan, I'd say think twice about applying to jobs that don't recruit from abroad, unless they say something about a Skype interview, or unless you have definite plans to physically be here in the very near future.
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| I have got responses back, but nothing solid. |
What does this mean?
Basically, I'd say have someone look at your resume and cover letter. You might be surprised at the results and be able to improve it. |
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carl33p
Joined: 01 Apr 2010
Posts: 4
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| Posted: Fri Apr 09, 2010 1:39 pm Post subject: Re: CELTA Certified / 2010 Job Market |
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| Glenski wrote: |
JLPT4 is nothing in terms of fluency or "skill" I wouldn't even mention it on a resume.
Jobs dealing with kids, yet no teaching experience. Uh, doesn't tell us much. If you didn't teach them, what did you do?
As you wrote, despite having a CELTA, you are still pretty much a generic teacher wannabe, so sending out 30 resumes is just the beginning. You know that the market is flooded, and the hiring season is behind you, so it only gets tougher. |
I have taught tennis to groups of children and done Big Brother Big Sister, and tutored in computer related subjects. I just wanted to give readers the gist of my background and experience; which as you point out is very minimal. I am aware that my qualifications do not warrant anything. I'm most likely not looking to make TEFL/teaching a career. I dedicate a majority of my time to my Computer Science portfolio.
Which doesn't mean I am not passionate. The CELTA was a very expensive investment for me. A course that took an entire month of dedication(8-12hours/day).
I have seen a lot of inquiries on the forum from candidates with less/similiar credentials as me, and wanted to portray the bleak outlook.
| Quote: |
What does this mean? |
I have been told that:
I am a strong candidate.
They will be interviewing soon.
I have made it to the next phase of their hiring process.
etc...
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Basically, I'd say have someone look at your resume and cover letter. You might be surprised at the results and be able to improve it. |
Not a bad idea. |
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ironclad80
Joined: 10 Sep 2009
Posts: 53
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| Posted: Fri Apr 09, 2010 2:18 pm Post subject: |
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CELTA won't help you get a job in japan. the first time i applied to JET i didn't have a CELTA or JLPT certification, now i have CELTA, JLPT 3 and i tried again and still couldn't land a job in japan.
i'm in Korea now and quite happy here. the CELTA did help me land the job here in a great location.
my japanese studies helped me pick up korean quickly, it's not as glamorous as japan here but the food is better, it's cheaper than japan and right next door.
japan is quite competitive, everyone wants to live there, maybe you need more experience under your belt to have a competitive edge.... |
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carl33p
Joined: 01 Apr 2010
Posts: 4
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| Posted: Fri Apr 09, 2010 6:30 pm Post subject: |
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Thanks for the input ironclad.
It almost seems that a CELTA hurt my chances with JET. Being that I got an interview without it, but did not get an interview with it. But as most of us know, JET can be quite a mystery on what they are looking for. |
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Glenski
Joined: 15 Jan 2003
Posts: 12844
Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN
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