Job Discussion Forums

wckusa · Joined: 01 Oct 2010 Posts: 16

I have seen some people write that getting a job in Thailand if over 50 is harder than if you are under 40 but v. doable. Others say it is v. hard if later 50's to get one.

I am planning to go over to Asia in October. Get my CELTA certificate, start networking around Thailand to see if I can get in right away but understand, if it is doable at all, I may need to wait until the market heats up for the May sessions.

I have an MBA from a top school, have been an exec for years, but will just have turned...gasp...58 when I get there.

I asked someone at a TEFL school and his response (v. biased I'm sure to get me to sign up) was: "With the wide variety of jobs available, your age should not be a major obstacle. With an MBA, you could consult to hospitality firms as a trainer or teach Math and Science - which are in demand!"

How he got from MBA to science, I'm not sure. But what do you think of his statement that "your age should not be a major obstacle" and the idea of "consult to hospitality firms as a trainer".

Chris Westergaard · Joined: 14 Mar 2006 Posts: 215 Location: Prague

This is actually easy to solve. Contact the school and ask him to provide you with a few contacts of students your age that were successful. Easy stuff. If they can't do that, then take a course that can. Then contact these people and find out what their experience was like.

Cheers,

Chris Westergaard
TLH TEFL

wckusa · Joined: 01 Oct 2010 Posts: 16

naturegirl321 · Joined: 04 May 2003 Posts: 9041 Location: home sweet home

It is going to be harder if you're older, unfortunately.

A good place to start is here at Dave's. Search for the school, ask around. As people have said: ask to talk to teachers.

But if you do a CELTA course, it'll be legit. If it's a generic TEFL school, make sure it has 120 hours with teaching practice of about 6 hours. And again, you should be able to ask here on Dave's.

Becoming a trainer would be good, Business English, maths or science as well. Connections are going to help as well, it might take a while to work your way up.

I've seen adverts over the years that stop accepting peopel from anywhere from 45 (rare) to 55. 55 seems to be the magic number. I guess when you hit 55 you fall apart. I asked my boss and he couldn't give me a straight answer about it either.

Chris Westergaard · Joined: 14 Mar 2006 Posts: 215 Location: Prague

tttompatz · Posted: Tue Jul 19, 2011 11:52 pm Post subject:

Truth be told:

Over 50 (I am in that category), experienced and qualified = (decent) jobs begging to be had.

Over 50, green as grass and never been in a classroom = plenty of you out there and competition for (entry level) jobs is stiff. You are competing with all the other semi-retirees looking to extend their stay in the Land Of Smiles.

Now to the nuts and bolts.
If you have an MBA and want to work in your field then look at universities that teach business programs in English (St. Johns University in BKK as an example). Also get familiar with CALL learning and effective use of technology in the classroom.

If you try to get in as an entry level ESL teacher you will be starting at the bottom of the pile like all the other 20-something backpackers and competing with them for all the jobs except in the far flung reaches of the north-east.

=If you want to work in BKK you can find work but you will have to work at it.
=If you want to work in a tourist destination you will have problems and the pay will be poor.
=If you want to work in the provinces you can find work. You won't get rich in your first year (expect wages in the 30k-35 baht range) but you can live comfortably and network to move up in year 2.

Unless you are good as a teacher AND network to make connections your employment options will end at about 62. IF you are connected you can work for as long as you can stay in the classroom.

.

ancient_dweller · Joined: 12 Aug 2010 Posts: 415 Location: Woodland Bench

naturegirl321 · Joined: 04 May 2003 Posts: 9041 Location: home sweet home

ancient_dweller · Joined: 12 Aug 2010 Posts: 415 Location: Woodland Bench

i totally agree. It basically means it is a shoddy school and they don't want to give details because they know the recommendations will be bad!

Chris Westergaard · Joined: 14 Mar 2006 Posts: 215 Location: Prague

Yeah it's kind of hilarious actually. I see schools all of the time, that have pictures of people and recommendations, but not an email or a way to contact them. You would think that if a graduate is using a picture of themselves they wouldn't have a problem with leaving an email or some way to contact them.

Either way, whenever a school tries to limit or control the contact and flow of information between graduates and new applicants, it's never a good thing