Job Discussion Forums

[jyl2011]

Hi there.

I am hoping to find a job in Hong Kong and am hoping to get some advice. I am wondering whether my current credentials would be good enough to find employment in Hong Kong. They are as follows:

- TEFL Certificate (just online and only 50 hours)
- BA English Literature / American Literature and Italian studies (4 year course, 2:1 attained)
- Experience (6 months South Korea with young learners, 1 year business English and translation in Italy, various private tutoring experience).

That's me. Having working in Korea I discovered a vast amount of discontent amongst ESL teachers. A vast amount of employers were shady and many foreign teachers would find themselves doing "midnight runs" in order to get away from the nightmare. Whilst they pay very well, it does not of course give anybody the right to treat you like a piece of meat. I have been searching for Hong Kong, Singapore, China, Taiwan, Japan and Malaysia and here is what I have discovered.

- Singapore and Malaysia: Most schools will not even give me a second look and refuse to even acknowledge my applications.

- Japan: The potential of getting a job is there, however the start up costs are vast (I don't have a massive amount of cash these days).

- Taiwan: Mainly chain schools that I haven't read the best reviews about. Again it would probably involve going out there and searching in person. Definitely possible.

- Hong Kong: Again, a little similar to Singapore and Malaysia but to a lesser extent.

I was hoping to get a little bit of insight. If I was to just arrive in Hong Kong, would I be able to find employment?

Thank you.

[sistercream]

Those credentials could get your foot in the door in Hong Kong, but only for language centre/ kindergarten work, where you will find that you are faced with the same kind of employers you have discovered in Korea.
Even if you get an honest employer, you will be at the bottom of the food chain, working all the hours God sends (think 35 - 40 teaching hours a week), with as little as one week's paid leave in a full year's contract.

For a more civilised kind of job, at the very least you will need a proper, 120 hour TEFL cert.. Even better to have QTS/ PGDE.

[jyl2011]

If I was to get a CELTA, would that open more doors?

[Proffeshnial Teachman]

[jyl2011]

Yeah, I suppose the CELTA is more a piece of mind thing for me, actually giving me the belief, skills and confidence to be a more competent teacher means quite a lot in all fairness.

If I was to be in Hong Kong now, i.e: on a tourist VISA, would it be possible to find employment and then switch over to a working VISA from within the country and of course, whilst on the tourist VISA too?

Thank you.

[Joshua2006]

No. As has been stated again and again, being here helps but doesn't guarantee on any level. Being on a tourist visa also doesn't help.....as my friend found out. Interviews everywhere, job offers nowhere.

Send in your applications. It is honestly the only way you'll find out if you can get a job here. There are SO many people trying to get here that employers really can be, and are, picky.

[Perilla]

[Mr. English]

Try China.

[posh]

Hong Kong is China. The UK returned it in 1997.

[therock]