Job Discussion Forums

[robbie_davies]

I am in my 40's now and I found that I wasn't able to get the jobs that I wanted in comparison to 10 years ago. So I decided to take an MA TESOL which has safeguarded my future regards teaching English abroad.

I have a few friends who will be taking MA TESOL or Linguistics next year as they are in their thirties and are finding the same problem, the basic BA in an unrelated subject does not cut it the older you get. Experience doesn't count for all that much and employers seem to be looking for more in older applicants. (For the better jobs anyway.)

I personally couldn't compete with newly graduated 22 year olds in the job market having the same qualifications as them. It might be different for others, so I would like to know, do post grad qualifications help in getting the jobs you want, the older you get? Or have you found that a basic BA plus CELTA has been enough for you?

[spiral78]

I think the key is 'the jobs you want.' Those mostly-younger newbies with a BA and a CELTA are more likely to be content with entry-level type work. They're not necessarily expecting benefits or security, etc. For me, the MA was well worth it to get me into higher-level work.

So, yeah, I think the key isn't age, but the kinds of work you want.

Though it's probably typical that as people get older they get tired of entry-level gigs and start to want the benefits and security of the better jobs.

[nomad soul]

I got my relevant master's degree before changing careers to teaching. However, I contend that age isn't the factor---I've worked with colleagues who got their related MAs while in their 20s/30s. It's that more employers are expecting (or requiring) applicants to have stronger, relevant academic credentials. This is particularly the case for positions where teaching is just one aspect of the job with other duties such as creating quizzes and exams, designing/revising curriculum, conducting workshops, etc., being just as important. In other words, a teacher's role is often multifaceted and very likely requires the level of training and knowledge a related grad degree provides.

That being said, age can be a factor in how a teacher is perceived. For instance, an unrelated BA + CELTA (or equivalent, entry-level teaching qualification) and 10 or so years of basic teaching experience---experience that indicates a lack of development or diversity---can give an employer the impression the applicant doesn't have the initiative in keeping up with the latest EFL trends, learning new skills, etc. Frankly, that's what makes the teacher appear old and stale. Moreover, I suspect that's how some teachers personally feel as well, especially if they've gotten comfortable in their position but now want to seek out better opportunities which require further education.

Plus, a BA is essentially equal to a high school diploma. A decade ago, for many teaching situations, an undergrad degree wasn't always a requirement for teaching EFL. Yet, the pool of (adequate) legal jobs for those without a degree has been steadily shrinking over the years. Additionally, in regions such as the Middle East, for those few teaching opportunities where a minimum of a BA is still acceptable, it seems that degree now better be TEFL-related. And even then, those applicants are competing against a flood of MA-degree holders (of all ages). Therefore, your question about a basic BA + CELTA being sufficient for a long career in TEFL depends on the region and teaching situation. For example, it's obvious that teaching English in a Chinese conversation school is nothing like teaching academic English in Qatar. But for a teacher interested in going from one end of the spectrum to the other, the road to getting there entails a trip back to school.

[Shroob]

Qualifications are for those that want a stable future, which is typically the older generation who are looking to settle down and want security. The young generally don't worry so much about these sorts of things.

Personally, I'm 24 years old and am starting an MA in TESOL this September and, as Nomad pointed to, age is a concern for me, as I'm so young. I'm currently on a pre-sessional uni course where the next youngest is 8 years older than me, then most people are in their 40s or 50s.

For future jobs, I envisage the MA + CELTA being essential (at least I hope so). The CELTA wasn't necessary for landing my previous job, but was a basic requirement on the pre-sessional.

[sprightly]

i think nomad is right--working for 10 years with no evidence of training doesn't look good, unless you're still after basic conversational school jobs. and an employer might wonder why someone in their 40s is still going for the 'basic' jobs.

not to denigrate them--some people like that sort of gig and enjoy it, or simply don't want to be ambitious. i'm not particularly ambitious, and i'd take one of those jobs if that's what was going to pay the rent, or i really wanted to live in a particular place and nothign else was going.

but yes, so many people are going for a masters, it's almost necessary if you want the jobs that pay more money for fewer hours. the days of showing up to class still drunk... they're disappearing.

[nomad soul]

This really isn't limited to TEFL---look at workplaces in your home country. How many of us remember that standard job interview question, "Where do you see yourself in the next X number of years?"

Or worse, imagine having to explain to a potential employer why you've been doing the same level of work for umteen years. And if that ho-hum experience has been with the same school, then... Bleh.

[Shroob]

[nomad soul]

[robbie_davies]

You would be surprised how many people I know who are outraged into a fit of pique about having to upgrade their basic qualifications to stay competitive. They feel that their 'experience' should count for something when basically, it doesn't seem to count for much at all. I would agree that someone who has specialised in a niche such as course design could argue experience over qualifications but some of these gentlemen are just conversation teachers, and now they are getting older, they are starting to lose out on jobs to recent graduates with the same qualifications as themselves.

Usually, there is an excuse that comes with why they can't upgrade their qualifications with the usual being I can't afford it/too busy/not enough time/
it is a waste of time etc etc.

[spiral78]

[robbie_davies]

[Sashadroogie]

CVs without requisite quals usually get binned. Even for EFLers who have oodles of experience in course design.

[robbie_davies]

[spiral78]

[Sashadroogie]