Job Discussion Forums

[Lohanfran]

I'm planning on attending the IH CELTA in Bangkok this coming Aug/Sept, and will immediately seek employment in Korea or China after completing the course. I wonder, though, how long should a newly minted certificate holder anticipate staying in country of training before finding employment in another country? Seems like one should find work within a month but then again the process appears to be overwhelming. Thanks in advance

[jtea]

I think it depends on a variety of factors such as where you are looking, who you're applying with, how picky you are in terms of location, work hours, work days, teaching group, etc.

I found my job a few weeks before I completed my certification course and a couple other people in my class going overseas also found jobs 3-4 weeks before completion. I let them know when I planned on leaving and luckily found a company who was willing to work with the time frame. You should have an easier time if you're able to work upon completion but I was looking for something 3 months down the road.

How long is your course? I would recommend looking a few weeks before you plan on finishing. You can put your estimated time of completion on your cover letter and resume. It's hard to say exactly how long it'll take you since a lot of it depends on how much a potential employer likes you but it's definitely possible to find work within a month.

[rtm]

Also, if your plan is to go straight from Thailand to Korea or China, it would be good to find out information about documents needed for visa processing and get those sorted before you leave your home country. I don't know the process in either Korea or China, but check to see whether you would need to return to your home country for anything (e.g., filing documents at a consulate or embassy). Also consider the amount of time it takes to get a visa issued -- in some places, it can take a few months (after you've applied to jobs, interviewed, and accepted an offer) to process everything and get the visa issued, which might leave you without enough time left in Thailand.

[jtea]

[Lohanfran]

Thanks for the reply and encouraging info! I'm set on the CELTA (4-5 weeks) course in Thailand this coming fall and I understand they have many resources to help you gain employment, but really need the reassurance that it will work out.

Worst scenario would be not finding employment after the course and running out of money- not to mention having the flight money for your first job. Be checking back in here soon, but thanks again, jtea

[suphanburi]

IF you have your documents in hand (degree, transcripts, background check) then you could be working within a week or 4 of completing the CELTA.

We can't really discuss Korea here but the job search isn't that onerous if you are caucasian, young, correct documents and willing to take the 1st job that comes along. Visa processing (from the visa confirmation number application by the employer to the visa application by you to getting on a plane takes 12-21 days).

China is even easier to find work if you qualify for an E2 in Korea.
You can get the "Z" visa processed in Bangkok or Hong Kong. Due to things like the medical it can take a few days longer. 15-30 days is common for the visa application process AFTER you have found a suitable employer.

Anyone who can qualify for an E2 in Korea can also find work easily enough in Thailand or Vietnam should you need to wait it out until peak hiring season in either Korea or China.

.

[fpshangzhou]

I will get a teaching cert in either Thailand or China here in the foreseeable future. I am currently in China, but would like to make the move to another Asian country within a year or so. I reiterate what others have said about having documents in hand, especially the background check which is becoming a commonplace requirement for the many Asian countries. The FBI check takes up to 12 weeks to get back. Definitely want to get that before leaving home. I'm trying to get one here for future employment, but is proving to be difficult as some police stations won't issue fingerprint copies to submit for the check. Most likely have to travel to a major city like Shanghai to get them.

Good luck,

Aaron

[golsa]

A good entry level job will probably take 3-4 months to find unless your course ends when the local hiring season begins.

I did my CELTA abroad and sought local work after the course ended. I had to suffer through 4 difficult months before a full time position opened at the local British Council. I applied and got it. Before my current position opened up, I'd been applying to anything I could find and almost took a really bad position in Turkey (6 contact hours a day, 6 days a week while living on site for $1,000/month).

If you have the resources, it's certainly worth it to hold out for a position at a good school. I had a few other EFL jobs before starting at BC and you wouldn't believe how large the difference is. A good school will have monthly training sessions, provide you with a mentor to help you get on your feet as a teacher, and have plenty of resources. Bad schools will send you straight into the classroom without so much as a book and expect you to satisfy 100% of the students 100% of the time.