Job Discussion Forums

kyrasydney · Joined: 02 Jul 2009 Posts: 2 Location: Sydney, Australia

Hi all, I'm a newbie and a bit 'stuck' and hope I can get some advice...

I've had 15-years of professional work experience (marketing) and got my CELTA 2 months ago, but can't seem to land that first teaching job because everyone is looking for at least 1 year of experience. I feel like I did after graduating from college some 20 years ago... can't get a job without experience and can't get experience without a job!

What's the deal??

And I've been told that those schools in Asia which don't require any experience are the ones to avoid...

Short of lying on my resume, does anyone have any other advice?

cheers,
K.

nickpellatt · Joined: 08 Dec 2006 Posts: 1522

Do you have a degree kyra? This can also be important, more important, for many employers.

Where in Asia are you looking? Different countries have different requirements ... and the type of school you are applying to can also make a difference. Experience and the degree dont always have to be essential, but can push you into being a less desirable candidate ... whilst you have been advised to avoid schools not interested in experience or credentials, this doesnt mean that all schools of this nature will be terrible. Common sense does dictate that employers of this nature are more likely to be dodgy though.

Ive worked at two places in China that 99% of people on the forum would say to avoid because of wages/living conditions ... but both turned out to be fantastic experiences. Ditto with the third school I am joining later this year, people would say to avoid it, but one of my closest friends has worked there and given me the heads up. At some stage you may have to lower your sights or consider a different location / country. Just keep applying though ... something will turn up Im sure.

if you could mention your degree status, and where you are going to, or hoping to, work and you may get more specific answers.

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

spanglish · Joined: 21 May 2009 Posts: 742 Location: working on that

International House in Bogota is looking for CELTA grads.

father Mackenzie · Joined: 10 Oct 2008 Posts: 105 Location: Jakarta Barat

Have you researched Asia? There are a lot of reputable schools that take no experience teachers with CELTA and those teachers really enjoy it and continue to learn.

kyrasydney · Joined: 02 Jul 2009 Posts: 2 Location: Sydney, Australia

Hi all

I forgot to mention that I have an MBA in Marketing from the U.S. in addition to my new CELTA (from Australia) plus 15 yrs of professional work experience.

I am mostly focusing my search on Europe because that's where I'm originally from and I'd like to be closer to my family. And yes I DO have an EU-passport so at least that's not an obstacle.

I appreciate your feedback. For those of you who know which schools accept recent CELTA grads, would you mind actually writing down the names of the schools (especially the more 'reputable' ones that some talk about here)?

Thanks again,
K.

father Mackenzie · Joined: 10 Oct 2008 Posts: 105 Location: Jakarta Barat

You could try researching EF Indonesia, TBI, Wall Street, Direct English for starters.

Jetgirly · Joined: 17 Jul 2004 Posts: 741

I did the CELTA in Barcelona in Nov-Dec 2004. I applied for a bazillion jobs in the city and didn't have any luck. I got called in for a few interviews but was really unimpressed with the schools. They must have been equally unimpressed, because they didn't hire me. I expanded my search area and got a call from a chain school in Italy. I accepted the job on Wednesday, was supposed to fly out on Saturday but my flight was cancelled, arrived on Sunday and started work on Monday, living out of a hostel for three weeks while I apartment-hunted and worked full-time. The school treated me like crap for three months until I threatened to walk off the job and go back to Canada THAT DAY. After that things were, for the most part, peachy-keen. A lot of it had to do with the fact that clients were requesting me, again and again, for their classes. The school knew I was a valuable asset and started showing me some respect. I had an amazing time in Italy and fell in love with teaching, so I moved back to Canada to get an education degree. I leveraged my Italian experience into a summer job teaching at a community college, and when I finished my degree it was my ESL experience that got me placed at a really desireable public school. We're talking solid gold toilet seats in the bathrooms and Caviar McNuggets in the cafeteria. I also taught ESL summer school for the public school board. Today was our last day and I took home $3000 after tax for sixty hours of work.

In summary:
1. BE FLEXIBLE.
2. Talk up your related experience.
3. Settle for a crappy first job... but not for long.

Kootvela · Joined: 22 Oct 2007 Posts: 513 Location: Lithuania

I agree with Jetgirly, get a job realted to teaching so that you have some experience to talk about. However, I disagree with the point about 'crappy'. First place of employment should look good on a CV.

I also tend to think companies are reluctant to hire people working for their competitors. Though, I do know people freelancing for several schools at the same time.