Job Discussion Forums

[jimi1999uk]

Hi all.
I've been on this board a number of years now and I'm glad to say a few weeks ago I took and passed a Trinity CertTESOL course. Happy days

I've done a bit of half-arsed jobhunting online but I'm finding that I'm in a bit of a pickle the reasons being:

-The places I'd really like to go to seem to be off limits due to my lack of a degree and/or the wages and hours would suck pretty hard. Bangkok for example.

-I'm about to undertake the final two modules as part of my OU distance degree in English Language and Literature and should have a B.A. without Hons by June 2012. So ideally I'd like a low impact teaching position (low wages are fine as long as they have low hours also) or short-term.

What are my options? I'm very open about countries and I'm a fairly well travelled 30 yr old U.K. national. I'd really like to get some sort of teaching experience between now and June 2012 even if it was for a few weeks just so I don't forget all the masses and masses (lol) of TESOL knowledge I accumulated during the Cert.

Does anyone know of useful volunteer positions for me? NGO's? Short-term work in U.K./Europe? Low workload teaching positions in various countries worldwide?

Thanks all. It's a nightmare! I've spent so long working towards a TEFL Cert. Now I've got one I don't really know how to get a suitable job in the meantime. Bummer. Come June all will be well but I really, REALLY want to get some form of experience before then even if it's for little/zero money. Cheers again.

[tttompatz]

UK citizen = go to Spain. It is close to home and you won't break the bank before you see your first pay day. You won't get rich but you may earn enough to eat until you graduate.

Most of Asia is off your map (no degree and/or low wages coupled with a high workload (till you get your degree)). Additionally, you would need 2000-3000 pounds to get here and get setup before you ever see any pay.

Perks like free airfare (prepaid or reimbursed), free accommodation, paid vacations, etc., are usually not available to those without a degree.

.

[jimi1999uk]

Thanks again ttt.

What type of positions are available in Spain and more importantly how could I get/apply for them? I had just assumed most of Europe was off the map for the degreeless. Thanks.

[spiral78]

You are qualified for entry-level positions across Europe. I don't know of any European country that requires a degree, though do keep in mind that most newbies on the job market do have one. To overcome the lack, you'll need to play up the 'professional and responsible' aspect - be sure that potential employers will see you as someone they can entirely count on with their valuable clients (students).

The kinds of jobs range from teaching kiddies in after-school type programmes to business English in the offices of professionals. You wouldn't have the quals yet to get into university positions, of course, and most state schools hire locals to teach language. So, you're talking private language schools.

Across the European region, these jobs pay subsistence level. It's usually enough to enjoy where you are living, but saving up for a major purchase (talking bicycle here, not car or flat - those are basically impossible) takes time.

You won't find the paid-airfare and other perks here that are sometimes offered in Asia, and again, salaries are enough to live on frugally, but if you need to pay off debt back home or something, it's just not enough.

Further, you've got start-up costs: jobs aren't usually found from abroad in the Euro region. This is because it's a popular job market - an employer has no need to take on someone sight-unseen, when there are candidates standing in his office. You need to choose a city, and come over at the hiring season (mostly September, with a smaller bump usually in January).

So, if you hurry, you'll be just in time:-) You'll need to apply in person, of course - there is tonnes of further info on the country-specific boards below.

[jimi1999uk]

Thanks Spiral.
That's eyeopening I never knew that about Euro. I'm afraid I'm going to miss the Sept window though forjobhunting as I'm a proper pauper right now and have a touch of debt. so I don't see that getting fixed for a few months at least

[spiral78]

Good idea (to delay your arrival to EU country until you have saved up a bit). It does take some start-up costs to get going there - you need to plan to get yourself over, pay for accomodation (monthly rentals usually require at least one month's rent as deposit and the first month (and all succeeding months) up front. You might also have to pay an agent's fee equivalent of up to yet another month's rent.
Schools usually pay monthly, at the end of the month worked, so best case scenario you are looking at your first paycheque at the end of five or six weeks.

Usually, you'd need a good 3-5,000 euro to get you through, though it could probably be done on less if you get really cheap flights and live very frugally.