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Lahiho
Joined: 07 Oct 2012
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 Posted: Thu Jan 31, 2013 8:40 am Post subject: Looking for a job without a teaching degree or TEFL |
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I am currently looking for a hogwan job without a relevant teaching degree or a TEFL certificate. One recruiter recently told me, in so many words, looking for a job like this is effectively pointless.
Is this true? I wasn't too bothered about the wage so just collected the documents and started applying without bothering with a TEFL but could that have harmed me?
Is it worth starting one now, and if so which one? Does it make that much difference between the 40 and 120 hour one/
As I haven't really heard much back from recruiters I was thinking this might be the case, but I have only recently started looking so haven't expected much. |
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Lahiho
Joined: 07 Oct 2012
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| Posted: Thu Jan 31, 2013 8:53 am Post subject: |
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| Hmm, well looking at said recruiters site they seem to have a partnership with the TEFL site they linked me, which leads me to question how seriously I should take what they said, but I will wait to see what you guys say. |
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barca2121
Joined: 29 Jan 2013
Location: London
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| Posted: Thu Jan 31, 2013 11:23 am Post subject: |
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Who's the recruiter?
From what I read, not having a cert shouldn't be a problem. |
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Lahiho
Joined: 07 Oct 2012
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| Posted: Thu Jan 31, 2013 11:44 am Post subject: |
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Travel and Teach recruiting.
I thought the same, but hearing that after not having received many replies, it made me wonder. |
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tremault
Joined: 25 Sep 2012
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| Posted: Thu Jan 31, 2013 1:34 pm Post subject: |
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Try a few recruiters.
I have had a wonderful time working with Star Teachers so I would recommend them.
When it happens, it may come like a bolt from the blue.
You don't need a TEFL certificate, you just need to sell yourself well.
It can't hurt to show that you are actively trying to learn TEFL skills.
I've been quite surprised at how much I learnt when I started looking at TEFL skills. I thought I could manage but then when I saw the kind of skills that a TEFL course can give you... it's worth doing it.
Especially if you want to make a good impression on your school and therefore get along with them well.
I had the same approach as you. I'm just waiting to get my visa sorted.
If you want to take that advice and do a TEFL just to get yourself prepared... maybe you're not too bothered about a certificate but just want to be prepared, send me a private message, I'll help you out. |
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ttompatz
Joined: 05 Sep 2005
Location: Kwangju, South Korea
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| Posted: Thu Jan 31, 2013 2:46 pm Post subject: Re: Looking for a job without a teaching degree or TEFL |
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| Lahiho wrote: |
I am currently looking for a hogwan job without a relevant teaching degree or a TEFL certificate. One recruiter recently told me, in so many words, looking for a job like this is effectively pointless.
Is this true? I wasn't too bothered about the wage so just collected the documents and started applying without bothering with a TEFL but could that have harmed me?
Is it worth starting one now, and if so which one? Does it make that much difference between the 40 and 120 hour one/
As I haven't really heard much back from recruiters I was thinking this might be the case, but I have only recently started looking so haven't expected much. |
Depends on the job you are looking for.
IF you want a job in the public school system then a 100 hour TEFL course with a minimum of 20 hours of in-class instruction is required for the job.
If you just want a generic hagwon job then you do not need a TEFL course.
The requirements for the visa are:
passport from one of: UK, Ireland, USA, Canada, Australia, NA, or S.Africa.
bachelor degree from one of: UK, Ireland, USA, Canada, Australia, NA, or S.Africa.
Clean police clearance check with apostille
Would a 100+ hour TEFL help your chances = yes but it is not needed for your average hagwon job (YET).
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Lahiho
Joined: 07 Oct 2012
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| Posted: Fri Feb 01, 2013 7:10 am Post subject: |
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Thanks for the replies!
Am I the only one struggling to find a job right now? I have been trying quite hard for the last 2 weeks and the furthest I've gotten is a "I will try to arrange an interview with X school" and never hearing from them again and contact with recruiters, apart from 1 or 2 not lasting more than a week. I am starting to feel that as I am, I am almost unemployable without something like a tefl, despite being open to teach anywhere, any age group, can start asap and have all my documents ready... |
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young_clinton
Joined: 09 Sep 2009
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| Posted: Fri Feb 01, 2013 9:49 am Post subject: |
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| The reason to take a TEFL class is because you want to be a good ESL teacher. I don't think a TEFL course will significantly improve your chances of getting a job anywhere. |
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FastForward
Joined: 04 Jul 2011
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| Posted: Fri Feb 01, 2013 1:47 pm Post subject: |
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| Lahiho wrote: |
Thanks for the replies!
Am I the only one struggling to find a job right now? I have been trying quite hard for the last 2 weeks and the furthest I've gotten is a "I will try to arrange an interview with X school" and never hearing from them again and contact with recruiters, apart from 1 or 2 not lasting more than a week. I am starting to feel that as I am, I am almost unemployable without something like a tefl, despite being open to teach anywhere, any age group, can start asap and have all my documents ready... |
Have you contacted all the recruiters on the job board? Have you posted your resume on Dave's? Have you search Craigslist? There is probably
When I did my job search, I probably contacted 30 recruiters and still had 10-15 to contact. Out of the 30 recruiters probably half or a little more than half replied back.
How is your picture? Clean cut with dress shirt and tie? |
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Lahiho
Joined: 07 Oct 2012
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| Posted: Fri Feb 01, 2013 2:12 pm Post subject: |
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| FastForward wrote: |
Have you contacted all the recruiters on the job board? Have you posted your resume on Dave's? Have you search Craigslist? There is probably
When I did my job search, I probably contacted 30 recruiters and still had 10-15 to contact. Out of the 30 recruiters probably half or a little more than half replied back.
How is your picture? Clean cut with dress shirt and tie? |
Contacted some on the job board and put my resume up.
My picture isn't amazing, it's a cropped photo of me at a wedding, in a suit but i'm not looking directly at the camera, slightly to the side so could be better. Do you think that could be the problem?
Last edited by Lahiho on Fri Feb 01, 2013 2:16 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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FastForward
Joined: 04 Jul 2011
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| Posted: Fri Feb 01, 2013 2:16 pm Post subject: |
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Contact every single recruiter on the job board. Every single one that you see. Search the job adds for the whole month. You will probably find 40 recruiters. Then go to Craiglist and find those recruiters.
I would take a quality picture from waist up, looking straight into the camera. They really don't like pictures where you are turning to the side. The picture is the most important thing imo. The resume is important, but most of the time they probably can't read most of it. lol |
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ttompatz
Joined: 05 Sep 2005
Location: Kwangju, South Korea
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| Posted: Fri Feb 01, 2013 10:49 pm Post subject: |
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| Lahiho wrote: |
| FastForward wrote: |
Have you contacted all the recruiters on the job board? Have you posted your resume on Dave's? Have you search Craigslist? There is probably
When I did my job search, I probably contacted 30 recruiters and still had 10-15 to contact. Out of the 30 recruiters probably half or a little more than half replied back.
How is your picture? Clean cut with dress shirt and tie? |
Contacted some on the job board and put my resume up.
My picture isn't amazing, it's a cropped photo of me at a wedding, in a suit but i'm not looking directly at the camera, slightly to the side so could be better. Do you think that could be the problem? |
Spend $10 and get a proper head/shoulders shot with combed hair, shirt and tie.
Run a spell checker over your resume and cover letter (grammar check probably wouldn't hurt either).
Documents in hand, scans of documents attached to your resume/cover as part of your application package.
Then e-mail each recruiter individually. (If I get a resume sent that has 50 others in the cc bar they make it as far as the trash folder without even being read).
Know what you offer and what you are worth. Keep the "requirements" to a minimum in the initial application.
It ain't rocket science.
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Lahiho
Joined: 07 Oct 2012
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| Posted: Tue Feb 05, 2013 1:32 am Post subject: |
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| ttompatz wrote: |
Spend $10 and get a proper head/shoulders shot with combed hair, shirt and tie.
Run a spell checker over your resume and cover letter (grammar check probably wouldn't hurt either).
Documents in hand, scans of documents attached to your resume/cover as part of your application package.
Then e-mail each recruiter individually. (If I get a resume sent that has 50 others in the cc bar they make it as far as the trash folder without even being read).
Know what you offer and what you are worth. Keep the "requirements" to a minimum in the initial application.
It ain't rocket science.
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Hey again, I just wanted to thank you for the advice, after doing what you said over the weekend, I have already had one interview (which was a very odd experience) with another 2 lined up, with more interviews looking likely later on in the week.
Your advice really helped!
While I have this post, might as well edit it to ask, I've been offered a job with hours 9:30am - 7pm, monday to friday, this seems a bit much? Is it normal? |
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happiness
Joined: 04 Sep 2010
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| Posted: Tue Feb 05, 2013 2:40 am Post subject: |
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I had a recruiter swear up and down i needed a TEFL after living here 13 years, then he tried to sell me one. In the end, I got an afterschool program that pays more than the Gepik, and has much better conditions.
The rule in Korea is if one person says one thing you dont agree with, ask another. |
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ttompatz
Joined: 05 Sep 2005
Location: Kwangju, South Korea
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| Posted: Tue Feb 05, 2013 6:26 am Post subject: |
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[quote="Lahiho"]
| ttompatz wrote: |
| While I have this post, might as well edit it to ask, I've been offered a job with hours 9:30am - 7pm, monday to friday, this seems a bit much? Is it normal? |
Sounds like a typical kindy / elementary hagwon.
It may not be as bad as it sounds. They usually have a couple hours free after lunch before the elementary kids get out of school and head for hagwon.
Just be careful that it is 30 classes per week and not 30 hours... 30 hours can be as much as 45 or 50 short classes (far too much prep work even for a kindy). ASK how many classes, not how many hours.
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