LANDING A JOB

Teach English Worldwide strives to provide clear, comprehensive, and objective advice to anyone interested in teaching English overseas.

Check Out our TEFL / TESOL Courses

Once you have completed your TEFL-TESOL Certificate Course (see Teach English Worldwide’s “TEFL / TESOL Training Courses” section) and decided in which part of the world you want to teach (see our “TEFL / TESOL Jobs Worldwide” section), you are ready to begin searching for employment in one of thousands of English schools across the world.

In this section, Teach English Worldwide provides you with some pointers that will help you “land” your desired English teaching job overseas.

We have compiled the following sections to assist you:

Job Search Techniques
CV / Résumé Tips

Job Search Techniques

Distance Job Searches

Conducted when you are not physically in the city or country where you intend to teach. Ways to conduct Distance Searches include:

Reply to Job Vacancy Listings – You can find many job vacancies listed on various TEFL / TESOL Employment Web sites (see Teach English Worldwide’s “Helpful TESOL Links” section)
Post Your Own “Job-Wanted” Ads – Many online TEFL / TESOL job boards not only allow you to respond to job vacancies, but to upload your CV and allow potential employers to find YOU (see Teach English Worldwide’s “Helpful TEFL / TESOL Links” section)
Contact Schools Directly About Potential Job Openings – You can also take a more proactive approach and contact schools directly. Find lists of schools in your intended city or country using the international yellow pages TEFL / TESOL Web sites, and TEFL / TESOL-related publications (see Teach English Worldwide’s “Helpful TESOL Links” section for some useful sites to help you with your search). Once you have a list of potential employers email a Resume/CV and Cover Letter to each one.

Make sure that any correspondence you conduct with potential employers is professional, free of spelling, punctuation, and grammar mistakes, and written in a clear, straightforward style that will be easily understood by non-native English speakers.

WARNING: Be wary of disreputable schools or recruiting scams when applying for jobs or recruiting services online. To protect yourself, ask as many questions as you can, and do not send anyone money or personal information unless you are completely comfortable with the other party. You can also visit online TEFL / TESOL message boards to find warnings about schools or recruiters that are known to have poor standards or a history of unethical behavior. (Dave’s ESL Café – www.daveseslcafe.com – is a good site for this. See Teach English Worldwide’s “Helpful TESOL Links” section for other popular discussion boards).

On-the-Scene Job Searches

Conducted while you are living in or visiting your intended destination. Ways to conduct an “On-the-Scene” job search include:

Visit Schools In-Person – In more competitive TEFL / TESOL job markets, you stand out in the crowd by personally visiting schools. Find the list of schools in the local yellow pages, local newspapers and magazines, or by doing online searches. Dress professionally and bring along your Teaching Résumé/CV, your TEFL / TESOL certificate, a copy of your University diploma, a copy of your passport and birth certificate, and maybe even a sample lesson plan. Politely inquire about job vacancies at the school, leave them your CV, and try to arrange an interview with the school director.
Network with Fellow TEFL / TESOL professionals – Another good way to find employment is to network with current English teachers in the area. Many cities have certain spots (including shops, cafes, bookstores, cultural centers, bars/pubs, English-speaking churches, etc.) where English teachers and other ex-pats tend to congregate. In addition to the opportunity to networking and getting advice, these places also often have notice boards with job openings and other useful information for foreigners.

Your TEFL / TESOL Certificate Course could be another important resource in your job search – no matter how you conduct it. Good TEFL / TESOL Courses often provide job guidance programs for their graduates. They should be able to put you in contact with various schools in their region, provide you with school lists, and give you job search tips.

CV / Résumé Tips

Your Curriculum Vitae (referred to as a résumé in the US) and cover letter are your most important tools during your job search. Taking the time to compose these documents with care and professionalism will ensure that you are putting your best foot forward each and every time you apply for a job. For the most part, a TEFL / TESOL-oriented CV and cover letter require the same basic qualities as those for any other job. However, to maximize your chances you should tailor these documents specifically for English teaching positions.

Keeping the following tips in mind will help you to do so:

Your CV and cover letter should be a maximum of 1 page each
The format and appropriate information for your CV will depend on the country in which you are applying for a job. In most countries outside of the United States, it is common to attach a passport-sized photo, your marital status, your passport number, and your current and permanent addresses (if they differ). You can do some research online to determine exactly the right CV format for the specific country in which you will be working.
Your CV should highlight any and all teaching experience or teaching related skills that you possess. Don’t worry if you were not actually working as an EFL teacher.
Your CV should list any foreign languages you speak, and your respective ability levels in each language. This is particularly beneficial if the language is spoken in the country where you are applying.
You should tailor your CV and cover letter for each job to which you apply. If you will be giving classes to children, discuss any experience with kids (teaching or otherwise). If, on the other hand, it is a business English position, you should focus on your experience in the business world.
Be enthusiastic in your cover letter. Highlight your international experience (both travel and work), and your interest and knowledge of the country in which you are applying .
Because non-Native English speakers will often review these documents, both documents should be written in clear, straightforward English.
Finally, ensure that both your CV and cover letter are devoid of any spelling, punctuation, or grammar mistakes. Carefully proofread them several times, and have several other people read them as well.