TEFL JOB SEARCH GUIDE How to land a teaching job abroad this year
5 STEPS to Landing an International Teaching Job Identifying Destinations of Interest............ 3 Requirements and Qualifications............. 9 Building a Teacher Resume.................. 11 Ready, set, apply!......................... 12 Interview Dos & Don ts..................... 14 Earning a TEFL Certificate from the University of Toronto.............. 15 2
01 IDENTIFYING DESTINATIONS OF INTEREST Congratulations! You ve decided that teaching abroad is right for you. The next step? Identifying where you would like to teach. There are countless teaching positions abroad for both new and experienced teachers. Here s a breakdown of where you can teach and what to expect... 3
ASIA Teaching jobs in Asia are among the most sought-after international positions. A great destination for candidates with no teaching experience - as well as seasoned educators - contracts offer competitive salary packages that often include airfare and accommodation. Japan, Korea and China are among the most popular destinations for ESL teachers. 4
THE MIDDLE EAST Teaching in the Middle East presents a lucrative opportunity for teachers. Educators can expect contracts with competitive wages and benefits, which allow them to save a large portion of their salary. In many cases, formal teaching experience and a teaching license are required to teach in Middle Eastern destinations such as Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Saudi Arabia. 5
CENTRAL & SOUTH AMERICA Central & South America provide TEFL teachers the chance to live and work in a variety of settings. Salary and contract benefits can t compare to those in Asia or the Middle East, but do allow teachers to lead a comfortable lifestyle while abroad. For the adventurer at heart, this region is plentiful in opportunities for a wide range of cultural experiences. 6
EUROPE Teaching jobs in Europe offer competitive wages and comprehensive benefits. Europe is a popular destination for teachers seeking jobs abroad who are less concerned with filling their pockets. Native English speaking teachers are currently in high demand in countries such as Turkey, Spain and the Czech Republic. 7
AFRICA Teaching in Africa gives educators the chance to teach in a rewarding cultural environment. Due to low costs of living, many teachers are able to save a large portion of their salary, affording them the opportunity to travel the continent. Positions in Africa are best suited for teachers interested in volunteering, and licensed teachers looking to gain a unique professional experience. 8
REQUIREMENTS AND QUALIFICATIONS It is essential that you meet the minimum requirements for jobs abroad. A combination of the following education and experience will benefit you in your teach abroad applications: Education The widely accepted minimum requirements to teach abroad are a bachelor's degree in any area and a TEFL certificate. Additional education, such as a postgraduate certificate, teaching license, master's or doctorate degree can increase your earning potential. If you do not have a university degree, a combination of education (college, high school, etc.) may be considered, but expect to face a high level of competition from other teach abroad candidates. TEFL Certification International employers favour candidates who have completed an ESL teaching certification such as a Teaching English as a Foreign Language certificate. A TEFL certificate demonstrates that you have specialized training in key areas such as classroom management techniques, lesson planning, and English grammar fundamentals, that will allow you to excel as a teacher in the foreign language classroom. Native English Speaker Being a native English speaker can greatly improve your chances of being employed overseas. Some schools look to hire native English speaking teachers exclusively. However, this is not the case in all circumstances. Experience Formal full-time teaching experience is highly valued and sometimes a requirement for international teaching jobs. There are also many jobs available for teachers with no classroom experience. Working with children, teaching-related experience, and previous international travel can also enhance your application. 9
03 Building a Teacher Resume Whether you have experience as a teacher or not, it s important to create a resume that is tailored to teaching. For first-time teachers, list teaching-related experience. For example, coaching a kids soccer team or leading a professional workshop is great to include. Also, employers want to see that you re flexible and that you can easily adapt to a new country and culture. If you have studied abroad before, speak another language, or have any international work experience, include it! Resume Must-Haves Identification and Contact Information Name - First and last Address - Include your country and citizenship Phone number - Include your country code Email address - Use a personal email you check often Certifications and Credentials Include any teaching-related qualifications in this section, including your TEFL Certificate If you are a licensed teacher, your government issued teaching certificate should be listed here List your qualifications in reverse-chronological order (most recently earned credentials at the top) Education Degree, diploma or certificate The institution name The completion date (or expected completion date) Include minor, honours and concentration information if applicable Teaching or teaching-related experience Choose the heading Teaching Experience for this section if you have 1+ years of experience in strictly professional teaching roles Choose the heading Teaching-related Experience if this section is a combination of teaching positions and other relevant positions Be sure to list your experience in chronological order and include dates 10
Resume Formatting Resume Formatting Save your resume as a PDF Save your resume as a PDF Do not exceed more than two pages Do Stick not to exceed a maximum more of than two two different pages fonts Avoid graphic elements and colour - keep it clean and simple! Avoid graphic elements and colour - keep it clean and simple! Optional: Include a professional headshot. A photo is often required for teaching applications Optional: Include a professional headshot. A photo is often required for teaching applications 11
04 Ready, set, apply! Now that your teacher resume is complete, you are ready to start applying for jobs. There are many ways to find a teaching job abroad, but we recommend applying through a reputable recruitment agency such as Teach Away, whose services are completely free for the candidate. Recruitment agencies place teachers in international teaching positions and they act as the liaison between a candidate and the school. After applying for a position, a recruiter will conduct a pre-screen interview to determine whether you are a qualified candidate. Once you ve passed the pre-screen interview, your recruiter will guide you through every step of the journey: from additional interviews, to accepting an offer, to applying for your visa and getting on the plane! 12
We asked Teach Away s recruiters for their job search tips. Here are their top 5: 01 02 03 04 05 Complete your profile Whether you re completing an online profile or simply submitting a resume, be sure that the information you provide is relevant, accurate and listed in chronological order. Be professional, punctual, and polite Your recruiter decides whether to put you forward for a position, so do everything you can to make the best first impression. Use a professional e-mail address Since the majority of the communication between you, the recruiter and the schools will be online, choose a professional email address that you check often. For example: john.smith@gmail.com versus johnnylovesmetallica@yahoo.com Ask questions Teaching abroad is a BIG decision so make sure you ask the important questions early to ensure the position you are considering is a good fit. Read the job requirements carefully Only apply for positions that you are qualified for. Position require-ments are set by the school and it is a recruiter s job to find candidates that meet these set requirements. Recruitment agencies are paid by the schools and institutions who use their services to find teachers. Using a recruiter does not affect your salary or benefits package. 13
05 Interview DOS & DON TS Be on time. You wouldn t arrive late to an in-person interview so why be late for a phone or Skype interview? Be prepared. You are interviewing for a teaching position, so expect teaching related questions and have specific classroom examples ready. Research the country and if possible, the school. This demonstrates that you are knowledgeable and interested in the position as well as the country and its culture. Don t be distracted. Choose a quiet, private location for the interview that is free of interruptions or noise interference. Don t forget to listen. Pay close attention to what your interviewer is asking, provide concise relevant answers and be ready to take notes. Don t negotiate. Teaching contracts and salaries are determined by the school and are based on a qualifications pay scale. This means your salary is predetermined based on your qualifications and years of experience, leaving no room to negotiate.
06 A TEFL CERTIFICATE CAN HELP YOU LAND YOUR DREAM TEACHING JOB Why teachers choose the University of Toronto TEFL Online: 100% Online & Self-paced Choose a pace and location that works for you. Professional Development Sharpen your skills for the foreign classroom. Quality Education Developed by the academic experts of a globally recognized, top 20 university. Specialize Customize your certification with specializations to match your future career goals. Apply for Teaching Jobs Browse and apply for teaching jobs through Teach Away, the world's leading international teacher recruitment agency 15
Start your teach abroad adventure with the online TEFL Certificate from an internationally recognized, top 20 university. COMPARE TEFL COURSES