So, all of the esoterica didn’t scare you off, eh? Or maybe you haven’t read it yet. I know it wouldn’t have dissuaded me from wanting to go abroad, so I suspect you might be the same. So how do you find your first job as a TEFL teacher? Well, it’s not that different from trying to find a job anywhere else, really. It’s all in where you look and, later on, who you know.
The Standard TEFL Job Search Process
New people often think that the way to find your first job as a TEFL teacher is a secret. It isn’t. In fact, finding a job as a TEFL teacher isn’t really that different from seeking any other kind of job. It isn’t just about sending resumes, though you will likely be sending out lots of them. It’s more about finding a place that you think would be a good fit for you. If you are brand new, it should also be a place that can give you training and experience.
It’s a bit easier these days that when I first went abroad. Now there are job boards specifically for TEFL teaching internationally you can find online, such as at TEFL.com. In addition to those international sites, there are also sites based on the country you’re looking to work in. For example, in Japan there are two popular sites with job boards, GaijinPot and JobsinJapan. There are more; those are just the two most popular. This holds true for most countries. All you have to do is a quick search for “TEFL teaching jobs” plus the country you’re looking to go to.
Those job boards will usually let you create a profile. You can upload a resume/CV that you can then submit to employers on the site. In theory, they can also approach you if your resume stands out enough to warrant their attention. That almost never happens for experienced teachers, let alone brand new ones, but it is possible.
Preparing Your Application
Start by making sure your resume/CV shows your TEFL certification and teaching experience (if any), and any other useful skills. List details about your coursework and hours spent in practical teaching.
I’m suspect that part of the reason I got the job I did was because of two things I’d mentioned. I’d tutored students and worked with kids at a summer camp in college. Both of those were on my resume. So, if you’ve worked with kids or in multicultural settings, mention that.
This should go without saying, but do your research on the school or company you apply with. What are they like? How do teachers feel about working there? What do they dislike about working there?
Write a friendly, clear cover letter for each job and tailor it to the school or program. In your cover letter, say why you chose their organization. Schools like seeing teachers who care about their culture and students. It also says that you’re not just looking for any job.
Gather references from past teachers, employers, or mentors. If those references can include someone from that country, great! I suspect another reason I got that first job was because my Japanese teacher in college wrote me a recommendation in Japanese.
References can reassure schools about your skills and work ethic. Double check your documents for grammar and spelling mistakes before sending them out.
As you may have noticed, this isn’t that different from applying for any other job. So, for extra help, search online for more information about writing and submitting resumes.
Respect the Process
The best schools all have multi-step application procedures where they will likely be looking at multiple aspects of your behavior, thought processes and responses throughout the process.
When I was working on the hiring team for one school I worked at, we had a multi-step process with some questions and answers about how to handle certain situations in class or how to handle certain targets, as well as asking for sample lesson plans before ever getting to the interview.
We did that for two reasons. The first is that if people were actually interested in the position with us and not just any position, they’d answer the questions. You’d be amazed at the number of people who would apply for one position, not answer the questions, and apply for a position later and not answer the questions again.
The thing is, we genuinely wanted answers to these questions because it would help let us know if they were a good fit for us, as well as, if they were a good fit, how much training they would need to get up to speed. It also just happened to become an unintentional filter because if they can’t or won’t respect the process, they may not respect us.
Having said that, there is something to be said for a potential employer jerking you around. Knowing when they are and when they genuinely care is going to be crucial.
Interview Tips for TEFL Positions
TEFL interviews can occur in multiple stages and happen in person, by phone, or on video chat. Dress neatly and set up a quiet background if you’re online.
Be ready to talk about your TEFL training, teaching style, and any past experience. You might get questions about handling classroom situations; try to use examples from your training.
The best schools I’ve worked at have included an in-person day (or half-day) at the school, which often includes a demo lesson(s).
If you’re nervous, write down a few key points or your lesson plan to have something quick to refer back to. For most schools, it usually isn’t so important how well you do in the lesson. They’re generally not going to expect you to teach a perfect lesson in a place you’ve never taught before, with students you’ve never met before, using materials you may never have seen before.
What they will be looking for is that you demonstrate adaptability, an ability to learn and take feedback, and an ability to get along with staff and students.
Most importantly, show your interest in helping students learn and grow.
Let’s Sum Up
Basically, trying to find your first job as a TEFL teacher overseas isn’t that different from finding any other entry-level job.
The use of job boards can make this much easier, but one thing to watch out for is “flooding the zone”. If you just send out responses to everyone, you’re going to get ignored.
Making sure they look at your application requires that you do some research on where you want to go, what employers there are looking for, and where you would be a good fit. And then go through their interview process.
Having said that, do you know what sort of red flags to look for from potential employers? I believe that humanity is generally good, but there are bad actors, and if you’re not careful you can get taken advantage of.
But if you’re careful and you know what to look for, you can find that first job that may just set you up on the journey of a lifetime.