Finding a TEFL job after your TEFL course

How to find a job after doing your accredited TEFL certification course abroad

One of the many ways people start their TEFL career is by going abroad to study on a TEFL course, earn their teaching certification and then look for a job, maybe after traveling for a while. Travel to a foreign country is always an adventure, an amazing opportunity to make the most of. However, it’s even more so when you have a specific goal in mind, such as getting your TEFL certificate. But how do you find that first TEFL job after receiving your certificate? Here are some ideas to help secure your first job as a TEFL English teacher abroad.

TEFL jobs worldwide

Whether you want to stay and teach in the same country where you did your TEFL course or move on elsewhere is one of the first things to decide. There are TEFL job offers worldwide – so no shortage of choice available when it comes to deciding which country you might fancy visiting. If you do decide to stay (where you did your TEFL certificate course), ask at the TEFL center if they have any teaching vacancies or can recommend any local schools, colleges, language institutes or other organizations which might be interested in hiring a rookie TEFLer. No harm in asking, right? And they should be well clued in on the local market, so you might be surprised by what’s available.

Do I need a CV/resume for a TEFL job?

Finding a TEFL job in some ways is the same as any job search. Be prepared, be positive, flexible and keep an open mind. Get your resume or CV organized, updated and translated if necessary and be prepared to provide a professional looking profile photo of yourself, it’s a common requirement when hiring foreigners (and even locals) in many countries. Check out this post by The Guardian on how to write a TEFL CV/resume – lots of great ideas to make your CV/resume stand out when its seen by a head teacher or Director of Studies.

Researching TEFL jobs

Here are two of the major TEFL job sites which are well established and offer a wide range of TEFL job opportunities around the world.

Dave’s ESL café has many TEFL job postings as well as country-specific data relating to teaching English and living conditions, etc. in its TEFL job discussion forum

TEFL.com covers TEFL jobs worldwide and also provides cost of living data for most countries. The site also offers useful information on professional development and other TEFL related areas.

It’s also a great idea to check out forums where TEFL teachers post comments (see the one above to start with) about their experiences in certain countries, in particular schools and so on. It will help you get a feel for recruitment trends, living costs, salaries and working conditions as well as what local life is like and what legal documents you might be required to produce in order to obtain a work permit/visa.

How to find TEFL work

In some parts of the world, finding a TEFL job is easiest if you simply turn up and ask – even when you have limited teaching experience – the fact that you’re actually there, and available is very attractive for some employers. This approach works well in areas such as South and Central America.

If you’re not already in-country, then try warming up prospective employers by sending your resume/CV along with an introductory email. Explain when you will be arriving, why you want to work in that particular country and possibly mention what attracts you to the specific school or organization. Most locations where you could teach English such as schools, colleges, language institutes and even local companies have websites, so there’s really no excuse for not being able to show that you’ve done some research before turning up in person.

Don’t overlook the obvious, you may be on the other side of the world at the moment, but with technology at your fingertips why not set up an initial interview with any prospective employer using Skype, Google or whichever platform they might be want to use. Remember, just like looking for any other job, showing initiative is a good thing. Don’t let the fact that you’re not there yet make you seem like a long shot to any potential employer. Let them put a face to the name, aim to impress and be ready with relevant questions.

Tell people you’re looking for a TEFL job

It might seem obvious, but it’s often overlooked. Register on TEFL sites and forums to receive updates on any jobs/info regarding the specific area or country you’re interested in. Register for TEFL jobs in geographical regions/countries to make sure you don’t miss any opportunities.

Become a TEFL entrepreneur

Yep! If it’s in your nature to be outgoing, self-confident and motivated, then finding TEFL work as an independent English teacher can be relatively easy – even if your experience is limited. Circumstances will vary from country to country, but just as in any other commercial sector; the law of supply and demand functions.

If you’re in a country where native English teachers are hard to come by, then you’ll probably find it easier than somewhere there are lots of TEFL teachers or a large expat community. The first step, check out the local small ads/classifieds – either in the local paper or online – and see what other English teachers are offering (or what students are looking for).

Try to get a feel for the local market for English lessons/tuition and prices other teachers are charging. Work out what you can do, where you can do it and then market your services in the local community.

Before you know it, you’ll have a new skill set, new friends and TEFL experience, all of which makes teaching English abroad one of the greatest adventures in life! And if you can do it in one country, you can do it in others also… so welcome to one of the truly global jobs – TEFL teaching!