FINDING AN ESL JOB

Something I get asked often by people back home is how I got my job as an ESL Teacher.  So in the following blog post I will attempt to answer that question by discussing how to obtain a position as an ESL Teacher.

Requirements

Just like with any job application back home there are some requirements that need to be met before one can be considered for a position as an ESL Teacher. Each school will have their own sets of requirements, but there are some which are common for most schools and these include:

• Being a native English Speaker.
• That you are a citizen of one of the following countries: America,   England, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa or Canada (though since being in China I have met teachers from countries  other than the ones just mentioned).
• Having Completed a Bachelor’s Degree with English being the language of instruction.
• Being 18 years or older (though from what I understand with New Visa laws in China one needs to be at least 24 years of age).
• A TEFL Certificate is recommended and sometimes required.

Finding a Job

Finding a job as an ESL Teacher is in many aspects a simple process (especially when applying in China - mainly because there is a huge demand for teachers at the moment).

There are 3 main ways to find teaching positions and these are:

Looking for them online:

There are many useful website created solely for finding ESL positions. Some of these include:

1.       Dave’s ESL Cafe
2.       tefl.com  
3.       tefl-online
4.       love tefl
5.       tefl-jobs    

Using Recruitment Agencies

This is the way I found my position and I would recommend using one. The reasons for me recommending using one are that not only do many of them offer ongoing support but in most cases they also make sure schools are legitimate before posting their vacancies.

After sending a recruitment agency the required documentation they will schedule a screening interview with you. If they deem you suitable they will send your information off to prospective schools and if the schools are interested they will contact you to set up an interview.
Some of the more recognized recruitment agencies include:

1.       Reach To Teach
2.       Footprints Recruiting
3.       Horizon Recruiting

Direct Application

Many schools advertise their teaching positions online and allows for a person to apply without the need of going through a recruitment agency. The only problem I with this is that you will need to find a good school by yourself and will need to do proper research before signing any contract. If one does not do this you face the risk of landing up in a school where you are abused and over worked.

The End Process

After finding a job and signing your contract the school will send you an invitation letter which is required for you to apply for a VISA. In most cases you will have to apply for a work VISA in your home country. In some cases however schools bring you over on a visitor’s visa and then apply for your work VISA once you have entered the country as doing it this way is a lot quicker.