How To Impress International Schools So You Get Hired!

[International Expat]

Far too many people think it's really easy to get hired by a school to teach English abroad. They assume they can go where they want to live, and find work with the snap of a finger.

Anyone who has taught abroad sees this every August and January. Fresh-faced young people turn up and start handing out resumes to every school in town. A month later, they've either gone home or are working at the local Irish bar.

Maybe if they are really lucky, they end up teaching part-time at a low-rated school for barely any money.

The truth is that if you want to get a decent teaching job abroad, you need to prepare yourself to impress people. Lots of teachers want to work abroad, and the competition for good placements is intense. So working out a plan to make yourself stand out is very important.

Here are some ideas to help you get noticed, so you end up helping students learn English and don't spend your time mopping the floors at the Dead Liver Pub.

·      Go to job fairs. Yes, they are annoying and feel like cattle calls. But they give you a chance to talk to a representative of the school in person. Often, simply making physical contact is what you need to make sure that you aren't just one more resume on the pile.

·      Prepare a video of your teaching career or your educational philosophy.  Recruiters look at a good video as not only a great way to get to know you but it also tells that you are technologically savvy and willing to go the extra mile for your school.

·      Don't try to be “cool.” The last thing international schools want is someone who looks like a hipster. If you have weird facial hair, shave it off; it will always grow back. Get yourself a decent blazer and pants. Remember, many countries are much more conservative when it comes to what teachers wear than we are in America.

·      Don't focus your cover letter exclusively on your teaching credentials. Lots of people can teach. What the schools are looking for is someone who can bring interesting ideas and experience to the table. If you have other skills, make them prominent in your cover letter. This will make you seem like someone who can do more than simply speak the language well.

·      Edit your resume so that it not only includes your experience but also your interests, particularly if they are American-centric. Schools want their students to understand our culture, not just our language. Someone who can explain baseball or current events to them is just as valuable as someone who can explain basic grammar.

·      If you have any business experience, highlight it. One of the main things that schools want to teach their students is how to do business with English-speaking companies. “Business English” is in many ways another language than “Standard English,” so if you have that experience it makes you considerably more valuable.

·      Ask for contact information for follow-up questions. Checking in after the job fair makes you look more interested, and also reminds them of who you are.

·      Be upfront about how long you are willing to stay at the school. Some schools prefer short-term contracts, and others want people for the long-term.

cc InternationalEducators.com