How do I market
myself for a TEFL job?
How can I
make myself attractive to a potential employer?
Two
things are important. One, make them want to hire you.
Make yourself an attractive candidate in every way. And
two, let them know you don't have the problems the last
person they fired had!
Attractive Candidate
Literally and figuratively. Make sure your photo on
your resume is professionally done and that you are
dressed professionally. Men should be in a dress shirt
and tie - women - uh, I don't know what you call it -
but dress professionally, okay? Smile in your picture.
Avoid facial hair (men and women!) [But I do have a
mustache and beard so I am not following my own advice
here, okay?].
If
you have tattoos, a pierced anything, a Mohawk hair
style - or anything that makes you look less
professional - hide it as best you can. You are, after
all, looking for a job in a market that is, most likely,
more conservative than your own. Reveal your true self
later - not during the job hunt!
More Attractive
Highlight your TEFL training if you have it (in
particular - it shows you are prepared and ready to go),
any teaching/training experience you may have (TEFL or
not, paid and/or volunteer), multi-cultural knowledge,
travel experience, multi-lingual skills (if you have
them) - and anything else that makes you appear ready,
skilled, and professional.
Your travel and knowledge/experience with other cultures
and countries will reassure potential employers that you
won't freak out and run away after only a week or two on
the job (it happens more often than you would believe).
Special Skills
Be
sure to highlight
your special skills and abilities, and anything you
might have identified on that webpage when we reviewed
it.
Eliminate the Negative
Write specifically that you are reliable, can hold down
a job for long periods (if you can and have), highlight
family responsibilities - note if you are married, add
anything that stresses dependability.
Review potential contracts and stress your positive side
of any issues related in it. For example, I once had a
contract that literally said, "If the teacher gets drunk
and breaks the furniture in the classroom, s/he must pay
for the damages." What experiences they must have had
in the past!
That was my very first contract. Expectations of
employers are often reflected in contracts they will
show you - try to counter any of the negative issues.
