Will I Get a Job ?

WILL I GET A JOB?

YES! The demand for English teachers far exceeds the number of individuals available to teach English. Most schools and recruiters will ask for a university degree, TEFL Certificate, experience and work visa, but these are the schools' ideal qualifications and for the most part they are not available. Also, by asking for so much it gives employers leverage when negotiating salaries.

Lack of an undergraduate degree or experience is not necessarily an impediment to many types of teaching opportunities if the job-seeker holds a TEFL Certificate. Also, employers will often waive qualifications if they like the candidate. The personality of the prospective teacher is very important and many schools will choose the novice with the right personality, age, etc. over the experienced ESL teacher.

Anyone with a bachelor's degree in any discipline plus a TEFL certificate will have little trouble finding a teaching position. Many teachers of conversational English have no degree or experience. The person without a degree or experience and only a TEFL certificate may have to work harder to find a job and rely more on personality, but the jobs are there. On-site applications are often the easiest way to get hired.

Short-term TEFL certificates are best suited for teaching abroad as the competition for ESL teaching positions in

Canada

is high. On the LOWER MAINLAND (Vancouver), there are hundreds of language schools with more expected to open soon. However, for adventure, career enhancement and life changing experiences we recommend teaching in a foreign country.

If you speak fluent English, you will get a job!

The biggest single complaint from employers in the past has been that many ESL teachers were not prepared to teach. As a result almost all employers now request a TEFL certificate from anyone who does not have a B. Ed. A TEFL certificate informs the employer that you have the skill to run a classroom, plan lessons, assess students and the special skills needed to teach a language. TEFL training can range anywhere from 2 years to 1 month. How long you train is up to you, but most employers of conversational English (which is 75% of the job market) will accept a one month TEFL certificate.