It’s easy enough to want a job and finding one is not too difficult either, but how does one get a job? Success is the accomplishment of an aim or purpose and is achieved only when one has had that hearty handshake and heard those magic words: “Congratulations, you have the job.†But what happens when this doesn’t happen? Do you turn away, rinse and repeat the same tried, tested and failed technique over and over again, or do you do something more?
- Why does an employer not look at a CV?
- Why does an employer not respond to a candidate?
- What difficulties are there in applying for work and how do I get around these?
This article has been designed to help document the biggest and most important mistakes teachers make and the information they so vitally need to know, below are listed the mistakes made and how they can be avoided to ensure that you get your dream job, wherever it may be.
So first we must ask ourselves a question, a single question but prominent and necessary. Interaction and responses are good; they show curiosity and a willingness to hire as well as a general interest into the individual involved. So that said, why would a client not respond to a candidate?
The first and most prominent issue teachers have is out-of-date documentation, SeekTeachers™ can’t stress this enough, an up-to-date CV shows proactivity and organizational skills as well as demonstrating the ability to take the initiative when it comes to one’s career. Update those CVs with the most updated information available; Contact Details, Experience and Qualifications. Of course, a little character in the form of an ‘about me’ section can also help demonstrate your English proficiency, which is always a bonus in the eyes of the clients.
The second thing is having a degree in line with what you teach. Up until recently not a huge amount of schools asked for this, having a degree at all was enough to show just how dedicated of an individual you were, now, however, this has changed. With the changing of times comes an era where you must have a degree in line with what you teach, at the very least, you’ll have a gigantic advantage over other candidates with this.
Being well-travelled has never been considered a bad thing, developing a vast knowledge of the world and its cultures through the eyes of a seasoned veteran shows wisdom and a willingness to learn. However, seeing short bursts of work in different schools all over the world is enough to send most employers running. Think about it, would you hire someone who lacks consistency with their career that much?
One of the other things to consider is your formatting on your CV, having more colours than a burst packet of skittles in the middle of a gay pride parade and so many fonts you’d make Shakespeare roll in his grave might seem like a good idea, but in the long term you’ll put off potential employers as they struggle to read the rainbow-coloured scribbles in differing sizes running all over the page. Sometimes, in fact most of the time, less is more. Honestly, SeekTeachers™ will tell you simplicity is sweet.
Finally, with the rise of crime in schools, especially lately, it is critical to have up-to-date police checks and a whole plethora of references. If you’re lacking in the reference department then start building up a list of employers who can vouch for your professionalism and dedicated skillset. Without both of these you really won’t get very far.
- Updated Information.
- Degree in line with subject taught.
- Not too much movement between schools.
- Basic format and legible font (One or Two colours in Arial, Times New Roman etc).
It’s also important to mention that due to different cultures and laws all over the world, many additional rules appear in and differ between a whole host of countries. Below are some of the most notable ones. Again, these policies are not those of SeekTeachers™ and are enforced only by countries and institutions in those countries that SeekTeachers™ operates in.
South Africans will typically require an IELTS Score of 8 or above or a TEFL with 120 hours or more to be deemed a native speaker of English. South Africans going to China is also a problem due to the difficulty in obtaining a work VISA in the country. Teachers wishing to teach in most places in Asia, especially China, will typically require at least two years of experience. In Malaysia, normally at least three years is asked for. Finally, although the retirement age in most countries is at 65, many academic institutions will not accept anybody over the age of 55.
Please keep in mind that all profiles on the SeekTeachers™ website have been specially designed for the international market and so, provided all fields are filled out correctly, registration is simple, sweet & straightforward and all CVs created through the profiles are ideal and tailored to meet our clients’ standards. Please don’t forget to register with SeekTeachers™.