Every month we have a group of new TEFL grads out of Costa Rica, Guatemala, and Peru ready to relish in all that it means to be internationally certified to teach English to ESL students all over the world. And though some graduates have no intention of teaching right away, most are looking to jump right in and get started. Which is great because Maximo Nivel’s TEFL certificate programs are internationally accredited, which means you can teach kids, teens, adults, or working professionals wherever your heart desires. But first, consider this:
You put in the time and effort to ensure the training you receive would be internationally recognized, right? You worked super hard for 4-intense weeks, day in and day out, soaking in the lessons your experienced TEFL trainer prepared to ensure you become a successful English teacher; you completed 2 research papers; broke down and reconstructed English grammar and sentence structure; and finally, you presented 3 mini-lessons and 5 full one-hour lessons to real English students! My fellow TEFL grads, you deserve a quality English teaching job that takes your qualifications seriously and acts as an entry-level opportunity toward a career teaching English, even if you choose not to make it your career! You are an ideal candidate for any employer, so here are some tips on how to begin your job search.
Recommendation Letters
Not all employers will ask for references, but better safe than sorry. Luckily, Maximo Nivel guarantees a recommendation letter from your TEFL trainer upon completion of your program. There’s no better person who can write this letter as your trainer is the one who has watched you develop your teaching skills in a short amount of time; they provided feedback and took note of how you implemented their suggestions into your next lessons; they graded your papers and have an in-depth understanding of your knowledge in the subject matter. So, if you graduate from the program, they definitely have some nice words they can share. Your letter only proves to the employer how competent you truly are!
Utilize Your Resources
During your initial weeks of TEFL, your trainer will provide a lesson on how to job search. No matter where in the world you’re looking for work, your trainer has the resources and the contacts to put you on track. And if you’re happy in Latin America, Maximo Nivel has its own English language institute where we’re happy to consider our TEFL grads for English teaching opportunities! Of course, it’s no guarantee you’ll be selected as a teacher, but we’re confident in our TEFL training program and therefore confident in your abilities. Just show us you’re serious and willing to work hard for our students, and you could be our next English teacher, immersing you more fully into the Maximo Nivel team!
Connect with Other TEFL Grads
We maintain relationships with a lot of our alumni, so if you want to connect with a TEFL grad who’s now an English teacher, we can help! We love connecting our newly graduated TEFL students with others who’ve already completed the program and jump-started their career. Getting to know others who were once in your position allows you to get all of your questions answered honestly, so you can make the best decision for you. Besides, building your network increases your chances of getting hired. Consider your new contacts as a vital resource in your job search.
Research, Research, Research
Of course, you’re going to get an offer, you’re a Maximo grad! But that doesn’t mean you should jump at the first opportunity that comes your way. We know you’re eager to get started, but take the time to do your research first.
If you’re in the same country as the employer, visit the location if you can. It will give you a better idea of what to expect and where you’ll be working. At the same time, you should take the time to speak with the teachers who are already there and get their feedback on their experience so far.
In addition, you may want to check out online reviews from employees and students. Both the people serving and the people providing the service should have positive things to say about the company. If you notice students aren’t happy or employees mention issues with receiving compensations and perks that were promised, steer clear!
If you use your better judgment and determine it’s an opportunity you want to pursue, make sure you thoroughly understand your teaching agreement! You want to make sure your expectations are aligned with what you’ll receive.
Take Time Off
Remember when you graduated college, you were so relieved you took a break before beginning your job search? Maybe you went on vacation. Or maybe even before college, you took a gap year to test the waters. Same idea here. Though a short 4-week program, it’s intense enough to have you feeling wiped out at the end of it. So why jump right into work? You probably didn’t get too much time to explore in those 4-weeks considering you were bombarded with assignments and readings, so do something fun! You deserve it! Plan a trip with your TEFL mates and have a mini-adventure! You never know when you might see them again.
We know how exciting and overwhelming it can be to graduate with your certificate in hand. The options are endless when you can obtain a position teaching English literally anywhere in the world, and we want to make sure you’re prepared to take that next step. No matter whether you just completed university, or you’re on your sixth career, completing your TEFL is an experience that can provoke inspiration when needed. It may or may not be your forever career, but it will always be a tool you can use for an industry that’s always in demand.