TEFL Jobs Abroad: How To Apply & Ace Your Interview

Before you start looking for a TEFL job abroad, you need to be mindful of certain requirements. 

To ensure the best possible chance of finding the TEFL job of your dreams, your TEFL qualification needs to be top-notch. A TEFL certificate from The TEFL Academy shows that you take your teaching seriously. Our TEFL courses are accredited and internationally recognised – the first step to finding a TEFL job.

There are just a few steps away between you sitting on the couch and living the dream of teaching English in some exotic location!

Pick your destination

First things first, where do you want to go? 

You can throw a dart at a map of the world if you like, or you can look at which countries suit your vibe. Do you prefer a bustling city? Tropical beaches? Rural towns? You get to choose!

Research the country

Once you’ve got a shortlist of your ideal destinations, spend some time researching the country to make doubly sure it’s the right fit for you.

Have a look at the cost of living, start up costs, teaching salaries, weather, way of life – anything that will help you understand whether you’ll be happy teaching there. This includes working conditions – working hours, benefits, commute, and so on.

This sounds like overkill but a bit of work here can save you loads of effort later. Life’s too short to apply for jobs you don’t actually want!

Organise your CV

Now that you know where you want to go, you can get started on organising your CV.

Update your CV and tailor it to teaching. A bit of research goes a long way in creating CVs. Take the time to look up what formats and guidelines are practiced by different countries around the world, and make sure you personalise as much as possible to ensure recruiters and employers aren’t just receiving a generic document each time. 

Your TEFL qualifications and experience aren’t going to change, but every job has unique skills required that pose an opportunity for you to highlight yourself as the best candidate for the position. For example, if the job involves teaching Young Learners, highlight any relevant experience, such as coaching a soccer team or au pairing. 

Keep things concise, and ensure you do market research on the core values and missions a company has so you’re aligned as closely as possible. 

Make sure you have all your personal information updated and all contactable handles (including Whatsapp, Skype) referenced on your application – employers aren’t going to try to hunt you down for an interview if they can’t get in touch! 

When your CV is all spic and span, use a tool like Grammarly to make sure your language is perfect. A spelling or grammatical error on a teaching CV is unforgivable!

Research the company

Doing your due diligence is vital when applying for TEFL jobs. Unfortunately, there are a number of scams out there for unsuspecting TEFL teachers. 

Luckily researching your potential TEFL employers has never been easier with the help of the interweb. Check out forums and Facebook groups to make sure the company you are applying to is legit.  

Congratulations – you’ve got an interview! Don’t freak out – we’re here to give you a cheat sheet to ace your TEFL interview. 

Sit.

Find a quiet area where you can have your interview where you won’t be disturbed by doorbells or dog barks. Your headset needs to be good quality and your internet connection must be stable. This area should also have good light in case you need to go on camera.

Think.

Consider the questions you could be asked and think of how you would answer them.

Reflect.

Think about why you want this particular job and what you can bring to the table. Have your qualifications close by in case they are needed. 

Breathe.

Have confidence in your abilities. Trust in the knowledge your TEFL qualification has given you and take deep breaths to calm your nerves.

Smile!

Now is the time to get cracking! Explore our jobs board and choose from hundreds of jobs to find your perfect job teaching English abroad.