How to find a job in another country teaching English: A step-by-step guide

Heading to a whole other part of the world to start your TEFL career is an exciting prospect. But before you can indulge dreams of those talcum-white Thai beaches, those snow-doused Alpine slopes, or those tango-twirling bars in Buenos Aires, you’ve got to bag a new position abroad. Cue this guide, which runs through how to find a job in another country teaching English. It’s step by step, so follow from one to five and you could be packing your bags and reaching for the passport in no time at all!

1 – Get your TEFL qualification

If you’re simply not sure how to find a job in another country teaching English, then we’re here to say that getting a globally-recognized TEFL qualification is a good place to start. Yep, every position you’ll encounter is likely to require one of these. It’s considered the industry standard for aspiring teachers. The vast majority of schools and employers will ask for a 120-hour course or better. That’s to ensure you cover a wide range of aspects in the teaching profession during your studies, from in-depth grammar teaching to technical vocab to classroom management skills.

2 – Choose a destination where the TEFL requirements match what you have

Next up, you’ve got to think about where you want to go. For many, it’s the most fun part of that TEFL jobs search. It involves stoking the wanderlust – do you want palm-shaded Asian beaches or soaring Himalayan mountains on the doorstep when you finish teaching for the term? However, it’s also an important step for filtering out destinations that might not suit your credentials. Countries like Japan set the bar quite high, asking for a college degree and usually some experience. Others, like Cambodia or Mexico, aren’t so demanding. This is basically the point where you home in on the spots where you’ve got a CV to match.

3 – Make a list of prospective employers in that destination

So, you’re TEFL qualified and you’ve selected a destination that matches your experience and skills. We’re well away. Your next task is some in-depth research on the schools and private institutions that hire teachers wherever it is you’re looking to go. We’d recommend making a spreadsheet to keep track of all the potential employers. That will let you see the ones that offer the best pay, compare locations (is it in Mexico City or down by the wave-washed shores of Puerto Vallarta?), and have contact details right on hand…

4 – Send out tailored CVs and cover letters

Brandishing your list of schools and teaching providers, it should be a cinch to start crafting a resume that’s tailor-made with specific employers in mind. Consider where you’re applying. Is it a young learner’s institute? Is it a university? Is it an international school? All will place different emphasis on different skills and qualifications. To stand out from the crowd, you’ll need to highlight those in your CV and cover letters. Also, be incisive and interested, ask questions about your position, but also remember to speak in detail about past experiences that you feel will help you be the best darn teacher they’ve ever hired.  

5 – Sort out the proper visas and documentation

The last step in our one-to-five guide on how to find a job in another country teaching English is, admittedly, a rather boring one. Assuming you’re successful at stage four, it’s likely to be crunch time very fast. Any moment now you could be asked to do an interview online or in person. Either way, there’s a good chance you’ll be waltzing into your new classroom somewhere exotic pretty soon. So, get researching work visas and any documentation you might need in your new home country, because you could have to get applying for it all ASAP. Prospective employers and TEFL companies are often happy to help with this process, and there’s plenty of fantastic information about moving abroad to all sorts of places available online.

If you can think of anything to add here, we’d love to hear about it in the comments below. Or, if you’ve got any more questions on how to find a job in another country teaching English, we’re at hand to help. Just get in contact!