Should I pay for a job placement teaching English abroad?
When considering whether to pay for a job placement teaching English abroad, it is important to weigh the pros and cons. Many companies offer guaranteed job placements for a fee, which can appear attractive as it simplifies the process of applying and interviewing for jobs.
Pros:
- Convenience: These services handle the job search, application, and interview processes, reducing the effort and stress involved in securing a position.
- Guaranteed Placement: They often promise a guaranteed job, which can provide peace of mind, especially for first-time teachers abroad.
Cons:
- Cost: The fees for these services can be substantial, and it is crucial to assess whether the convenience is worth the expense.
- Limitations: Using a placement service may limit your options to the schools and locations they partner with.
- Self-Sufficiency: By arranging your own job, you might find broader opportunities and develop valuable self-reliance skills.
Before deciding to use a paid placement service, consider the costs, limitations, and the potential benefits of independently finding a teaching position. Research thoroughly and evaluate both routes to determine the best approach for your personal and professional goals in teaching English abroad.
Table of Contents
How strong is the demand for English language teachers across the globe?
What are the down sides of a TESOL job placement?
What kind of school do you want to teach English in?
How strong is the demand for English language teachers across the globe?
Put simply, the worldwide demand for qualified ESL teachers is huge. It is estimated that over a billion people are currently learning the English language around the world, with around 300 million of those in China alone. With such a large number of potential students, the number of teaching positions available is in the hundreds of thousands. In some areas the number of job vacancies is far higher than the actual supply of teachers. With all this in mind, it is fair to say that most teachers should have little trouble finding a suitable job without having to pay a third party.
What are the down sides of a TESOL job placement?
One drawback of job placement services is that they limit the choices that are available to you. You will have only a limited say as to where you end up living and working, and you will have to accept the salary and working hours that are given. It is possible that you could end up with insufficient hours or too low a salary to live comfortably in the area you are in, or you might be overworked and paid less than other teachers at the same school. Whether your plan is to spend just a short time teaching overseas or you see it as a longer term career, if the working environment does not suit you it can be difficult to live with.
What kind of school do you want to teach English in?
You also need to ask yourself if you are happy to work in a school that takes on teachers without meeting them or even speaking to them before they arrive. To ensure you end up working in a professional environment that takes its responsibilities to its students seriously, you need to be in charge of which jobs you apply for. Applying for a number of different jobs in an area where you would be happy to live will give you the freedom to pick and choose the position that is the right fit for you. By paying for a job placement you lose all this freedom.
