| You have decided on teaching abroad so you are | | | | difficult. After spending many hours on a search, |
| off on the job hunt. Aside from the obvious | | | | making a careful decision regarding a job offer is |
| considerations such as what country to work in | | | | important. Getting an offer does not necessarily |
| and what training/qualifications to obtain; there are | | | | mean you should take the job. Most employers |
| other things a teachers should consider when | | | | will not expect you to make a decision on the |
| looking at potential job offers.There are many | | | | spot. You will probably be given a few days to a |
| factors a teacher considers which will affect | | | | week to make up your mind. If they are unable |
| whether they accept a position. The most | | | | to provide you with the time to make a decision |
| obvious factor would be the content of the | | | | then you should not consider this as a viable |
| position. What is the school asking of you as a | | | | position. On the other hand, if you decide to go |
| teacher? You must ask yourself if the job is | | | | with a school without finding out the proper |
| interesting and fits into your career plans as a | | | | information, don't blame the school when the |
| teacher. The person you will be working for is also | | | | position turns out not to be what you expected |
| an important consideration so you must take the | | | | or wanted. Weighing the advantages and |
| time to talk to them either via email or phone. It | | | | disadvantages of the job will help you make a |
| would also be beneficial to ask to speak to other | | | | more informed decision, rather than deciding on |
| teachers from the school to find out their | | | | impulse.To help you find that perfect (or near |
| impressions. Knowing what the job is and whom | | | | perfect) job, you should ask these questions to all |
| you will be working with are the first step in | | | | prospective employers: |
| deciding whether to pursue it further.Some may | | | | |
| say that the most important consideration would | | | | What is the salary? |
| be salary and benefits but these should be a | | | | How many months is the contract? |
| secondary consideration to what you want to do | | | | Do/Can you sponsor me for all paperwork, |
| and who you will be working with. Regardless of | | | | including teacher's license, work permit, and visa |
| the salary paid, most people will not stay at a | | | | extension? |
| position where they feel unsatisfied or have no | | | | How soon can you get this paperwork |
| growth. In addition, the people you work with or | | | | processed? |
| for have an enormous impact on your job | | | | How many hours will I be teaching? |
| satisfaction. However, when considering salary and | | | | What kind of insurance is on offer? |
| benefits, do not focus as much on the starting | | | | When are the starting and ending times for |
| salary but rather on the potential for growth and | | | | work? |
| increases. Does the school have growth potential | | | | About how many events a month are teachers |
| for you as a professional? Do they spell out | | | | required to attend outside normal working hours |
| cost-of-living increases and meritorious raises? | | | | (teachers' meetings, parents' meetings, school |
| Benefits are other areas that can supplement a | | | | festivals, seminars, etc.)? |
| position where the starting salary is not as good | | | | Does the school have/provide books? |
| as you would have wished. Get a list of benefits | | | | Does the school have whiteboards or |
| from the company and formulate any questions | | | | chalkboards? |
| you may have regarding them so that you can | | | | Does the school provide all teaching materials |
| better discuss the position with management and | | | | needed? What are the items provided? |
| other teachers at the school.Another factor that | | | | Does the school require that I attend/teach a |
| may come into play with many teachers when | | | | summer camp? |
| evaluating a position is the resources provided by | | | | Is there a discipline policy? What is it and how is |
| the school. Teachers spend a large majority of | | | | it enforced? |
| their time preparing for upcoming lessons. This | | | | What are the details of contract "extras" such |
| requires readily available resources such as | | | | as: |
| teacher books, computer, printer, internet access, | | | | |
| and preferably a reference library. In addition, | | | | Resigning bonuses |
| there should be a work area set aside for | | | | Biannual or annual plane tickets to visit home |
| teachers to plan and prepare. You should also look | | | | Housing allowances (if no housing allowance then |
| at whether the school already has a set | | | | ask about help finding accommodations along with |
| curriculum/syllabus and student books because | | | | cost in the school area) |
| you may be asked to help to create these | | | | Internet access both in and outside the school |
| resources for your school year if they are not | | | | Raise schedules |
| provided. I have known many teachers that have | | | | Michael Hines is the founder of a free resource |
| felt the need to move on because of the | | | | helping the ESL/EFL community in Asia and the |
| demands of planning for a school year without | | | | Middle East for jobs, resumes, schools, resources, |
| adequate resources.Searching for a position is | | | | yellow pages, classifieds, information and lessons. |