| TEFL placement programs can be the high road to | | | | survive. Make no mistake these guys do this stuff |
| finding a job quickly. Those who have just graduated | | | | for a living. That's how they 're able to throw in |
| or are looking for a career change often think, " I'd | | | | perks like finding teachers jobs, picking them up at |
| love to see another country but I don't have any | | | | the airport, and offering orientation and support |
| teaching experience...I guess I'll look for something | | | | throughout their contract. In general, these services |
| else." And so they stop looking right there and go | | | | are quite cheap. i-to-i offers this for free. |
| back into a field that they're "more qualified" in. | | | | The Limits of Placement Programs |
| Still there are others who go beyond this step, begin | | | | One important note about placement programs is |
| to research teaching abroad and then run into the | | | | that they can't guarantee you a job. What they can |
| equally daunting TEFL roadblocks of choosing a path | | | | do is get you connected with potential employers. |
| to getting qualified . Along the way, they come | | | | From that point on it's pretty much up to you to do |
| across a host of horror stories from unlucky | | | | your best in the interview and clinch the job. |
| teachers - horror stories of all shapes and colors | | | | Still with the TEFL qualifications you get through their |
| abound on the web. | | | | programs combined with the fact that these jobs |
| TEFL Horror Stories and Getting Your First Job | | | | aren't advertised on sites or in the paper, this gives |
| In fact with just a few minutes of search you can | | | | you a distinct advantage over those who compared |
| find stories of teachers who fly across the world to | | | | to you are under-qualified and simply don't know |
| find that the job they were promised simply doesn't | | | | about the job opening. So basically, by using a |
| exist. (This happens when language institutes, who do | | | | placement program to do the grunt work for you, |
| the hiring, over hire. They anticipate a certain | | | | you'll be leveraging their contacts and experience to |
| drop-out rate that doesn't pan-out. The ESL teacher | | | | bust into the ESL field and get hired. |
| gets stuck in a new country with no job.) | | | | Placement Companies Shine When Time and |
| Other common horror stories include employers | | | | Experience is Short |
| "misinforming" the teacher on actual contact hours, | | | | Using TEFL placement agencies is especially useful |
| vacation days or flat out not paying their teachers | | | | when finding a job quickly is a concern. Because their |
| for months. This kind of stuff happens all over Asia - | | | | client lists are long, they can get you through their |
| including Japan. (Note the most recent example of | | | | course and into a job in about the same time it takes |
| this was Nova corporation and its financial implosion.) | | | | to find a job on your own. This comes in handy in |
| Skip the Job Search With Placement Programs | | | | spring when competition for placement heats up. |
| Some teachers use a work around of a TEFL | | | | For the first time teacher who believes he or she |
| placement program. How this works is the TEFL | | | | might need a little hand holding on their first foray |
| provider who knows and has a solid working relation | | | | into teaching in Japan or want more of a sure thing, |
| with thousands of employers helps you with the | | | | a combined TEFL certificate along with their |
| placement. (The TEFL provider offers this perk when | | | | placement programs can help wring the risk out of |
| you enroll in their program.) This saves the ESL | | | | making the big jump. |
| teacher from getting caught in the nightmarish stuff | | | | After all teaching overseas is suppose to be a fun |
| previously mentioned because the provider works | | | | adventure and not an object of regret. One |
| with the most reputable companies they can find. Or | | | | company that does a good job at this is i-to-i |
| put another way, they don't do business with | | | | They've been in the business forever, have a solid |
| companies that mistreat their teaching staff. | | | | reputation and place hundreds of candidates |
| Maintaining contacts with good companies and | | | | throughout Japan every year. |
| overseeing them i.e. quality control, is how they | | | | |