How to Apply for Teaching Jobs Abroad

Whether you’re already a passionate teacher or studying to become one, it’s entirely possible to find a position overseas that will take you on that life-changing international journey. The key is to be prepared. This comprehensive guide to apply for teaching jobs abroad covers everything you need to get ready for your teaching adventure.

Various Kinds of Teaching Positions Abroad

You may have only heard of teaching English abroad, as this appears to be the most popular option, particularly in Western countries. Depending on your educational qualification, you may have more options than you know. Here are they:

• Public School Teacher
• Private School Teacher
• International School Teacher
• Volunteer Teaching
• Military School Teacher
• Teaching Through the Peace Corps
• Teaching Through the Fulbright Program
• Other School Positions

Requirements to apply for teaching jobs

The most important aspect of applying for a teaching job abroad is ensuring that you have the necessary qualifications. Most teaching jobs abroad require the following worldwide qualifications:

• TEFL/TESL/TESOL Certification Bachelor’s Degree (if teaching English)
• Language Fluency

If you want to teach English, you must be a native English speaker or demonstrate fluency in the language. If you want to teach in a public school in another country, you may need to be proficient in the local language. In addition to these qualifications, depending on the job you are applying for, you may need any of the following:

• Master’s Degree Teaching Certification Teaching Experience
• If not English, a degree in your field, such as history, is required.
• Master’s Degree
• Teaching License
• Teaching Experience
• Degree specific to your field, if not English, i.e. a history degree if you plan to teach social studies, etc.
• Administrative Certification (if applying for a job as a school administrator)

Steps to apply for teaching jobs

1. Determine whether to apply through a program, a recruiter, or on your own.

Once you’ve determined that you’re ready, you’ll need to decide whether you want to look for work on your own or collaborate with a larger organization. Prestigious volunteer programs such as Fulbright and the Peace Corps can be beneficial. They will guide your placement, expenses, living situation, and provide any assistance that you may require.

If you decide to look for a job on your own, keep in mind that you may not have the same level of support as a  formal organization or recruiters. As a result, you should be prepared to have enough savings in case of an emergency. Moreover, as well as the ability to secure your own housing, insurance, and other necessities. Many international schools, however, will provide assistance in these locations.

Look for job openings on the school websites of the places you’re interested in. And you should be able to find a list of benefits as well as the application requirements. There are always available teaching abroad job postings on the Go Overseas Teaching Job Board.

2. Choose a country to teach

Choosing the country in which you want to teach may be the most enjoyable aspect of the process!

You might be fantasizing about exploring Kenya after spending the week with your adorable Kindergarteners, learning Chinese while teaching English to your students in China, or sharing stories with your fellow teachers over a glass of wine in France.

Your decision may be influenced by the salary and cost of prevailing in a specific country, particularly if you are in debt, or by the language and culture in which you wish to immerse yourself. When you’ve chosen the type of teaching job you want, you can start thinking about the best country for you while looking through available job postings. Allowing yourself to be open to a variety of possibilities increases your chances of success.

Before applying for a job, you should also research the cost of living in the country and compare it to your expected salary.

3. Form a resume/CV

Writing a resume can be a tough prospect for anyone, especially if you’re applying from abroad. The first step is to understand the expected format. Standard resumes are used in North America, whereas CVs are used in Europe. Both are used in Australia.

Here are some general guidelines for writing a resume/CV for teaching, regardless of format:

• Check for grammatical and spelling errors.
• Use a professional format – most word processing programs will provide a template for free, or you can buy one online from sites like Etsy.
• Make sure your resume/CV is readable and followable.
• Check with your references to ensure you have the most up-to-date contact information.
• Connect your resume/CV to the job you’re applying for: Highlight your work experience, recognitions, and skills that are relevant to the job description you’re applying to, and make your achievements stand out.
• Include a professional photo of yourself (many job postings will request this).

4. Apply for teaching jobs

4. Apply for Teaching Positions

It’s time to start applying after you’ve looked through some potential school websites and current job postings. Even if a school does not appear to have any open positions, you can always contact them to see if there are any vacancies and to enquire if you can send them your resume in case they have any future openings. 

Applying for multiple vacancies for which you are qualified will increase your chances of getting hired. Aneesa emphasizes the importance of only accepting interviews from schools that meet your criteria and being clear and honest about your salary expectations. 

Follow up on your applications, and don’t be discouraged if nothing comes up right away. It may take time and patience.  In the meantime, you can always strengthen your application by obtaining the appropriate certifications, enhancing experience, and acquiring additional education-related training and skills.

5. Interview Performance

Once you are going to start an interview, you should do some pre-interview preparation to ensure you ace it. Begin by conducting extensive research on the school and the job you applied for. Showing up with some knowledge of the place where you’ll be interviewed to show that you’re taking the opportunity seriously.

Finally, when responding to the interviewer’s questions, try to refer to specific accomplishments and results as much as possible, and prioritize experience over education. While your degree is important, what you studied can be seen on your resume. Interviewers want to know what you’ve accomplished. If you have recently graduated, you can describe your student teaching experiences, internships, jobs you conducted while in school, or even specific class projects or extracurricular activities.

6. Salary and Contract Negotiation

While researching potential employers, look into salary information for similar jobs or even previous employees’s salary at that school. By that way, you will know exactly what salary to expect and how much you can negotiate.

It’s beneficial to practice salary negotiation with each job offer. Do not be worried that negotiating or asking for a higher salary than what is offered will cause them to withdraw their proposal. The worst that can happen is that they will say no, and you will still be able to accept their initial offer.

Finally, make sure to consider more than just the earnings they offer you, as welfare is important as well. Before signing, make sure you fully understand your teaching contract and try to negotiate any terms that aren’t what you were expecting for.

Above all, teaching abroad necessitates a passion for your students and a desire to enact change. There are numerous opportunities available to you if you express that passion and have the necessary qualifications to work with students abroad. It only takes a little flexibility, openness, and determination to find the right teaching job for you.