Location

Once you've chosen a country to teach in but before you accept a position, you should consider the following issues:

Political situation – is it stable? If not, are you prepared to go there with the associated risk?

Visas – can you get the visa you need to work in that country? To find out, check with an embassy or consulate of that country.

Health – what is the health service like? Do you need to take out extra medical insurance? Is medical insurance (free or paid) included in your salary package?

Flights – is it easy to get to? Is it affordable? Can you get back home easily enough if you need to? Can people visit easily from home?

Money – are there restrictions on how much you can take out of the country? Or bring in to the country? Check with an embassy or consulate.

Communications – can you easily keep in contact with people back home? Is there internet access? Something we probably take for granted but depending on where you are going may not be available.

The Job Search

There are a number of different ways of searching for a TEFL teaching job. Let's have a look at at them. The main ways of finding a TEFL job are probably as follows:

• Internet
• Agencies
• Schools

Internet

Do a search for 'TEFL jobs' on Google and you'll get unlimited returns! You could narrow your search down a little and include the country/region/continent in your search term but you will still be overwhelmed with information. How to sort the good from the bad?

Do some research on schools and have a look at some of the forums available that might tell you if a school is reputable or not.

Some sites allow you to post your resume and other details when applying for jobs. The advantage here is that schools can contact you directly.

You could also look at TEFL jobs for TEFL graduates section for schools.

Agencies

You could also try recruitment agencies. Schools that use recruitment agencies tend to need a lot of teachers so they have a lot of vacancies all year round.

Most agencies will interview you before recommending you for a position. Once accepted they may also give you an orientation. This might include information on the school, curriculum, visas, culture and living conditions in the country you are going to teach in. This is a good opportunity for you to ask questions and find out as much as possible about the country of your choice.

They may be different levels of support offered by agencies once you are in post. Some may have in country representatives that pop in to see you from time to time, others might remain in contact via email. Obviously this support might appeal to some as they can provide a link with home and offer support if things go wrong.

Schools

You could try contacting schools directly especially if you are already in country. Being on the spot might give you an advantage over other applicants as employers can interview you face-to-face.

If you are going to contact schools directly, make sure you have your resume and copies of all your relevant certificates (TEFL certificate and degree). Try to get an appointment with somebody specific e.g. head of recruitment, director of studies or the academic director. Make sure you leave a copy of your resume with them and arrange to call them back after a few days (and make the call!).

Don't limit yourself to just one school. If you are there on the ground, go in to as many schools as possible and have as many interviews as possible.