Guaranteed TEFL Jobs with TEFL Training

People often ask if a TEFL training course combined with a guaranteed job or a short-term internship is a good idea or not.

My best answer is a guess – maybe, maybe not.

Here are the problems that come with many such offers:

You usually pay too much for the TEFL training course.

Such courses often think that providing you with a guaranteed job is the best way to get you to pay 30-100% more for a TEFL training course.   That’s why they do it.   Certainly a guaranteed job has some value, but is it worth US$300-500-1000?  That, you have to decide.  YOU are the hot commodity.  There are plenty of jobs out there.  Anyone who suggested that you pay US$3-500 or more for a job would likely be accused of running a scam, no?

You are usually paid less on the job.

Some TEFL schools are acting as recruiters when they place you in a “guaranteed job”.  That is, they are getting paid by the school to place you there. I have no quarrel with that, I do a bit of recruiting from time to time.  But what sometimes happens when it is tied to a TEFL training course is that school will pay you less as they are guaranteed a certain number of placements by the TEFL training school.  In effect, your guaranteed job is driving down wages for teachers.  Including your wages.   You’ll find you are not able to negotiate your wages.  They will be offered – take it or leave it.

In one teaching destination, you might be paid about US$100-150 per month less than the other teachers and the $$$ will go to your TEFL training school.  Month after month, year after year – as long as you work there.  THAT – is an expensive job placement.   They will not tell you about the arrangement though.

So . . . now you are overpaying for TEFL training so that you can get a job that pays less.  Got it?  That’s my issue with some of the programs that are offered.

Another Problem with Guaranteed TEFL Job Placement.

Only my opinion, but the more reputable TEFL training companies will not guarantee your placement.  How can they?  What if you stutter?  Come to training drunk?    Wet your pants while teaching?  What if you do poorly on the course and really shouldn’t be placed?  What if you are a really terrible teacher?  Will they give up their fees on that principle?  Realistically, those problems are only going to be one-in-ten, but schools have to add that in to the bottom line, no?  You can pay a bit more to make up for the few losers that show up.  No problem, they think.

On the Plus Side of the Equation

If you are really at a loss as to how to land a job, sometimes it might be reasonable to take such an offer.  But really, take a look at the jobs websites.  They are packed with jobs, with employers paying a lot of money to put their jobs on the websites.  Dave’s ESL charges US$75 to list a job on their board for only 30 days.  Look at the many many jobs there!  Schools are eager for you.

TED’s Tips™ #1: Realize that landing a job is not a difficult proposition in most countries, as long as you have the minimum requirements for obtaining legal working papers in that country.  There is really no need to pay a lot of extra money for a course and to accept a sub-typical wages for a job, just so you can be sure you will get one.  They are out there.  Tens of thousands of EFL teachers find their own jobs every years.  It’s just not that tough to do.

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Guaranteed TEFL Employment

Guaranteed Job with TEFL Course?

Another great topic offered by a reader:

Do you know anything about the (Name Removed) TEFL School?
They have a guaranteed job offer if you pass with a high enough grade. They also offer corporate English courses for local businesses, which might be a good place to be able to put my previous experience to use.

I am usually wary of schools that offer “guaranteed” employment as the guaranteed jobs are often paid less than if you had obtained a similar job yourself, thus you are paying for the job by virtue of getting a lower income. And some schools (in some countries) will be getting a “kick back” for providing you at a lower wage. BUT, with the program you describe if the placement is dependent on your good performance on the course, then it might actually be okay. I am not familiar with that specific school though. Use the free checklists offered at www.TEFLprogram.com to help you evaluate the program and you should do okay.

You will almost always pay more – sometimes a LOT more – to take a course that “guarantees” you a job. Why? Because you are paying for people who took the course and were not successful. How can anyone who has never met you, guarantee you a job? The idea of basing such a guarantee on your performance at the school is better than most.

TED’s Tips™ #1: Be wary of and thoroughly investigate offers of guaranteed employment when they are attached to a TEFL Training school.

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