Land Your Dream Job! * with BrightSparkz’s Mind The Gap™! *
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Land Your Dream Job * with BrightSparkz’s Mind The Gap™! *
Now that you’ve completed your TEFL course, it’s time to start thinking about getting a part-time or full-time job. But where do you even start?
Finding a job can not only end up time-consuming, but also scary and overwhelming if you’re unprepared for all the considerations surrounding this huge decision. What information should you put in your CV and how? Where should you start looking for a job? How should you conduct yourself in an interview? And what to do if things (unfortunately) go wrong in your new job?
1. Creating the Perfect CV
Your CV is the first impression that your potential employer receives of you, other than your covering email (which should be professional and proofread for errors!). The key is to make sure that your CV is concise, specific to each job that you apply for, is error-free, and is sent as a PDF. The formatting of Word documents can change when opened on different computers, so your beautiful CV can end up looking like a mess to a recruiter, which is the last thing you want! Find out more about crafting a CV for TEFL jobs in this article.
2. Deciding Where to Work
There are so many factors to consider when deciding where to apply for a job. Some of the most important questions you should ask yourself include:
- How far are you willing to live from your family?
- What type of lifestyle do you want?
- What is the cost of living in the countries you’re considering?
- How much would you need to earn to satisfy your cost of living?
- Does the country you want to live in have a good public transport system, or will you need to purchase a vehicle?
- What is the culture of the country and does it fit in with your personality?
- Would a city or a more remote area suit your personality better?
Read more about how to choose which country to apply for jobs in.
3. Knowing Where to Look for Jobs
There are many online job boards that regularly post vacancies, including TEFL UK’s job board. You can also explore the sites of TEFL companies, or use your contacts and network in order to find out about possible vacancies. One of the benefits of TEFL UK is that we provide job search support after you’ve completed your course with us!
4. Learning Interview Etiquette
Once you’ve been offered an interview for a job that you have applied for, it’s important to prepare! This preparation includes researching the company thoroughly and coming up with good answers to common interview questions. Some of these (and there are many!) can include:
- What are your strengths?
- What are your weaknesses?
- Why do you want to work for this company?
Make sure you arrive early (even for online interviews!), are professionally dressed, avoid using slang or swearing in your interview, and thank the interviewer for their time at the end of the interview.
How BrightSparkz's Mind The Gap™ course can help!
If you’re not sure where to start with your job hunt or a job application process, now is the perfect time to sharpen your skills and make sure that you bridge that gap! BrightSparkz’s Mind The Gap™ course is a unique graduate enrichment and work readiness program that was designed in house by a talented team of professionals. This 10 module online course will guide you step-by-step through the daunting processes surrounding your first job, in order to help you achieve your goals and land your dream job!
Some of the aspects you’ll learn:
- How to determine the kinds of jobs & environments that are right for you
- Considering your working conditions & location
- How to create an exceptional CV & an impressive cover letter
- Where & how to find your dream job
- Interview tips & how to tackle common interview questions
- How to navigate salary & related negotiations
- Advice on professional etiquette & communication
- How to deal with difficult work situations
- How to master the basics of money in terms of budgeting & tax
Written by Tessa Cooper, BrightSparkz Tutors