I often hear teachers complain that employers issue contracts and then ask them to do more than the contract requires. From the other side of the fence, employers sometimes feel that teachers are too rigid in their interpretation of the terms of the contract. It is certainly a tricky area, so what can you do to make sure that the contract offers proper protection for both teachers and the employer? My suggestions are as follows:

The first point to consider is your own attitude to the contract. It is a document that binds both parties, so as employers you should ensure that it contains only clauses that you can honor. It is hardly fair to the employee to issue a contract that binds teachers and then expect to be able to break its terms yourself.

The second point is that teachers cannot be expected to know the legal requirements of a contract in a foreign country, as these can vary enormously. You should, therefore, explain to the teacher exactly how the contract reflects current employment legislation in your country and for your sector. Some countries stipulate that the contract must be written in the home language. If this is the case, your teachers will need a clear and accurate translation into English. Some countries require the contract to contain full details of the teachers visa and employment permits. There may be restrictions on the number of hours a teacher can work and on the number of hours overtime permitted. Whatever the specific legal framework in your country, it is essential to both adhere to the legal requirements and explain these to the teacher. Even if your country does not require a written contract at all, it is worth thinking about the kinds of problems that could arise if you do not have a clearly drafted understanding of all aspects of the job: the rights and responsibilities of the teacher and the rights and responsibilities of the employer.

Legal considerations apart, the contract should cover number of class contact hours, number of admin hours and number of preparation hours. If you have a basic 38 hour week and you expect teachers to spend 25 hours in the classroom, two on admin and the remaining 9 on preparation, dont think of the preparation time as a free pool from which you can ask teachers to do extra teaching. If you need teachers to do extra contact hours to cover for an absent colleague or a sudden influx of students, build the terms of the required flexibility into the contract. For example you may say that could be expected to do up to two extra teaching hours per week to cover emergencies. If further hours are required, offer to pay them as overtime. List any additional duties, such invigilating exams, designing teaching materials or socializing with students.

Be as precise as possible in every area. If you offer accommodation, make it quite clear how this it to be provided and describe it accurately. State whether teachers will be expected to travel to other branches or to companies and explain how such travel arrangements will be made. Make sure you are clear about sickness insurance and medical treatment: what would happen if a teacher had to be repatriated because of an accident, for example, or suffered long-term illness?

Specify holiday entitlement, grievance and disciplinary procedures, and notice terms. Above all, try to make the contract a reader-friendly document rather than one that is full of dense legal terminology. Before you issue a contract, it might be a good idea check with a lawyer to ensure that it is comprehensive enough to satisfy your local legal requirements.

All over the world, English is the accepted language for many forms of international communication. From business transactions to air traffic control, English has taken over as the language of choice. Choosing to teach English abroad puts you into a fast-moving, high-demand job that can take you almost anywhere.

If you have a sense of adventure and love the idea of a job that takes you to another country, you should seriously consider this career path. It’s sure to be a unique and enriching experience.

If you Want to Teach English…

If you’re considering this as a future career, chances are you already know that you’ll be away from home for awhile. Most schools will hire you on a contract, which will be at least a year long. Keep in mind that your students will need their teacher to be there for the entire term!

If you’re teaching at a private school, or if you’re hired by a corporation to teach business English to their executives, your contract may differ. Nonetheless, to make the entire trip lucrative you should plan on staying awhile. After all, it took you a lot of work to get there in the first place.

What to Expect

Your salary will largely depend on what country you decide to travel to. Obviously, some locales offer higher salaries than others, but that shouldnt always be the determining factor for where you teach. For instance, Mexicoa country notorious for low salariesoffers a rich culture, low living expenses and students dedicated to learning. On the other hand, Japana country known for its higher salarieshas a cost of living higher than most. Remember, you won’t always get rich doing this job, but you will almost always walk away rich in experiences!

The good news is, many schools and universities can and will supply you with free housing during the term of your employment. This can eliminate one of the biggest hassles about teaching abroad, which is finding an affordable place to live. Particularly if you’re in a large metro area, rent can kill you (and kill your teacher’s salary, too). If you get offered a job with free housing included, snap it up. The best part is that the housing they give you will likely be within walking range of where you teach. It’s a good bargain.

Finding a Job

Giving general advice on finding a job teaching English is difficult. The reason for that is because your efforts are going to vary widely by country. In some areas, you’ll need to be hired months in advance; other countries might need to meet you before they’ll even consider hiring you.

Our best advice here is to prepare to do some legwork. Talk to your college (and any other college in the area) regarding sister school programs and other resources they may have to get you overseas. Dont forget about the various job boards that list available teaching positions by countrythis is perhaps the best way of finding a job because each listing will provide the exact requirements of that particular employer. If you’re certified in TOEFL or ESL, you’ll find the road is paved a lot smoother for you.

Do keep in mind, regardless of where you’re looking for a job, that you do have some choice in the matter. Don’t assume that the first school that offers you a position is the one you should take. Qualified and enthusiastic teachers are in demand, so you should be as choosey about the position you take as they are about the teacher they hire!

Choosing to teach English abroad is a big decision. If you’re sure it’s the right choice for you, the sooner you start preparing the better off you will be. Competition can be stiff, but finding the right job- and the right country- for your future employment will make it all worthwhile. Trust us- it will be the experience of a lifetime.

Immediately upon graduation, most college students start filling in job applications in hopes of securing a job interview. Prior to this, these graduates need to have an impressive graduate resume. Resume writing is an art that is best left to professional resume writers that specialize in graduate and entry level resumes. A good cover letter and an impressive resume is the first step towards being granted a job interview.

Now that you have secured an interview, you need to prepare for the tough questions that lie behind the employers door. The majority of people considers the expected questions and prepare for these. Many rehearse the answers so that they sound confident while answering them. Practicing responses in advance keeps a check on nervousness, and you sound professional and confident. However, with the job market so competitive and so many applicants applying for the same job, employers have come up with a way to weed out applicants and let the cream rise to the top. Employers will ask questions that are difficult, make your pulse race and be tough to answer.

Tough Questions You Can Expect
Let us take a closer look at some of the tough questions you may be asked and what a likely response could be:

You have no experience. Why should I consider you? You need to be persuasive. Mention your ability to overcome deficiencies. Also, mention how you increased your knowledge through education, internships and summer jobs. Perhaps explain how your ability to master new technology made your colleagues turn to you for advice. Detail how your budding management skills would have a positive impact on the organization.

How did you resolve a conflict, if you had any, with your professor or last employer? You need to accept that you had disagreements with your professors or past employers that required resolution. Give specific examples of how you coped and resolved the issue without being judgmental of your professor or previous employer. To answer this question correctly, you need to show that you are able to see the other persons view in the dispute, consider all options and then act rationally. That is what the employer is looking for. The employer really does not care who was right or wrong but what is important is how you handled yourself and the situation.

How would your professors (or last employer) describe you? Explain that all would agree that you were a very energetic person who always accomplished whatever task was at hand. You were dependable, creative and possessed a keen eye to apply your knowledge in a very practical sense. Inform the interviewer that you have references for his consideration to backup your comments.

In your opinion, what are the qualities of a successful manager? Be brief, clear and meaningful with your answer as this is a true quality of an excellent manager. Some qualities you could mention are collaborative leadership, visionary planning, understanding the corporate objectives. Also, highlight how to interpret these to increase revenues and service the clientele. You can finish your response by giving an example of a person you consider to be a true leader.

What is your greatest weakness? Everyone has one so never answer this question in a lame manner. Be precise and confident in expressing to the employer what you feel your greatest weakness is. Then immediately explain how your main achievement has been to recognize your greatest weakness and work on overcoming the issue.

Surviving As An Expatriate – In Rome Do As The Romans Do

As a result of technological advancement and globalization, more and more people are relocating and finding jobs overseas. In fact, there are niche agencies that exist to help plan the whole process, ensuring a smooth transition. Still, even with expert help, expatriates are often faced with many difficult issues when trying to find a job in a new country. The primary opposition simply comes from the fact that you are an expatriate.

In order to overcome the cultural divide and achieve your goal of finding a great job in your new home, be a quick learner. Learn how to interpret cultural gestures and facial expressions, and learn the lingo. Failure to do so can make your job market activity experience a frustrating venture, creating invisible employment barriers that you may not even be aware of. The good news is that simply being cognizant about how to overcome employment barriers will put you on the course to successfully achieving your job goal. So, as a start, be quick to embrace and emulate your new countrys job market and workplace code of conduct.

Second, work to establish contacts who can direct you to others who are likely to be helpful. Actively build a network of people who can direct you to the quickest and best way of achieving your job goal. Networking is the key, so reach out to your friends and any contacts you may already have. An ideal networking contact is an established individual who has successfully overcome the challenges of being an expatriate. You definitely dont want to take lessons from someone who is having difficulties making the transition! Better still, look for a role model who has emigrated from the same country as yourself so that he or she can provide specific and applicable advice for making this same transition. Take the time to learn what he or she did, and then do likewise.

Finally, conduct a self-analysis to help determine how best to redefine your past skills, experience and qualifications in language that is appropriate to your new countrys job market. The last thing you want to do is use jargon or terms that are inappropriate and cannot be understood, as this will only serve to discredit and disadvantage you in the employers eyes. So, as a primary guideline in looking for a good job in a new country, always follow the rules set forth by that countrys job market. Your most important market research is to learn about your industry and its requirements so that you can self-evaluate and make the necessary appropriate adjustments to compete at the required competency level.

Above all, never make assumptions in any of your job market activities. Base everything you do on facts revealed by research. To start the process off in the right way, make sure you take the time to self-evaluate how well prepared you are to skillfully handle your job market activities. To help jumpstart the process, take this FREE Job Market Performance Assessment.