Does TEFL Make You More Employable?

So you’re considering becoming a TEFL teacher, but is the hassle really worth it? The idea of teaching kids for the rest of your life doesn’t sound so appealing to you, so i bet you’re wondering how it’s going to help your career. This is normal for you to feel like this before you make the big move half way around the world but the truth is after doing a TEFL course you will be irresistible to potential employers. Read on to find out how

 1- Leadership skills

You’ll find that the TEFL course will provide you with the skills you need to take lead in the classroom. Once you’ve got the skills you can put them into practice in-country! It’s important when you take you’re first TEFL lesson that you take control of the class and from that point onwards you’re their leader. Once you are able to control a classroom full of rowdy kids, managing employees will be a piece of cake!

2- Shows you’re up for a challenge and can adapt to anything!

From the second you arrive in your new TEFL destination, until you say your last goodbye to your students, you’ll face continuous challenges through out your journey (it’s all a good challenge though!). You will learn about new cultures, how to live in a foreign country, how to find your way around a unfamiliar city, how to communicate with non native English speakers and most importantly you can learn how to adapt to circumstances way out of your comfort zone. Now if that doesn’t impress potential employers, what will?

3- Proven presentation and communication skills

Whilst you’re out teaching English abroad you will be bridging both cultural and language barriers, which will force you into conveying and presenting your ideas in the clearest way possible. This is one of the best ways you can master your presentation and communication skills, which will come in very handy in any job. After a stint teaching overseas you will be confident giving those presentations that you once spent sleepless nights worrying about!

4- Develop your interpersonal skills

Having interpersonal skills is vital in any workplace and if you can prove to employers you have them by using examples from you TEFL experience it’s going to really work in your favour. It is often a hard skill to prove you have, not after teaching abroad. You can show you are patient and approachable, can develop a strong rapport (use the stories of how sad your students were when you left), sensitive to different cultures and needs and that you can bring a positive attitude into the workplace.

5- Boost your confidence

You may have a first-class degree and loads of work experience, but if you don’t have the confidence to go with it, it doesn’t stand for much. After being a TEFL teacher you will have had a real confidence boost after proving to yourself on your TEFL adventure you can do anything you put your mind to, you’ll certainly have the confidence to stand out from that crowd!

What do you think? Has TEFL helped you to become more employable?