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Index
● Looking for jobs? Go to The LA Job List.
● Want information about teaching in Peru? Go to A Country Guide to TEFLing in Peru.
Cold Calling
Updated 15 November 2009
If you’re just applying to schools that advertise positions, you’re missing a lot of good jobs. When you apply to an advert you’re competing with lots of other teachers who want the same job. But by cold calling, you’re taking a chance that the school might have an upcoming position that hasn’t been advertised yet and are beating other teachers to the punch. If you're looking for jobs, find links in the Job Sites article.First off, you’re going to have to decide which places to contact. If you’re not in the country where you want to teach, try online forums such as Dave’s ESL Cafe or ELT World to learn about good (and bad) schools. If you are in country, then you’re in luck. Talk to other teachers and find out which schools are worth applying to. Make sure that your CV contains all the necessary information. Check Writing a Teaching CV to find out how.
Second, keep in mind that by cold calling, you’re not guaranteed to get a job. What you are doing is letting prospective employers know that you’re interested in working at their school and would like to have your details put on file. Send a letter of introduction (and remember to personalise it) and your CV. If you’re outside the country that you want to work in, emailing is your best bet. You might also try calling as well. If you do email, keep in mind that you might not receive an answer, but the key factor to remember is that you are making yourself known. You can do the same if you’re in country, and if possible, try to arrange a personal meeting with the director as well.
Third, follow up on your initial contact. Send another email, or better yet, call them. If you live close enough, drop by and ask for a short meeting with the director. If they don’t have any vacancies now or in the near future, ask to be notified when vacancies do arise. If there are vacancies, ask for an application pack or an interview.
One more thing to remember is to get a good job that pays well. See Getting a Job with a High Salary for tips on how to get a higher salary. By being polite and persistence, you’ll be able to work in a position you enjoy and at a place that you love. When you do get called, make sure you have a good lesson plan up your sleeve to impress them.
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