YOU - Confident and Skilled in the front of your classroom:  Here's all the Skills you missed if you haven't taken a formal TEFL Training Certificate Course.  No need to miss out - get your basic TEFL Training right here - all the basic concepts, vocabulary, lesson planning - in one place. KNOW What to do and HOW to do it! TEFL Training for New Teachers How to Teach English Overseas A Ten-Week Plan to a NEW Life Overseas Everything you Need to Know to Land a Job and get Moved Overseas. Insider Tips from an Experienced TEFL Teacher, TEFL Teacher Trainer and former Peace Corps Volunteer working Overseas since 1989. A Fast Track Grammar Review for EFL Teachers No need to fear grammar any more!  This well known Grammar Review is humorous and light-hearted in its approach to grammar. No other grammar book can get you up to speed as quickly and easily as Fast Track. Written by a teacher-trainer to get newbies up to speed FAST.

What are my chances of landing a decent English Teaching Job - for my first job abroad?

Is it possible for a "newbie" to land a "good" TEFL job?

Believe or not, your chances are quite good. 

While you will hear a lot of bad news on the various TEFL website discussion boards on the Internet, the odds are that your first job will be a good one. 

You can greatly increase your chance of a happy start in the EFL business by following the suggestions on this website on finding and vetting your first - and every - job. 

Does it mean that the author of this page has never had a bad job in this industry?  No!  But it is quite possible to learn from the mistakes of others, follow advice on this website and hedge your bets.

But the discussion boards are full of dissatisfied teachers,
aren't they?

Yes and no.  Happy teachers are more likely to be out living their lives in their new country. When people are quite unhappy, we know that they tend to seek an outlet for their unhappiness and the Internet is a great place to vent their feelings.  And many will want to warn you of their mistakes and problems. Don't ignore these people.  It is always wise to keep your eyes and ears open to potential problems and difficult employers.  But do take it all with a grain of salt. 

Conversely, don't always believe all the wonderful stories you hear either.  I have read many posts on discussion boards where the writer claimed working conditions and wages that I KNEW had to be false.  In those cases I had worked in the same country and sometimes even for the same employer.  Overall though, the Internet is a great place to gather information for your new career.

I'm worried!

You probably should be.  But in your home country you were probably also worried about potential employers and problems that came with those jobs.  Working overseas is no different, except that you do need to be a little more careful as the consequences of failing can be more difficult to overcome.  I'm worried every time I change jobs - but I was back home too.  Plan carefully, do your research, keep some money in reserve, and always keep a "Plan B" in your back pocket.  Sometimes even a "Plan C" is a good idea.

Don't worry too much

Let this website do some of the worrying for you and help you increase the chances of your success.