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1) Scour the Internet

“My top tip for finding a job independently is to scour the internet for it. Go to well know websites such as Dave’s ESL café job board which is updated constantly with the latest jobs. Don’t be worried about rejection and don’t stop after one interview – try to get as many offers on the table as possible. The schools that need the teachers urgently will probably negotiate the salary if you can start ASAP.”

Robert Clarke, who spent a year teaching in Indonesia before landing a job in Southern China

“When you’re searching for jobs delve into the darkened depths of the internet, using every search phrase or keyword possible for the locations you want. If you know the native language, search using it also. You’ll usually find more results.”

Christina Spiwak, who’s about to start teaching in the Ukraine

2) Network!

“Some of the best jobs I have had have been recommended by friends. I recommend networking: check out the groups on Chalkboard, utilise your Facebook contacts (don’t be afraid to add more acquaintances!), go on expat forums….and there’s always friends of friends. Someone always knows someone who has had a TEFL job abroad! When you’re looking for a job always put the word out – you never know what might come your way.”

Emma Foers, who has taught in Japan, Egypt, Portugal and Italy

3) Check out your school thoroughly

“Prior to my interview, I did a search on the Craigslist community where my potential job was located and found teachers with blogs. I contacted a couple of them. In turn, they responded promptly with helpful information about the school chain and the city itself.”

Lindsey Rankin

“I had a hit from a Kuwaiti school and loved the school’s website, school even wrote me back, but when I Googled the school to find more out I read nothing about blog and forum page after forum page about all this HORRIBLE things like teachers being threatened and such… make sure you find that out before you start accepting jobs!”

Christina Spiwak

4) Use common sense

“If something seems shady, keep looking.”

Lindsey Rankin, who found her job in South Korea after working in Guatemala

5) Make sure your CV/resume is up to scratch

“Make sure you update your CV, as this is what will get you an interview. If you have no teaching experience, explain what your TEFL course(s) covered and how many hours of study were included, as well as any teaching practice or volunteer work done. Any previous jobs which required particular skills, such as managerial duties or a position which required creativity could also work in your favour.”

Lesley Voss, who teaches in Southern Italy

6) Negotiate

“If you are going to take a job make sure you set some ground rules. For me next time, I will definitely say I don’t want to live in an apartment block without a lift amongst other things. I’d avoid living on campus too as they may lock the gates by about 11pm. Not good.”

Denise Velati, who teaches in China

7) Don’t give up!

“Since you’re digging on your own… never give up the search. Realize it’s not always roses and it’s much harder to do on your own than to get someone else to do it for you. But it’s much more rewarding knowing you are the one who busted your ass to get where you are. Always believe you’ll find something. Your first or second TEFL job might not be the paradise you wanted to start in, but if you don’t give up, you’ll get to your dream destination.”

These are tough times for young people leaving college, there is no doubt about that.

Good jobs are scarce and often finding any kind of employment is difficult too. I am not surprised then that many young people, faced with a prospect of endless looking for work, or staying unemployed decide to try earning money on their own. They make a choice to utilize the knowledge they gathered so far, skills, maybe even passions and turn them into a business. Being in their shoes, I would certainly do that too.

However, when it comes to business, things don’t look bright either. Setting up a company is easy but it is also not that difficult for an unexperienced person to run into trouble with it. I know because that’s what happened to me.

I set up my first company when I was 20 with what I thought was the greatest idea in the world but I lost the business a year later. I ended up in debts, although luckily for me it wasn’t much, enough to put my life on hold for some time though.

I survived of course, shook the dust off and started a new business which I am still running today and developed it from a one man band to a small company.

But this time I had done it wisely.

Since so many young people today will decide to try their chances in business I decided to give them a few tips on what to do and how to avoid making my mistake.

1.    Check if your idea can actually make money.
This is the mistake I made, I haven’t researched my idea. It just sounded so brilliant to me that I never assumed it might not bring any money. So before you make the final decision, research your idea. Keep in mind that not every one can make money, not even if it’s the greatest idea in the world. And you are far better to discover that before you invest you time and resources into it

2.    Do it.
In spite of how badly things look now, and how much you might consider waiting for a while to see if things will change, start your business now. Business world is cruel, brutal and tough to survive. So the quicker you start adjusting to that, the better. As long as you know that your idea can make money, you should be fine.

3.    Get professional help straight away
You might know plenty about business yet it is still wise to get someone else’s view on your ideas. Contact your local council or any organization in your region that offers grants for business mentoring and apply straight away.

4.    Study business
I am a fair believer that we need to stay students all our lives in order to succeed, there simply is no other way. So no matter how tempting it might be to throw the books away, especially that you have just finished your formal education, pick them up again. Read as many business books as you can cram into your day, enroll on to business courses in your area and attend any business event, talk or conference that’s available to you.

5. Be patient
Last but not least, here is the dark secret of business, success doesn’t happens overnight, even though it might look like it did for some people. Overnight sensations take years to nourish and bloom, sales never happen on a day one too and it takes time to convince people to give you a chance. So, be patient and persistent to win in business.

Business is difficult and growing a company requires a lot of work, energy and dedication. Almost just like finding a job in todays economy. Yet there is one thing that many people overlook when it comes to the business – you are the master of your destiny. It only depends on you what are you going to achieve in business. Something no job could possibly offer.