Post by Chinasyndrome on Nov 4, 2003 15:00:42 GMT 7
Preparing an advertisement that works.
On any day, have a look at the assorted rubbish that passes for job applications on Job Wanted Forums. Some people tell their life story, some are incredibly rude and demanding, others use a strange type of shorthand as if they’re advertising in a newspaper and paying by the letter. Most are total garbage that will either not get a response or not get the response the advertiser is looking for.
Be specific in your ‘headline’ and you can avoid a lot of unwanted mail from countries and schools you aren’t interested in! Like this:
China. Shanghai or Shenzhen only. Universities only. Ready to arrive 1st September 0001.
Now this isn’t going to stop you being bombarded by China rubbish, but it should lessen the number of offers you get from Antarctica or Zimbabwe. It saves someone reading the hassle of wading through hundreds of life stories only to find the final words are ‘Not China’. That type of posting is massive ignorance.
Make sure you write in the correct email address. Some posters forget to put any contact address in at all! At least their mailbox won’t be blown up with rubbish.
State very clearly what you’re looking for, your experience and what you can contribute, and use whole but short sentences. Make your preferences clear but polite, don’t waffle on about wanting to change the world, don’t make terse demands, and basically approach it like you would if you were seeking employment as a teacher in your own country. Deal breakers can often be too much focus on ‘I want a gym, a beach, a 3 storey house with a pool, 10 servants, low hours and high pay.’ Don’t we all, but that comes in the negotiating stage. Make it clear that you will only reply to email offers and not websites if that’s your thing, but again recognize that sometimes you are referred to websites because the recruiter may have worries about their level of English.
Good manners.
Employment dynamics mean that at least 2 people – you and the employer – are forming a basic relationship. Professional friendliness can go a long way. No matter what your background or experience is there is no need to visit nastiness on a new potential employer just because your last one was a goose. As you sift the offers that come your way you may become tired, bored, frustrated or angry. Don’t take it out on the next emailer who contacts you. Keep it nice.
Sifting through offers/making a short list.
The more specific your desires are, the more you’re going to sift. If you receive offers from countries you are never in your wildest dreams going to visit, you can safely delete them without further action. For target countries, don’t be too quick to dismiss any reputable-sounding school just because it is outside the area you specified. Send a short and polite email thanking them and letting them know that perhaps you will contact them again if you can’t find what you want in the area you’re searching. Never tread on the toes today that are connected to the legs that support the arse you may have to kiss tomorrow. It is a fact of life when teaching overseas that you may later decide to live in another area. Keep your options open.
Make a short general list and begin your application. As new information becomes available keep sifting until you narrow your search down.
Research. (Currency exchange rate/flights/location).
You will need to do this. Don’t leave it until the last minute. Find out what injections you need and when you need them. Think about any medicines you need that may not be available overseas or in a language you can read. Many travel websites have currency exchange calculators. Call the embassy of the country you want to travel to and see if there are any special requirements, costs, paperwork or other issues you need to be aware of. Check the World Health Organization website. Check weather websites and any English-language newspapers you can find in your target country. Ask the embassy about laws and rules that apply to foreigners. Do all of this and anything else you think is useful before you accept a job.
On websites and chat rooms that are specific to the location you want, check through as many old threads as you can. Many of your questions can be answered this way and it may save you from getting ‘flamed’ because you have asked questions that have been dealt with many times before.
Negotiating and finalizing your contract.
Most employers want as much as they can get for as little as they can pay. Most employees want as much as they can get for as little as they can do. Human nature, worldwide. Do not sign a contract you don’t understand. Better to let the job go than to take it and suffer remorse later. Many contracts and offers are negotiable, but be prepared to give as well as get.
Be clear about the things that are not negotiable for you, the things that may be negotiable to a degree, and the things that you care little about but may be able to bargain with to get more of the things you really want. Also be clear that most schools worldwide are actually businesses that either report their expenses or must watch their expenses.
Documentation and pre-departure readiness.
Make sure you have all documentation required before you pay for your plane ticket. You should have checked everything as thoroughly as you can so that there are fewer chances of things ‘going bump in the night’. Do not try and force impossibilities into impossible timeframes.
Being clear on your own motivations.
Bear in mind that the things you want for yourself may not be the most important things in the mind of your employer. Finding a relationship, going to the beach, hitting the gym, traveling the country, art, learning the language, may not be high on the list of things a potential employer is looking for. Some truly don’t care as long as you have a pulse and can fog a mirror, some may be repulsed by your demands. There is no magic wand that can be waved to find the right place and it may take you a few attempts to really understand what you want and what is possible.
On any day, have a look at the assorted rubbish that passes for job applications on Job Wanted Forums. Some people tell their life story, some are incredibly rude and demanding, others use a strange type of shorthand as if they’re advertising in a newspaper and paying by the letter. Most are total garbage that will either not get a response or not get the response the advertiser is looking for.
Be specific in your ‘headline’ and you can avoid a lot of unwanted mail from countries and schools you aren’t interested in! Like this:
China. Shanghai or Shenzhen only. Universities only. Ready to arrive 1st September 0001.
Now this isn’t going to stop you being bombarded by China rubbish, but it should lessen the number of offers you get from Antarctica or Zimbabwe. It saves someone reading the hassle of wading through hundreds of life stories only to find the final words are ‘Not China’. That type of posting is massive ignorance.
Make sure you write in the correct email address. Some posters forget to put any contact address in at all! At least their mailbox won’t be blown up with rubbish.
State very clearly what you’re looking for, your experience and what you can contribute, and use whole but short sentences. Make your preferences clear but polite, don’t waffle on about wanting to change the world, don’t make terse demands, and basically approach it like you would if you were seeking employment as a teacher in your own country. Deal breakers can often be too much focus on ‘I want a gym, a beach, a 3 storey house with a pool, 10 servants, low hours and high pay.’ Don’t we all, but that comes in the negotiating stage. Make it clear that you will only reply to email offers and not websites if that’s your thing, but again recognize that sometimes you are referred to websites because the recruiter may have worries about their level of English.
Good manners.
Employment dynamics mean that at least 2 people – you and the employer – are forming a basic relationship. Professional friendliness can go a long way. No matter what your background or experience is there is no need to visit nastiness on a new potential employer just because your last one was a goose. As you sift the offers that come your way you may become tired, bored, frustrated or angry. Don’t take it out on the next emailer who contacts you. Keep it nice.
Sifting through offers/making a short list.
The more specific your desires are, the more you’re going to sift. If you receive offers from countries you are never in your wildest dreams going to visit, you can safely delete them without further action. For target countries, don’t be too quick to dismiss any reputable-sounding school just because it is outside the area you specified. Send a short and polite email thanking them and letting them know that perhaps you will contact them again if you can’t find what you want in the area you’re searching. Never tread on the toes today that are connected to the legs that support the arse you may have to kiss tomorrow. It is a fact of life when teaching overseas that you may later decide to live in another area. Keep your options open.
Make a short general list and begin your application. As new information becomes available keep sifting until you narrow your search down.
Research. (Currency exchange rate/flights/location).
You will need to do this. Don’t leave it until the last minute. Find out what injections you need and when you need them. Think about any medicines you need that may not be available overseas or in a language you can read. Many travel websites have currency exchange calculators. Call the embassy of the country you want to travel to and see if there are any special requirements, costs, paperwork or other issues you need to be aware of. Check the World Health Organization website. Check weather websites and any English-language newspapers you can find in your target country. Ask the embassy about laws and rules that apply to foreigners. Do all of this and anything else you think is useful before you accept a job.
On websites and chat rooms that are specific to the location you want, check through as many old threads as you can. Many of your questions can be answered this way and it may save you from getting ‘flamed’ because you have asked questions that have been dealt with many times before.
Negotiating and finalizing your contract.
Most employers want as much as they can get for as little as they can pay. Most employees want as much as they can get for as little as they can do. Human nature, worldwide. Do not sign a contract you don’t understand. Better to let the job go than to take it and suffer remorse later. Many contracts and offers are negotiable, but be prepared to give as well as get.
Be clear about the things that are not negotiable for you, the things that may be negotiable to a degree, and the things that you care little about but may be able to bargain with to get more of the things you really want. Also be clear that most schools worldwide are actually businesses that either report their expenses or must watch their expenses.
Documentation and pre-departure readiness.
Make sure you have all documentation required before you pay for your plane ticket. You should have checked everything as thoroughly as you can so that there are fewer chances of things ‘going bump in the night’. Do not try and force impossibilities into impossible timeframes.
Being clear on your own motivations.
Bear in mind that the things you want for yourself may not be the most important things in the mind of your employer. Finding a relationship, going to the beach, hitting the gym, traveling the country, art, learning the language, may not be high on the list of things a potential employer is looking for. Some truly don’t care as long as you have a pulse and can fog a mirror, some may be repulsed by your demands. There is no magic wand that can be waved to find the right place and it may take you a few attempts to really understand what you want and what is possible.