4 Things YOU Can Do NOW to Find a Job After Teaching Abroad

You’re in a foreign country teaching English (or using English to teach). Life is good. But what will you do after you go back home?

You’re in a foreign country teaching English (or using English to teach). Life is good. But what will you do after you go back home?

Many expat English teachers have this intrusive thought that cripples them with fear. I would know; I’m one of them! I work as a kindergarten teacher in China, and I often have mini-panic attacks when thinking of the “gap” in my resume.

Many employers see English teaching as a vacation, not work, making it hard for returning expats to find work. But do not fret. You can do specific things RIGHT NOW to improve your future employment chances.

Here are four that I’ve gone into more depth for you.

Find a Side Hustle

The first thing you can do is simple, and anyone can do it. Pick a skill you are interested in or good at and turn it into a side hustle. This could be anything from coding to video editing.

I’m doing this RIGHT NOW as you are reading this. I began writing while attending university and have stuck to it through different mediums to keep my portfolio fresh. I work with clients I meet from word of mouth, and UpWork, and I run this Medium page you’re on right now.

Your side hustle doesn’t need to be immensely popular (see my poorly-performing Medium) or rake in a ton of money from the get-go; what’s essential is having recent work in your portfolio while also sharpening skills you can translate into your future career.

Get Certified

This second entry feeds off the first. Take that skill you’re working on and GET CERTIFIED.

We live in the age of technology, and because of this, there is a wealth of knowledge at our fingertips.

I have many friends who have completed online master’s programs, coding boot camps, and other online certifications that can help boost their resumes.

Not only do you get to add certification to your experience, but it also keeps your mind fresh and gives you something to work toward.

Save Your Money

I cannot stress this enough, save your money! I’ve met many expats who get “lost in the sauce” and spend all their money on drinks, eating out, and buying random shit.

They aren’t thinking, or don’t care about, the inevitable mountain of expenses they’ll face when they return to their home country.

Apartments, cars, car insurance, phones, the list goes on and on. It is expensive to start all over again!

Now, how does saving money affect my job prospects?

Well, if you’re at least reasonably financially secure when job searching, you’ll be more open to waiting for the “right job” than forcing something you’ll hate to be able to pay for the things you need.

Go Where the Jobs Are

Lastly, it would be best if you went where the jobs are.

As I mentioned, I’ve been copywriting for the past five years. I’m not going to move to some small town in South Dakota to find a writing job (unless it’s remote, that’s cool).

You need to put yourself in place with work and surround yourself with the people who can help you get hired.

That’s right; it’s not just about where you’re moving. You can complete this goal in your country right now! Network, network, network.

We, as expats, are surrounded by people from all around the world and have so many opportunities to meet someone who can give us a job.

So don’t move to the middle of nowhere and hole yourself in your home. Get out there and spark in the conversation to find YOU your next job.

At the End of the Day

Finding a job after being in TEFL depends on whether you’re lucky. You need immense luck to find the correct position to help you restart on your return home.

Yet, luck favors those who are prepared. Pick a skill, work at it, get certified, save money, and network your ass off. The job opportunities may not come immediately, but I guarantee you’ll be happy you did in the future.

What are you doing right now to improve your future career opportunities? Please drop a comment below to chat about it; I’d love to know!

Did you enjoy this article? You can find more JUST like it on my Medium landing page, where I cover all things expat and China-related. I’m also a freelance copywriter; if you want to contact me about the services I offer, you can contact me via my portfolio website.

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