Getting an Edge in the Competitive European TEFL Market

As many TEFL graduates have already discovered - Europe is a tough nut to crack.

The popular destinations, including France, Italy, Spain and Germany, have extremely competitive TEFL markets and that means language institutes here have high expectations. Gone are the days when you could secure a teaching position without a formal TEFL qualification, indeed, even fully qualified teachers will struggle to find work if they cannot make themselves stand out from the crowd.

Europe has always been a popular destination with first-time TEFL teachers. They're drawn by the similarities of culture, modern luxuries and high wages. Yet the changing market is making it increasingly difficult for first-timers to find work in these popular destinations.

The first complication which you must consider is whether you will be able to work legally in your chosen country. EU citizens are automatically eligible for work in Europe but non-EU citizens (including native English speakers from Northern America, Australia and Canada) will have to undergo the complex process of securing a work permit. This means that you will have to find a school that's prepared to sponsor you and work with you through the gruelling application procedure.

If want your overseas teaching experience to be simple and carefree, then you might want to consider teaching somewhere else. Many non-EU teachers find themselves bitterly disappointed because they were unaware of the restrictions of the European market and therefore had unrealistic expectations about the job-seeking process. It should be emphasised that it is by no means impossible for non-EU citizens to secure teaching work in Europe, it simply requires a lot of patience and hard work.

Whether you're an EU citizen or not you will still need to thoroughly prepare yourself for the competitive markets that you'll find in Europe, especially in Western Europe. Teaching experience is becoming increasingly popular with language schools in the more popular destinations and this makes securing an initial work placement here somewhat difficult. If this is the case institutes will usually ask for either a short TEFL course (like i-to-i's online and weekend courses) complimented by some practical teaching experience or a longer TEFL course (like i-to-i's 4-week TEFL Abroad course).

In less popular European countries it is still relatively easy to secure teaching positions with nothing more than a short course qualification, and it is by no means impossible to do it in the more popular destinations, but if you want to secure your first job quickly and easily you will need to get some practical teaching experience before you apply or opt for a more extensive TEFL qualification.

There are a number of way to gain practical teaching experience - some of which are more beneficial than others. The first option is to volunteer in your home country. This can be difficult in some countries, especially if you're already living in Europe, however the growing universality of the English language accompanied by a high influx of foreign visitors and immigrants should ensure that you can find something. It is sometimes useful to volunteer as a teaching assistant first in order to develop contacts with local language institutions.

The second option that you should consider is volunteering abroad. This is particularly beneficial if you can secure volunteer work in the country that you are planning to apply for work in. You should also consider your target market in your chosen destination. If you will be teaching business students (a speciality that covers the majority of vacancies in Western Europe) then you should try to find voluntary work that will see you teaching business students.

The same applies for those of you who opt for longer courses. Extensive TEFL courses are available across the globe and where possible you should try to get your qualification in the country that you're planning to teach in. This will allow you to accustom yourself to the location, develop an understanding of your students and introduce yourself to local language institutes.

Preparing yourself for the European market in this way will certainly make finding work a lot easier but if you really want to stand out from the crowd in these competitive markets, a specialised business qualification is what you need. The majority of TEFL students here are business men and women who want to improve their ability to work in the global market. It is not uncommon for businesses in this area of the world to offer employee development schemes that focus almost entirely on English language skills and this means that business English is the most highly sought after skill-set in Asia. If you're planning to work in countries such as France, Austria, Belgium, Germany or Finland, a business English qualification will be invaluable.

A background in business will go some way towards establishing you as a desirable candidate but a qualification in business English will give you a real edge. There are many varieties of these qualifications ranging from short courses to diplomas. Most first-time teachers opt for a short course because they are cheaper and quicker. The diploma is better suited to those who are planning to pursue a career in the TEFL industry and usually takes a year to complete.

Teachers planning to search for work in Portugal might want to consider taking an extra qualification in teaching young learners because, unlike other western European countries, this is the most prominent TEFL market in the country.

Once you've attained all the qualifications you need to secure work in Western Europe there is one more way that you can give yourself an edge over the competition - by travelling to your chosen country and searching for working on-location. Because the TEFL market is so competitive in Western Europe language schools often have a ready supply of teachers on-hand and some will disregard applications from foreign countries simply because it's easier to hire in-country. With a little perseverance you'll still be able to secure a teaching position from overseas but if you want to give yourself the best chance then you should consider starting your search on-location.

In conclusion then, the TEFL market in Western Europe is extremely competitive and the expectations of language schools in this part of the world are high. While it is not impossible for first-time teachers with short-course qualifications to secure work here, it is difficult and the process can be disheartening. If you're serious about teaching in Western Europe and want to make yourself stand out from the crowd then a longer course or some practical teaching experience are vitally important. Moreover, extra qualifications in relevant sectors of the TEFL industry, such as Business English or Teaching Young Learners, will give you the edge you need to succeed in this thriving market.