Tips for securing TESOL work as an older candidate
Beginning a new career can be daunting at the best of times but starting out in another country as a mature teacher raises additional concerns over age discrimination. That it does exist is pretty obvious from comments in our age bias in TEFL article, but success stories from mature Global English TESOL graduates all over the world also assure us that it can be done. So read on and discover how to use your maturity to your advantage and overcome age barriers.
Here are the six tips at a glance:
| Tip | Why it works for mature teachers |
|---|---|
| Go freelance | No third-party employer with a ‘young teacher’ stereotype - just you and the student |
| Specialise in business English | Professional students prefer teachers with real career experience |
| Teach English online | Students choose on results and reviews, making it less vulnerable to age bias |
| Sell your maturity | Classroom authority and reliability are exactly what many schools want |
| Get experience + a tight CV | Experience plus maturity beats the younger novice; volunteering counts |
| Stay flexible and positive | Attitude is the number-one factor placement organisers mention |
Should mature teachers go freelance?
If you are coming to TEFL from a previous career and are more mature, do think about freelance teaching as an alternative to the private language school market. In this way, there is no third party employer with preconceived ideas about a stereotypical ideal teacher; the relationship is between you and the student.
This will mean relocating before having work lined up, which can be a bit daunting, but could be worth it in the end. Do your homework beforehand and choose your country wisely; certain locations are more discriminating than others - our travel-teach destination guides are a good place to start that research, and the UK government’s working abroad guidance covers the practical side of a move.
How can your previous career give you an edge?
Consider specialising in teaching business English, especially if you have a background in sales, accounting, customer service or business yourself.
In this sector, maturity can be an advantage since a business student may prefer to learn from someone with life and specific business experience. Think about how an earlier career could positively add to your contribution to TESOL. There are nurses, lawyers, engineers and financiers the world over who would be keen to learn English from a teacher with a similar background.
Is online teaching less vulnerable to age bias?
Keep up to date with technology and think about teaching English online. Become familiar with the video platforms schools and private students actually use - Zoom and Microsoft Teams are the current staples - and conduct a search for schools by typing ‘learn English online’ into a search engine. (When this article was first written, Skype was the tool of choice; it was retired in 2025, but the online teaching market it helped start has only grown.)
Global English student Patricia Harrison says:
"There appears to be good opportunities for teaching ESL online, and this might also be less vulnerable to age discrimination."
Check out our blog on how to get into teaching English online.
How do you turn maturity into an advantage?
An employer may believe a mature candidate will be more likely to keep feisty Pedro in order in the classroom. A few extra years of maturity would certainly have certainly helped me in leading a boisterous class of young learners when I started teaching as a 22 year-old. Ensure you can convince the school director that your age is an absolute positive!
Again, GE graduate Patricia Harrison suggests older teachers can help themselves by maximising their training to set themselves apart from their younger counterparts:
"Asians in particular (and many Europeans) greatly respect a good education. Older teachers with solid training and experience are more likely to be seen as serious ESL professionals, not just as kids travelling the world, and perhaps likely to flit off without much notice. This is one reason I continue to take some Global English courses. We may be older but we don't want to be seen as out-of-date!"
Staying visibly up to date is a message in itself - and if you are coming to teaching in or after retirement, you are in good company: lifelong learning is thriving (in the UK, just look at the u3a movement). Our guide to TESOL courses for retirees and mature learners walks through the training options at this stage of life.
How do you get experience and make your CV stand out?
Experience + maturity may be an impossible combination for employers to resist and can set you above the younger novice. Even a little volunteering work can put you into the ‘experienced’ bracket - our article on how to get a TESOL job with no experience has more ways to build that first entry on your CV.
Make sure your CV is TEFL–ready and is not too long. There is no need to include every job you’ve ever had since the age of 16. Why not download this suggested sample TEFL CV/resume and use it to help revamp yours? Then, when the interview comes, treat it as your best chance to show that maturity in person - our guide to TEFL interviews covers what to expect and how to succeed.
Why are flexibility and attitude so important?
Mary Rose, who actively set out to help more mature teachers find work in Hungary through the Central European Teaching Program (CETP) maintains that while some of her placement teachers are ‘having a ball,’ inflexible attitudes among older teachers are a real issue. She says:
"We now have several schools that will no longer consider an older teacher due to problems incurred in the past… and I have to admit that I am more reluctant these days to place older people due to several such crab apples. (I can say that without prejudice as I am now 68). But as I recently told another interested senior, if you can assure me you’re a gala apple rather than crab, we would love to have you! If you can laugh at that comment, most likely you’re a good apple."
This is a real challenge to older teachers. Attitude is key in TEFL and to succeed it is important to keep a positive and flexible outlook, especially when in cultures that operate differently to our own. Read more about Marys’ experiences in the attached ‘crab apple or gala’ article at the bottom of the page.
Where should mature teachers look for work?
With it being illegal to discriminate on the basis of age in many countries, the true extent of age discrimination will remain hidden, since the age limit for many jobs is not overtly advertised. The practical response is to search widely and let your application speak: our TEFL jobs board regularly carries roles with no age limit, and international boards such as tefl.com let you filter by country and sector before you commit to a move.
However, many of our Global English graduates are mature and successfully working overseas. In order to do the same, get started by choosing a good, accredited online TESOL course keep in mind the suggestions above, and most of all, stay positive!
Frequently asked questions
Is 50 too old to start teaching English abroad?
No. Many Global English graduates qualify and find work in their 50s and 60s. Some markets are harder than others - see our companion article on age bias in TEFL jobs - but freelance, business English and online teaching all reward maturity, and Europe, Latin America and Vietnam are notably age-friendly.
Do I need a degree to teach English as a mature career-changer?
Not for TESOL certification - accredited courses have no degree requirement. Some countries ask for a degree for work-visa purposes, but freelance teaching in many European countries, online teaching and homestay hosting generally do not. Your previous career experience often carries more weight with students than a degree.
Do I need teaching experience before applying?
No, but even a small amount helps enormously. Volunteering - locally or on arrival in your target country - can move you into the ‘experienced’ bracket quickly, and combined with maturity it sets you above younger novices. One graduate volunteered first in Thailand and was teaching at a top primary school within days.
Which teaching routes suit mature teachers best?
Freelance teaching (no employer stereotypes), business English (life experience is an asset), online teaching (students judge on results, not age) and homestay teaching. All four let you build directly on the professional background and reliability that younger competitors cannot offer.
If you are already a mature teacher, please share your real life experiences of the TEFL job market below.