Quick answer: Yes, you can get a TESOL job with no teaching experience – demand for new teachers is still high. Play up the transferable skills you already have, add quick real-world experience (volunteering, a short teaching-practice course, or teaching online), and stand out with a specialism such as business English or young learners. Frame yourself as a qualified, enthusiastic teacher rather than a beginner, and let a strong CV do the rest.
Here are our top tips for getting an English teaching job as a new TESOL graduate.
Many of our TESOL trainees are completely new to the profession when they enrol and as a result, they often ask:
“What are my job prospects with no teaching experience?”
The good news is demand is still very high for people new to teaching English, but it always pays to enhance your employability. So here are our top tips for getting an English teaching job straight after qualifying.
Which employers hire brand-new teachers?
Plenty of them – you just need to know where to look. Some employers are structurally set up to take on people at the very start of their careers, so aim your first applications there:
- Private language schools in high-demand markets across Asia, Latin America and southern Europe, where turnover is high and a good attitude counts for a lot.
- Online teaching platforms and marketplaces, many of which welcome new teachers – you build paid experience from home while you apply for classroom roles.
- Summer schools and holiday programmes, which hire in bulk for short, intensive seasons and are a superb first entry on a CV.
- Volunteer and assistantship programmes, which expect applicants to be new and provide training and support.
As a Global English graduate you also get lifetime access to the employers advertising on our TESOL jobs board, plus the latest positions from jobs giant tefl.com fed into your student area daily. The trick with any of them is to make your lack of classroom hours a non-issue, which is what the rest of this guide is about.
How to build experience fast (that counts)
1. Dig deep into your background
An employer who asks for classroom experience may still consider you if you have ever delivered any kind of training or held a position of responsibility. So, if you have ever coached a group of kids or led presentations in your current job, ensure these are clearly outlined in your CV/resume.
Similarly, if you have ever lived abroad, mention this in your application as it can show you are adaptable, open-minded and keen to learn. Transferable skills and qualities can count.
2. Get some experience
There are more innovative ways to gain useful EFL experience than you think. Here are five you can start on this month:
- Volunteer locally to help teach English. Try searching Google for ‘free English classes' alongside where you live. Voluntary organisations may welcome some help.
- Engage in hosting and teaching via a homestay program or volunteer to teach English conversation in return for room and board on an organised host programme.
- Obtain an inexpensive 20-hour Teaching Practice certificate in addition to your online TESOL as evidence of classroom exposure.
- Teach English online. You’ll be paid to teach and will gain invaluable experience without even leaving home. View these online teaching jobs opportunities for our course graduates – and prepare with our guide to your first trial online English lesson.
- Join a reputable teaching association such as IATEFL to access ideas, webinars and a professional network that signals commitment on your CV.
How to stand out when everyone is qualified
3. Make yourself stand out in other ways
Very few in TESOL or TEFL have trained on a course with a specialism, so you can really stand out with extra teaching qualifications, such as business English or young learners. So, consider adding these to our 120-hour TESOL Premier course or higher.
Certificates in these areas show that you have additional expertise and a commitment to your own continuing professional development.
What to say instead of “no experience”
Never write “I have no experience”. Reframe it around what you can offer. Instead of apologising for the gap, say what you bring: “Newly qualified and enthusiastic, with strong presentation skills and voluntary experience leading groups.” Point to your course review and the methodology you covered, and make sure your TEFL CV really sells you – download our free CV/resume template there. All TESOL graduates get free TESOL resume help and checking with Global English TESOL.
Your TESOL course itself is evidence, so use it. In an application or interview you can talk concretely about the lesson shapes you practised, the grammar you studied in depth, the classroom-management techniques you covered and the assignments you completed. Turning “I did a course” into “I can plan and deliver a staged lesson, handle mixed abilities and teach the present perfect clearly” is exactly what convinces an employer you are ready for a class. A little preparation here goes a long way – and it is the same preparation that helps you shine at your TEFL interview.
4. We’re here to help
Check out our TESOL jobs pages. Every teacher had to start somewhere, so don't worry if you don't have any experience when you first launch your new TEFL career. What you lack in classroom exposure, you will likely make up for in enthusiasm! Remember, there is nothing like being in your first role to build confidence.
Frequently asked questions
Can I get a TEFL job with no experience?
Yes. Demand for new English teachers remains high, and many private language schools, online platforms and summer or volunteer programmes routinely hire newly qualified teachers. Lead with your accredited TESOL, your transferable skills and your enthusiasm, and add a little quick experience to tip the balance in your favour.
How do I get TEFL experience before my first job?
Volunteer to teach English locally, join a homestay or host programme, teach online for a paid platform, or take a short teaching-practice course such as our 20-hour Teaching Practice certificate. Each gives you genuine classroom or teaching hours you can put straight on your CV, which reassures employers who ask for experience.
Do online platforms require experience?
Many do not. A number of reputable online companies and marketplaces welcome newly qualified teachers, and teaching online is one of the fastest ways to build paid experience from home. Some kids-focused platforms in certain markets ask for a degree or prior experience, so check each platform’s requirements before applying.
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What next?
* Start your career with an online accredited online TESOL course.
* Ask your TESOL related questions to Louisa Walsh.