Great resignation: South Africans look for work abroad

The global ‘great resignation’ trend has emerged in South Africa, prompting local professionals to rethink their career options and consider emigrating abroad. As the go-to industry for those looking to work overseas, teaching English as a foreign language has opened doors for overworked employees seeking a more balanced lifestyle. Before quitting their jobs, aspiring teachers need to understand the process of applying for work in a foreign country.

“From earning potential to safety, lifestyle, and a lower cost of living – there are a number of reasons why South Africans are interested in finding work abroad. Tapping into the international job market exposes locals to a wider pool of available positions, in countries with greater economic stability, which translates into better job security in the long term,” says Rhyan O’Sullivan, Managing Director at The TEFL Academy, South Africa’s leading provider of Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL) qualifications.

To secure a job overseas, prospective teachers require a TEFL qualification – the globally accepted qualification to teach English abroad. While a university degree provides access to a wider variety of jobs in different countries, it is not a strict prerequisite. Many countries in South America, including Brazil and Colombia, take on teachers without university degrees. A TEFL course can be completed within four to six weeks, and a certificate will be issued, approved, and dispatched within 14 working days of the course completion date.

From here, accredited job boards can be used to find work. “You can start applying for jobs as soon as you have passed the course. In fact, many of our students choose to start applying for jobs before they complete their qualification. Employers will often accept applicants without a TEFL certificate, as long as they can prove they have enrolled on and started a suitable TEFL course. This is a good way of ensuring you have a job waiting as soon as you qualify,” says O’Sullivan.

O’Sullivan advises students to allow at least four weeks as contingency time, to allow for any unforeseen circumstances. “For example, a student planning to study full time and complete the course within six weeks, should allow at least 10 weeks before they are likely to receive their certificate for visa and travel purposes.”

Another consideration for locals is visa requirements. Following months of travel bans, coupled with reduced staffing at processing centres and embassies, there is a major backlog of visa applications. “With the high demand for visas that is being experienced now, those looking to travel should take into account the possibility of extended waiting times,” says O’Sullivan.

Offering accessible, flexible and cost-effective ways to get TEFL qualified, The TEFL Academy provides internationally accredited and regulated online courses. The company, who were selected as the Overall Top TEFL Course Provider of 2021 by Go Overseas, also hosts a jobs board on their website where potential teachers can browse through over 1 500 international teaching opportunities. For more information, visit theteflacademy.com.