One question English teachers ask when looking for a university lecturer position abroad is: “How can I get hired by a university if I don't have any experience at a university?” Everyone has to start somewhere. Let's take a look at how you can increase your chances of getting hired, even if you've never taught at a university.

Are You Qualified to Teach English At a University Abroad?

Before you start your job search, you want to make sure you're qualified. The basic qualification to teach English at a university abroad is a 4-year university degree. It doesn't matter what subject your degree is in. The more competitive positions also require either an MA (sometimes in any subject) or a PhD (usually in Applied Linguistics).

[Save time by instantly listing all jobs that DON'T require an MA on Profs Abroad.]

As for experience, some universities don't require any. Other universities require anywhere from 1-3 years or more. As a general rule, some universities ask for 2 years of university-level teaching experience.

3 Tips to Get Hired Without University Teaching Experience

If you have at least a 4-year degree and some experience teaching (at any level), then here's how you can land your first university English lecturer position:

1. Look for jobs teaching English in less competitive markets.

Some countries are easier to find work in than others. In Asia, the most competitive market is Japan. About 95% of the universities require at least an MA and 2 years of university experience.  Other competitive markets that have higher prerequisites for English lecturers are Hong Kong, Macau, Singapore, and Taiwan.

On the flip side, the vast majority of university jobs in China don’t require an MA or university experience. Other countries that sometimes have a lower bar to entry for English lecturers are Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia, Cambodia, and Brunei.

In the Middle East, finding your first university lecturer position is much easier in Saudi Arabia, Oman, Bahrain, or Kuwait than the United Arab Emirates.

2. Search for university jobs outside of major cities.

Do you want to live in Dubai, Seoul, Busan, Tokyo, Istanbul, Shanghai, or some other major city? Put that thought on hold and look for work in the countryside or at smaller satellite cities. It will be much easier to find work there.

Many university lecturers, especially those expats who have lived abroad for sometime, prefer to live in major city centers where all the action is. You have to apply where they’re not. Then you can move to your ideal location once you have more experience.

3. Apply even if you don’t have enough experience!

What an employer asks for and what they are willing to accept are often two different things. Many universities refuse to budge on their experience requirement, but there are others that will hire you with little or no experience. It's all about supply and demand.

For instance, in Korea universities require that you have 2 years of uni experience and an MA or 4 years and a BA. However, some people are still getting hired with just a BA and a few years of non-university teaching experience. This is happening less though as the market gets more competitive.

Don't Make This Job Search Mistake

In the end, I would still apply to schools you want to work at in countries you prefer to live in. You never know when you will be in the right place at the right time. Following the above tips though should greatly increase your chances of landing your first university job. Good luck!