Nobody enjoys being rejected, but how do you handle it? We begin to doubt ourselves because we feel that we aren’t good enough. One of the worst emotions in the world is rejection, but it is a fact of life. Every individual in the world has experienced rejection at least once in their lifetime. Everyone experiences difficulty in the early stages of their profession. So, if someone rejects you, try not to take it personally. It doesn’t represent how valuable you are as a person.
Although it’s quite acceptable to not have planned for this unforeseen hiccup in the path to your ideal life teaching overseas, take comfort in the fact that it occurs to practically everyone. It will probably still surprise and disappoint you a little bit. But in all honesty, it’s all a part of the journey, and you’re willing to step outside of your comfort zone a little.
Here are some suggestions to help you in dealing with rejection if you have been unlucky in any of your attempts. We want to emphasize how unlikely it is that this will be a long-term test of your performance as an international TEFL teacher so that you can feel a little better!
Top 7 Ways To Deal With Rejection From A TEFL Job
Do Not Take Rejection Personally
You don’t have to give up on your goals just because you’ve encountered a barrier to finding an ESL job. In reality, rejection is unrelated to who we are as people. Try not to take it personally, even though you may need some time to “grieve” the life you had hoped to live. There are more teachers applying for any given position because English teachers are in high demand. You just weren’t supposed to receive this one. If you are rejected by others, it doesn’t mean that you are imperfect.
There’s A Pool Of Opportunities
It is a contract-based sector. The fact that TEFL jobs aren’t your typical 9 to 5 work is a wonderful thing. However, short-term employment agreements tend to be a little erratic, uneven, and flaky. Thus, another opportunity will surely arise soon, just as this one slipped through your fingers. Globally, there are probably hundreds of thousands of open positions. There are plenty more out there for you to find if this one wasn’t the proper fit for you. There has never been a greater need for ESL teachers in the world!
Feedback Is Important
Leaving the institution with positive feelings about you as a prospect never hurts. Thank them for their time, and if you’re curious, you may ask them to comment on the decision that had the most impact. Was it the application you submitted? Your interviewing skills? Was there a lot of competition?
Self Evaluation
Self-analysis is crucial, but you shouldn’t spend too much time thinking about your errors. Instead, concentrate on your abilities and admirable qualities. Keep in mind that you are a special person with a lot to share. It’s time for you to take a seat and give this some serious thought now that you have made peace with your sorrow and have received some extra criticism to take into account. There are some things you might ask yourself as you see this as an opportunity to advance and enhance your career prospects in the future:
Did you successfully persuade them to obtain the required skills? They will be left wondering if you meet the requirements and if your resume and cover letter are wordy or contain answers to queries that have nothing to do with the position being offered at the organization. Not good. Make sure you’re explaining your offer to the school in a clear and concise manner.
Look Upon The Probable Reasons For Rejection
The businesses occasionally reach capacity and are unable to take on any more teachers at that moment. You might discover that the company is not prepared to accept new teachers depending on the time of year. Perhaps there is a greater influx of teachers than students. Many a time, certain employers have strict restrictions about your credentials and place of origin. In general, you won’t receive an offer if you can’t fulfill the conditions of the specific organization.
It’s Time For A Change
Have you consistently used the same strategy without success? This might be a difficult pill to take, particularly if you are confident in your methods for applying for jobs. Examine your form-filling and communication with hiring committees critically. Ask your friends to interview you and provide comments on your responses. Using the same application for many positions is one of the biggest no-nos in the job search. While it is a good idea to have a starting point or basic template from which to build, you must approach each job application, well, personally. One application per position.
How you schedule your classes is important to some tutoring services. You could be required to spend two to three minutes per slide in some organizations. Find out how many slides you will need to complete throughout the interview process and how long it will last.
Go for it!
Hit the job boards, placement services, and directories of teaching abroad courses. Now is not the time to give up and return to your monotonous, forty-plus-hour cubicle job. Keep your head up and search for further opportunities that seem like “the one.”
Takeaway
Rejection is NOT a failure, and this is especially true if you reflect on the experience and offer yourself honest, yet helpful, criticism. The whole process of applying and ultimately “not receiving” the job is an opportunity to develop self-awareness, allowing you the chance to increase your odds of success when you submit an application for another ESL position in the future. Examine other businesses and see how you perform. You’ll get better at interviews the more experience you have with them. As you gain expertise, you will finally be able to apply for your ideal firm. You can always reapply in a few months if things don’t work out the first time. Depending on the ESL teaching company’s rules, you may be allowed to apply again after a certain amount of time. So persist in your efforts until success!
