Many foreign teachers are sending out hundreds of job applications and accepting lower salaries.
Many foreign teachers say that finding a high-paying job in the Vietnamese market is no longer easy due to increasing competition.
Over the past year, Stephen, an English teacher from Russia, has submitted more than 100 applications for a stable job with full benefits, but has not been accepted anywhere.
Despite having a bachelor’s degree in education, a TEFL certificate, and seven years of teaching experience, Stephen, like many others, is struggling to secure a job. Each month, she has various expenses to cover in Vietnam, and without a stable job, the financial pressure is becoming overwhelming.
Every day, Stephen searches through different associations, groups, and websites, actively sending applications to employers across various sectors. She is even willing to work in the suburbs, as long as the job offers stability. However, there has been no response. She continues to take on temporary, hourly-paid jobs or works as a teaching assistant at some schools.
“It’s not as easy as I thought. The job market is too competitive. Some places require me to work unpaid trial periods or promise high salaries without providing any guarantee,” Stephen shared.
Jack, an American teacher who has been teaching in Vietnam for over 1.5 years, earns 350,000 VND per hour at a public school, which is higher than the rates offered by many English centers.
However, since the Covid-19 pandemic, his working hours have been cut as schools reduce costs and shift to online teaching. Jack now only has a few classes, making it difficult for him to cover his living expenses.
Three months ago, an English center where his colleague worked announced that student enrollment had dropped by more than 50%, and they were no longer hiring. The center is even struggling to pay rent and may relocate to a suburban area, which has led to further reductions in teachers’ hours.
Some teachers try to stay, while others leave for other countries.
Due to low salaries and a challenging job market, Jack has returned home to pursue other opportunities. He believes that the compensation offered by the centers is not proportional to the amount of work required, including preparing lesson plans, grading, writing reports, attending meetings, and other tasks that are often unpaid.
“For Vietnamese locals, this salary might seem high, but foreign teachers typically expect more. When the pay doesn’t meet expectations, many foreign teachers quickly move on to other countries,” Jack explained.
He believes that one reason foreign teachers face challenges finding jobs in Vietnam is the economic downturn, which has led many parents to stop sending their children to English centers. Moreover, the collapse of several centers has shaken parents’ confidence, making them more cautious and selective when choosing schools for their children.
“The salary is the main issue, but more and more English teachers are finding it hard to accept the current pay. Teachers from countries like the Philippines, India, or South Africa are more willing to work for these wages,” Jack added.
According to Debra Mann, a representative of the TEFL teaching community, requests for foreign teachers have dropped by 50% in the past year compared to previous years.
As the job market becomes more competitive, many Western teachers are shifting their job searches to countries like China, South Korea, and Japan.
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Source: Vietnam Insider