This is the very beginning of the process when I first submitted my resume and application to Teach Away. It has been awhile, but I kept all of my emails. So, I know when things happened, which might be useful to some who wonder how long the process takes.
November 17, 2010: Application sent to Teach Away for Abu Dhabi and other countries of interest. At this point, I submitted my resume, cover letter, and a professional photograph (I happened to have a recent professional quality headshot).
November 29, 2010: I had not heard any news from Teach Away about my application, so I browsed the Teach Away website and found that I could apply to individual teaching positions. I found a position that would start in January, so I applied for the post (I don't know if this is standard, though).
December 6, 2010: Approximately three weeks after my initial application (or one week after applying for an individual job position), Teach Away contacted me saying that they would like to consider me for a position in Abu Dhabi starting September 2011. I filled out another short application indicating times I could be contacted for a phone interview.
December 13, 2010: One week after initial contact, a Teach Away rep emailed me with a time and date for the prescreen phone call. I emailed her back to confirm the time.
December 14, 2010, 1:00PM EST: Pre-screen phone call with Teach Away rep (for specifics, see the link for prescreen interview). I was told right away that the Teach Away rep would be recommending me for an in-person interview (again, I don't know if this is standard). The rep said that I would soon receive an email for my interview time, date, and location. I chose London because I was going to be in the UK with my husband. The rep also said that the interview would be in January or February.
December 30, 2010: Approximately two weeks after the pre-screen interview, I received an email congratulating me for being selected for an in-person interview. Yay! I am borderline mad at this point out of excitement and anticipation! I also received very thorough instructions concerning documentation to upload to my profile and bring with me to the interview. See documentation link for more information.
December 31, 2010: I received a slightly confusing email entitled "Interview Update - Important - Please Do Not Respond To This Email." It basically explained the date format, listed the upcoming interview dates for cities in the US, UK, Australia, etc., and apologized for any confusion. I wasn't confused until now, but decided not to worry.
January 7, 2011: Onwards to a very happy new year! I receive an email with my official interview date with an ADEC (Abu Dhabi Education Council) representative in London, UK. I emailed Teach Away to confirm my acceptance of the interview and details, and I eventually emailed them a second time to make sure they received my confirmation.
February 12, 2011, 2:00PM GMT: In-Person interview! Read up on the specifics on the in-person interview page.
February 16, 2011: O Happy Day! I receive a phone call with an official job offer and telling me that the contract is on its way. I receive two emails, one with the contract and the other with information about authentication and degree attestation for Canada (not applicable for US). I send an email to confirm receipt of the emails and begin the very confusing journey of trying to understand document authentication!
February 17, 2011: Email concerning Webinar for authentication and contract information, for which I register.
February 18, 2011, 6PM GMT: Webinar.
February 20, 2011: I sign the contract, initial all pages, scan all the pages, combine them into one PDF document, and email the signed contract to Teach Away. I also ask for confirmation on receipt of contract.
February 21, 2011: Teach Away confirms receipt, and I also ask if they have received all of my uploaded documents. It turns out that the link was a bad one, and they had not received any of them! I wish I would have checked on the document uploads much earlier, but there seems to have been no problem. I got the job and contract, anyway! Note to self: Always be sure to ask because there have also been glitches in email.
So, that's about it. I am now awaiting future webinars and anything that I can do to prepare for the journey!
I too am applying for TeachAway positions. THANK YOU for posting this blog. Marti
ReplyDeletevery helpful information.. I am awaiting date for in person interview.
ReplyDeleteThanks! I wish you luck with the interview. I enjoyed mine, and I'm glad the info on it helps!
ReplyDeleteHi Tammy! I finished my MA in English with NU last April. What a relief! How far along are you? I just applied for a TeachAway job in Abu Dhabi today. Interviews have already started though, and it looks like they're only running through March. Do you think I have a chance at being considered? And are the face-to-face interviews mandatory? Getting to the nearest location -- or rather affording it! -- is going to be difficult for me.
ReplyDeleteAnother NU graduate! I just graduated in January of this year. I was finishing up my thesis when I started working in Abu Dhabi. It's definitely a relief to be finished with it!
ReplyDeleteI am pretty sure the face-to-face interviews are mandatory, but I know what you mean about not being able to afford the travel. Do you live in CA? I know they have interviews there, but it is obviously a huge state... Do you have a teaching certificate? That is the basic requirement, and it helps to have teaching experience (though, I did not have any full-time experience). I say definitely go for it if you have the certification!
Thanks for the comment!