5 Steps To High Earnings As An Overseas English Tutor Or Nanny
Believe it or not, it’s true. A first rate nanny, tutor or governess job can pay you up to £1500 per week, as well as allowing you to work and travel. If you’ve already got experience nannying or perhaps teaching TEFL in a school or a language club, that number will probably seem pretty shocking, but these types of high-salary jobs really exist.
This article was written exclusively for Expat Network by James Alger – founder of www.jobsinchildcare.com.
So how is this possible?
Well, the logic is pretty simple. Of course, there are a large number of countries where parents value learning English and want their children to speak English well.
Some of these countries have plenty of English teachers, and some have a very low supply.
When the supply of quality (native-level) teachers is low and the number of wealthy parents is high, the prices stand-out English tutors or quality nannies can command increases; and can grow very high indeed.
Simply put: rich families want top English teachers and English language nannies to care for their kids and ultimately to teach them to speak English like a native.
These types of VIP or ‘jet set’ tutor and nanny jobs generally pay a high salary for the ‘sacrifice’ of moving to a new country. On top of that, VIP tutor and nanny work often includes first class travel and other perks, as the employer is keen to make sure that their tutor stays with them in the long-term and gets their children to that goal of native-level fluency in English.
Then how do I get a job like this?
Well, I’ve put together 5 steps below to help you on your way to making £1500 per week teaching English or nannying in an overseas or travel position. Just grab your notepad and get reading!
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Understand your target market
To be in the running for a high paying job, it really is important to first of all know what kind of English language work pays best.
Generally, salaries for tutors or childcare staff working in summer camps, online tutoring or local schools range from $5/ hour or $20 per day, up to perhaps $20/ hour or $80/ day as a maximum.
Teaching English in universities or international schools usually offers a higher, stable monthly salary. This could be anywhere from £1500 – £4000 per month – occasionally more for positions that come with a certain amount of responsibility.
But at the top end of the salary spectrum are the VIP nanny, full-time or travel tutoring and governor or governess jobs. Salaries in this sector start at around £800 per week and can skyrocket to £10,000 per month or more.
In order to find jobs on this level you need to do some research. Use a suitable search platform – our own Jobs in Childcare website is a good starting point – to look for VIP positions, or get on Google. Useful search terms will include ‘governess work’, ‘VIP nannying’, ‘VIP tutor jobs’ etc.
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Put your life in ‘flexible mode’
As your research will tell you, you really need to get thinking about where you’re going. Yes, travelling is great fun in South East Asia and South America, but high salary English language jobs are few and far between. In fact, the best paid language, tutoring and childcare positions are most commonly located in places like Moscow, New York, Switzerland, London, Dubai or Abu Dhabi. You’ll almost certainly need to be ready to move somewhere new – probably to a large, wealthy city where English isn’t a native tongue or a lot of the residents are ‘international’.
As well as moving your base, you should bear in mind that candidates receiving the highest salaries are often expected to travel with work. A VIP tutor or nanny working for a wealthy family may be asked to consider schedules with longer hours than usual, working Saturdays and Sundays (with days off during the week), split shifts (before and after school) or even ‘floating’ days off – liable to change every week – according to the client’s convenience.
As a result, you’ll really need to put yourself in flexible mode. Commit yourself to working hard for a period of time and aim to save a certain amount of money. Be prepared to make your own plans carefully, being aware that your employer’s plans (and thus, yours) may change at the last minute.
This flexibility is simply part of being a VIP tutor or nanny, so think carefully about whether you are ready to put an employer’s needs before your own before you put pen to paper.
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Make sure your experience, skills and qualifications fit the bill
Of course, being in the right place at the right time isn’t quite enough. Your qualifications and the work experience you have will have an effect on the salary you are able to earn. It is extremely difficult (although not impossible) to go directly from graduating from university or from, for example, a part-time au pair or babysitting job, directly into a high salary position.
Perhaps the best way is to take steps from your qualifications (ideally a degree or courses in either childcare, teaching or languages) through to jobs that you stay in long enough to get results and a good reference. Some jobs will employ you based on completion of any degree or possession of a TEFL or TESOL certificate. English teaching certificates obtained in schools generally carry more weight than those studied for online, but do your own research to know where to get started if you don’t feel your degree alone is sufficient to get you started.
As you move through teaching, tutoring or nannying positions garnering experience, try to always complete your contract – unless force majeure or issues with working conditions means that it really is impossible. With 3-5 years’ experience in your chosen field you should be well positioned for a high salary position with a VIP family.
You’ll also need to work on your language skills, either by developing a thorough understanding of your own language and the ability to teach it effectively, or with knowledge of a second (or third) language that you are able to pass on and teach to students or charges. Musical ability and sporting skills are another huge plus when applying for VIP nanny or governess roles, so get off Netflix and start practising!
Ultimately, your qualifications and experience will need to be accompanied by an excellent CV which is informative, well-presented and suitably formatted. Avoid detailing irrelevant roles as CVs that are too long are off putting for recruiters; instead make your CV concise and to the point. Remember that the most successful nanny and tutoring job applications usually also include supporting photos.
- Be professional
And apply this professionality to your appearance, your punctuality and your interview
You’ve adjusted your mindset, adapted your CV, done any extra courses you need – now it’s time to make sure you look the part. From your interview to the first day of your contract you should really feel that you are worth £1500/ week and not a penny less.
For an interview or trial, aim to wear clean, new clothing with a ‘professional’ work hairstyle. Try to ensure that your skin is well moisturised and healthy. Keep tic tacs or gum for fresh breath and your nails clean. Smart, clean new shoes or a nice watch can help demonstrate to an employer that you are used to good working conditions (and the salary that comes with them!).
Just don’t forget that this isn’t a fashion show – anything you wear for work should be smart and clean but also measured and professional. Any perfume or aftershave you wear should meet work regulations (some employers will not allow it). Avoid strong fragrances.
Professionalism goes beyond your appearance – Your spelling and grammar should be faultless in any written communication. If you are not confident with your English grammar, use a grammar checker like Grammarly or ask a friend to read over your CV and essential correspondence. Take care in your responses to emails and other communication and always be punctual and professional, letting your organisational skills shine through the hiring process.
And if preparing for an online interview, it helps to be on time and suitably dressed with a good wifi connection. Smile and be creative and well-prepared. The best interviews have something a little exceptional about them. To stand out as a top candidate, have something to show or demonstrate in your interview, be it quality photos, example arts and crafts, or videos of work with children of previous clients.
- Adjust your mindset
Lastly, be aware that this isn’t always ‘easy money’.
Working with VIPs away from home often requires a level of internal toughness. You are likely to face a lot of unprecedented situations. You may be homesick. Your schedule may change without warning or the children you teach or care for may behave badly. You will need to be able to keep your chin up when the going gets tough if you really want to hit the top nanny or governess salary bracket. Adjust your mindset a little and take a deep breath – you should be ready for anything in this line of work.
A ‘can do’ attitude will take you a long way – from your application (you need to believe you can do it!) through to the interview process and starting a job. Keep things fun and active, but make sure you stay well-organised, flexible and ready to solve any problem that might come your way.
In summary, with the right personality and some hard work, maybe a top-level English language position could be yours. Go and earn yourself a housing deposit!