Even though many of our graduates will have progressed in their careers since completing a case study, they are still of interest to students who wish to gain an understanding of the world of work.

As an elementary school teacher, my duties are focused around providing English tuition to students aged 6-11. This usually includes holistic English classes for grade 1/2 (6/7 years old) or fluency building classes for older students. Aside from the demands of teaching lessons, there are administrative tasks such as grading and report writing, communicative tasks such as department meetings and parent feedback sessions, and extra curricular tasks such as helping with school events or running extra clubs.

Typically, the day runs from 8:00AM to around 5:00PM (sometimes later depending on marking and planning demands). Of this, about 2-3 hours will be spent in the classroom delivering lessons. Mornings typically consist of preparing materials for classes, or having meetings with other members of staff to discuss teaching and school affairs. Afternoons often include further planning and marking.

Teaching is an excellent profession for those who like an active lifestyle. One of the things I enjoy most is that within a day duties vary and I am on my feet and actively engaged with students for long stretches at a time. Teaching in China has been particularly rewarding as both a career choice but also a personal development choice as it has not only challenged me to learn skills for the classroom but to adapt to an entirely different way of life.

With teaching in China, the most rewarding parts are also the most challenging. Teaching is not easy and requires patience and hard work. Often students can be naughty, and parents in China are particularly intensely engaged in their children's education which can make them seem demanding. Living in China is also not for the faint-hearted and the simplest daily task can turn into a trial at times.

I'd first heard about teaching abroad in my first year of undergraduate study. I attended a lecture about the Japan Exchange and Teaching (JET) Programme and this left a note in my memory. After graduating and having very little clear direction in terms of career, I spent a year hopping from uninspiring interview to rejected application. After a few months of this, I started researching teaching abroad in more detail. I worked on getting a couple of teaching certifications (one online TEFL and an intensive Cambridge CELTA) and before long found job offers coming in from jobs in Asia. I decided to go to China with the British Council on their English Language Assistants scheme and since then have moved into other teaching positions.

Teaching has been a learning experience. I was very well prepared for it by completing both the Cambridge CELTA and an introductory training course from the Chinese government when I arrived. It is, however, a job you learn by doing. Classroom management, lesson planning, organisation are things that can only be learned slowly with lots of practice. Good communication skills are absolutely essential, especially when dealing with those on the other side of a language barrier.

My graduation date was July 2011.
What followed was a year of applications and training (TEFL and CELTA) until August 2012.
My first teaching post was as a British Council English Language Assistant in a high school from September 2012 to June 2013.
My second teaching post was a longer term position at Shane English Schools Shanghai (an extra-curricular language teaching centre) including working for Shane Schools and Public schools in the area. During this time, I was also promoted and became involved in the company's recruitment and marketing departments. This lasted from September 2012-July 2015.
My third teaching post is my current one at Shanghai Pinghe School as an elementary school English teacher. This has lasted from August 2015-present.

I plan to stay in education long term. My next aim is to become PGCE certified and gain QTS in the UK to enable me to take up a wider range of positions in the UK and internationally. Beyond that, educational research is also of interest to me and so I would hope to pursue a Master's or even PhD at a later date.

Firstly, take your time and do your research. Working internationally can be a great experience, but work with a reputable employer to avoid any problems. Google searches are a good start, and so are teaching fora. If you get to a stage where you might consider a position, ask to speak to someone who isn't a recruiter (ideally a teacher) who works at that school first. Research the area. Outside of big cities, there are far fewer amenities and life can be difficult for a foreign worker in a foreign land. Do your research into teaching as well. Few schools in China and in other countries offer the kind of training and development you will receive in the UK. It will be on you to provide good lessons. This can be daunting, but with the right research, you can get a head start! Of course, truly consider if living abroad is right for you. Not only in China, but in many countries, contracts are a year long. If you don't think you can handle this kind of disconnection from home, then don't apply. If you are not sure, consider a shorter term volunteering scheme, or try to find a 3-6 month contract.

Leaving university is tough. As university students, you may expect to have a head start in the job market, and you would hope that your hard work and tuition fees would pay off. This might not appear to be the case, but with hard work and persistence it will eventually. Don't lose heart at rejection and be prepared to evaluate your options. The job market can deliver many hits to the ego, but the opportunities will come along!