Digital holiday jobs on the rise.

With the end of the academic year in sight, students around the country will be looking for ways to earn money in the upcoming holiday season. Due to the impact of Covid-19, the availability of traditional student jobs, such as waiter, shop assistant and bartender will be limited. Students looking for safe and flexible part time work should be turning to technology to help fund their summer break.

“A holiday job is a great way to make some extra cash, bulk up your CV and make professional connections. While industries that rely on face-to-face interaction may be cutting back, the number of jobs in the online space, which can be completed remotely, are multiplying,” says Tom Gibbons, Director at the TEFL Academy, South Africa’s leading course provider of teaching English as a foreign language.

With average salaries between R190 and R560 per hour, depending on experience, teaching English online could provide the perfect opportunity for students this holiday season. Since many foreign countries have different school terms, and don’t have as long a December break as South Africans do, there continues to be an abundance of work available in this sector.

“The flexibility of teaching online makes it an attractive option for students who still want to enjoy their summer break. Students can teach from anywhere in the world, as long as they have a laptop, a webcam, internet access and a legitimate TEFL qualification – which can be completed within four to six weeks,” says Gibbons.

In terms of working hours, peak teaching times are Monday to Friday, 11:00 to 16:00 South African time, and 13:00 to 16:00 on weekends. Alternatively, teachers can set their own hours by adding themselves and their qualifications to an existing agency database where TEFL learners all over the world can easily find them.

“Teaching remotely allows students to observe social-distancing measures, while still gaining valuable, real-world work experience. It also demonstrates initiative and innovation to future employers, who will be on the lookout for those who were able to succeed in difficult times,” says Gibbons.

“Beyond short-term employment, once a student is TEFL-qualified they have the option of turning it into a full-time career. When travel restrictions are lifted, they’ll also have the opportunity to travel and teach abroad,” says Gibbons.

Offering accessible, flexible and cost-effective ways to get TEFL qualified, The TEFL Academy provides internationally accredited and regulated online courses. To help teachers understand the current status of the TEFL industry, as well as plan for 2021, The TEFL Academy have put together a comprehensive resource with information around travel restrictions for popular destinations, current trends in the teaching English market and statistics for the growth of online teaching. For more information, visit theteflacademy.com.