It is true that EFL teachers are needed in Malaysia, although the demand is not as high as it is in Korea, Japan or China. However, getting a job is not as simple as it may seem. It is very difficult to secure a position before you arrive to Malaysia. While some employers do advertise on the web, most of them want you to go through a full interview and only then consider thoroughly whether or not to give you a job.

What one can undertake before coming to Malaysia is to make a list of possible work places such as schools, language centres and colleges. It may take about a month to find a job in Malaysia after you have arrived here.

Possible ways to find a position include:
• Newspaper advertisements;
• Web-advertisements:
• Direct contact through telephone or visit

If you go to school to offer yourself as a potential teacher or if you are invited to a job interview be sure to:
- take your resume with you;
- dress appropriately (no jacket is necessary due to the hot climate, but tie for men should be considered)

There are a number of places where you can find a job. They include:
• The British Council and the international schools, which offer the best salary rates in the country
• Colleges and universities, which do not pay especially high salaries
• Language centres, that offer very different ranges of salaries

Getting the Visa

You can get a visa once you have entered the country. The process can be time-consuming and it can take up to 6 months to be approved by immigration. Meanwhile, you will have to be on a social visit pass. If the process takes more than 3 months, you will need to leave the country and reenter again through Singapore or Thailand.

You may encounter difficulties in getting a work permit, if:
- you have spent time in Israel;
- you are a citizen of Israel (in this case you won’t get a work permit for sure);
- you are younger than 25;
- English is not your native language.