VIPKID is a dream come true for me! Is it right for you?
Confession:
I’m a full-on VIPKID sell out. Now on my third contract, I’m one of
those teachers who obsesses about the color orange (the company’s “team”
color), and talks about my students to the point that my family knows them all
by name. I’m one of the ones who participates in all of the incentives
and contests, and who lost her ever-loving mind when she finally got an orange
VIPKID hoodie. I could go on to explain the way the company has turned my
life on its head in an amazing way--but you will understand when you get on
board, if you find that this job is right for you.
It’s not for everybody...
See,
since I started working for VIPKID, I have been in contact with hundreds of
teachers who are amazed that they have found such an opportunity. They
love the freedom to work at home, set their own hours, be their own boss and
build a business for themselves. Like me, they love being in charge of
their own destiny, free of any office politics or climbing ladders. But I
have also seen some teachers who have a harder time adapting. I started
paying attention to what they were saying about their experience and comparing
it to my own. What I found, is that it all boils down to expectations.
Some of the teachers had expectations for VIPKID to treat them as
employees, while others understood what it meant to be an independent contractor.
It makes all the difference to understand the role and evaluate whether it
works for you.
It’s different from traditional teaching jobs
It
can take some time to get used to being an independent contractor. In a
sense, you are your own boss. You will manage YOU! In many
traditional jobs, someone else manages the teachers, like maybe the principal
or a supervisor. As online teachers, however, we manage ourselves.
The very best VIPKID teachers are absolute pros at self-management!
After watching other teachers, and some personal growth myself, I have
identified four key traits of self-management that can make the difference
between fulfillment or frustration as a VIPKID teacher:
The four key traits to happy online teaching
Independence
To
be a successful online teacher, independence is crucial. A VIPKID teacher
sets his or her own hours and is entirely responsible for being in class on
time and prepared to teach. Since you are working from home, there is no
other person between you and your student. For me, this idea is
liberating. For others, who like a support team, it can be frustrating.
It’s worth considering, before applying, whether you enjoy finding what
you need within yourself, or whether you prefer to work for a company as an
employee with a built-in support system.
Preparedness
VIPKID
teachers have to be prepared to do the job. As solo artists, no one else
will make sure anything is ready for you. It is entirely up to you how
prepared you will be, both to teach, and to handle IT glitches, discipline
problems, special ed concerns and difficult concepts. What will you do to
explain that grammar piece to a non-native speaker who is waiting on the other
side of the screen? Do you need to brush up on a subject before entering
the class? Do you have backup plan for when your wifi goes out? Do
you need some new props, tools, or materials? It’s all up to you!
You get paid for completing the class. But if you are unable
to, even for good reason, you don’t get paid. It’s entirely up to the
teacher to make sure that class goes off without a hitch and that the material
is taught well.
Resourcefulness
Online
teachers have to solve their own problems. VIPKID, for example, is in
China. They are up and working during class time when their customers are
awake. By the time you finish your last class, they are in bed and cannot
get to your urgent email till the next morning. For me, this means that
most often, I need to be able to solve my own problems. I need to have
the skills of scanning forums and interacting with other teachers to find
solutions and answers. I may have to “wing it” with a solution that I
come up with at the moment and be confident that I am making the right call on
what to do in a difficult situation. It’s a great idea to ask yourself if you
like solving problems yourself or if you’d rather work in an environment
structured to help in that area.
Confidence
To
work remotely as an independent contractor, I’ve found that I need to be
confident of myself and my performance when I don’t get validation from
the company. Unlike a traditional employer/employee relationship, I don’t
receive annual reviews, constructive criticism, or pats on the back for a job
well done. If a teacher is not prepared for this, he or she may feel
isolated and unvalidated. The truth is, as independent contractors, our
job is to show up and do our work. We will hear from the company if
anything needs to be changed. If all goes well, however, we can go an
indefinite amount of time with no direct feedback from the company about our
performance. If I’m of the mindset that I must hear from the company whether or
not I am doing well, I’ll drive myself crazy. Some introspection can help
you discover as well, whether you would be able to function well in an
environment that demands you get your validation from within.
Will you enjoy managing yourself?
Many
of us have found that we enjoy independence, making our own calls, and not
worrying about reviews, micro-managers, and office politics. These are
the payoffs for being independent, prepared, resourceful, and confident.
Find
out more!
Do
you have what it takes? Please watch my video review of working for VIPKID where I go in more depth
about the pros and cons, and what it’s like to be an independent contractor for
an online company.
If
you use it to apply, I’d be happy to answer any questions for you that I can.
You can shoot me an email at therealhopewilliams@gmail.com.