Teaching English

Pros and Cons of Working for VIPKID

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pros and cons of VIPKID

One thing I always get asked when people are signing up for VIPKID are “what are the pros and cons for working on Vipkid?”.  While I am 100% in the camp that the PROS completely outweigh the cons, there are definitely some things to consider when taking this job (especially if you plan for it to be a significant source of your income, like it is for me).  Overall, I love, love, love working for Vipkid, but like any job, there are certain things you ‘discover’ along the way that don’t make you so happy.  In this post, I will tell you what I think are the biggest and most significant pros and cons of working for VIPKID.pros and cons of working for VIPKID

PROS

  • You can work from ANYWHERE in the world.  This is, by far, the best part about this job.  Working for Vipkid allows you to be a ‘digital nomad’, which means you can travel the world AND earn money.  As long as you have a stable internet connection and a relatively clean background (like a white wall), you’re good to go.  I’ve taught from Madrid, Philadelphia, and New Jersey.  In May, I am going to Rome and planning to teach from there (and in April, from Florida).  Just because you have a weekend away doesn’t mean you will miss work because you can teach from any computer OR iPad!  Very convenient.
  • If the student doesn’t come, you still get paid!  If it’s a trial class, you just get half, but for a full class, you get paid in full.  I’m currently writing this in a no-show class, so there ya go.
  • They pay directly into your American bank account.  Every month, on the 15th of the month, without fail, you will have your complete paycheck.  They don’t take any taxes, so what you earn is what you get….until tax time.  This is great for people living abroad, who want to keep their bank account at home with something in it.  It also helps me spend less while abroad, because doing a transfer is a pain, but I know that if I need the money, it’s there.
  • You don’t have to plan anything.  EVERYTHING is planned for you!  All the lessons and work are done for you, so there is no pre-prep.  You SHOULD review the class before entering, but that only takes about a minute.
  • You don’t have to have much experience before starting.  You might be worried because you’ve never taught English (or anything), but you shouldn’t be!  They require you to have ‘some experience’, but that ‘some’ is relative.  Everything I’ve learned, I’ve learned from doing and practicing.  It’s a relatively easy job to learn!
  • The classes are only 25 minutes.  Teaching can be EXHAUSTING, especially through a computer, but the good news is that each class is just 25 minutes.  You will have a five minute break before your next class to go to the bathroom, get coffee, get a snack, or stretch.  This is also good news for when you have students you’re not particularly ‘fond of’.  😉
  • The kids are SO CUTE.  I’m not kidding when I say I have seen some the CUTEST kids of my life teaching here.  I always enter the classroom a few minutes early and the student is usually there, with the camera open, drawing on the screen and singing songs to themselves.  These kids are honest, open, and so, so sweet!  Many of them say “Bye teacher!  I love you!” at the end of class and it melts my heart.  I wish I could show pictures!  There are students with suspenders, bow-ties, comb overs.  Kids who take you into the bathroom while they have class on the toilet, kids who show you their house, and more.  They are well behaved, listen to you, and genuinely seem to enjoy class.
  • You make your own schedule.  Every week, you build your own schedule.  Have something on Friday and don’t want to work?  No problem!  Some weeks I work 30 hours and other weeks I work 0.  You decide when and where and how much.  And!  If you open slots (and they don’t get booked) and then you later decide you don’t want to work, you can always close the slots.  This also allows for flexibility in building a schedule that works for YOU.  I know that personally, I NEED a 30 minute break ever 3-4 classes.  The max I can go is 6 class with no break and that is really pushing it.  Since I know that about myself, I design my schedule to have 4 classes, break, 3 classes, break, 2-3 classes, DONE.  You do you.

CONS

  • You work on the internet, so internet problems = your problems.  And your problems = less money.  If you have internet problems (or computer or tech problems, in general), the company will try to work with you for a minute or two, but if you can’t get it fixed, they will put a different teacher in the class and dock you $10 pay AND you only get a certain number of these per contract period.
  • Being sick, without power, any emergency etc is your problem.  Again, things happen, and the company will try to work with you, but you will still be docked money (depending on when you cancel- if it’s more than 2 hours before the class, you won’t be) and you still only get a certain number per contract.  (With that being said, there are things you can do to try to prevent this.  Ask your neighbors for their wifi password in case of emergency, use your phone hotspot, teach from an iPad, etc).
  • If you don’t like a student, you can’t choose not to be their teacher.  This has only happened one time, with one student.  There was a girl that just WOULD NOT pay attention in class, regardless of what I did.  I would leave this feedback for the parents and all they would do is book me more.  I haven’t seen her in awhile though….
  • Contracts are only 6 months.  This is good and bad I guess.  After 6 months, they can let you go, but if you followed the guidelines and didn’t have too many cancellations, there is no reason they shouldn’t renew your contract.
  • Teaching online is draining.  I put this as a con, because while teaching through VIPKID is amazing and a lot of fun, talking to a computer is exhausting.  For that reason, it’s impossible (for me, at least) to work more than 28 hours per week without going off the deep end.  My comfort zone is 20-25 hours per week.  It’s frustrating, because you have a lot of free time and want to work more, but it’s just not physically possible (for me).
  • There is (little to) no growth.  It’s a great company to work for, but it’s certainly not a forever job if this is all you have going on.  As a way to earn side income, save for a financial goal, help your family, or travel the world, this is GREAT.   With that being said, there isn’t any growth.  Each day and month and year will be the same, and while you may earn a little more money, the position will never change,  It’s ok for now, but something to consider in the future.

With all of that being said, I do LOVE LOVE LOVE this job.  If you think it might be something you’re interested, feel free to contact me about applying!  I am happy to guide you through the process (even if I don’t know you!)

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