When it comes to teaching online, VIPKID is one of the leading employers and boasts more than 50,000 teachers on their platform! While strict about hiring, they are notoriously flexible when it comes to scheduling and give their teachers 100% control over the VIPKID hours they teach.
In this post, we will look at the current VIPKID teaching hours as well as what the company recommends when it comes to schedules for new hires. Keep reading to see when you can make the most money, what hours the company labels as “Peak”, and what happens when you take time off.
What Hours Do You Work with VIPKID?
VIPKID targets Chinese students and teachers should expect to work from 9am-9pm Beijing time. There is no maximum or minimum number of hours you can teach but demand does decrease outside of the peak hours between 6pm-9pm.
VIPKID Hours
Amazingly, the whole of China operates on a single timezone and teachers will be expected to adjust their schedules to match those of their students.
As a teacher, you will be able to sign up for classes that run from Beijing time (UTC+8 hours) 9am-9pm on the weekends as well as 6pm-9pm on the weekdays.
That’s right – VIPKID operates pretty much every day and demand is so great that teachers can pretty much pick and choose when they want to teach!
VIPKID Peak Hours
VIPKID calls the time after school and on the weekends VIPKID “Peak Hours” – during this period the demand for classes increases and teachers usually make most of their money.
VIPKID Peak Hours are when teachers can expect most of their bookings and it’s in your best interest to keep your schedule open during these periods. You can have a look at this VIPKID hours chart broken down by time zone and day.
VIPKID Hours During Holidays
Teaching demand predictably fluctuates during the holidays and depending on the time of year, teachers will either find themselves struggling to book classes or up to their eyeballs in bookings.
Summer
Like most countries, Chinese students get the summer off and this opens up a huge opportunity for teachers looking to book more VIPKID teaching hours.
During summer break (usually July and August), teachers can expect to see Peak Hours extend significantly and the opportunity to pad your income is greater than ever. Note that this could be a double edged sword as your bank account is likely to grow in disproportion to how much sleep you’re getting depending on where you are in the world.
Chinese New Year
February is the opposite of summer when it comes to teaching hours – this is when Chinese New Year happens and is home to the largest human migration on earth. For nearly 40 days, Chinese families traverse the country to reunite with relatives, take vacations, and ring in the new lunar new year.
For students, this is often a reprieve from their studies and teachers should see booking decrease significantly, even during peak times.
To combat lost earnings, many teachers work overtime during the summer to offset lost hours in February so plan ahead!
VIPKID Schedule FAQs
How long are VIPKID classes?
VIPKID classes are 25 minutes long and the students book them to start each 30 minutes. This means you have a 5 minute window after each class to leave feedback, get a glass of water, etc.
To better illustrate, let’s assume you have back to back classes starting at 7pm your time. Your first class would run from 7pm – 7:25pm and your second class would be from 7:30pm – 7:55pm, leaving you 5 minutes in between.
It’s also worth mentioning that VIPKID expects their teachers to be prepared for class – while this doesn’t mean creating lessons or curriculum, teachers should be familiar with what they are going to teach. If you’re just starting out, this could mean additional time reviewing the material and preparing for your class before it begins.
Is there a minimum or maximum of classes for VIPKID full time teachers?
No! VIPKID is very flexible when it comes to bookings and full time VIPKID teachers can work as many or as few hours as they’d like.
As a teacher, you are responsible for “opening” your schedule for class bookings and any time that is blocked off will not penalize you.
However, if you’re looking to earn as much as you can, VIPKID recommends opening up at least 15 slots (7.5 teaching hours) during peak times.
Can I take time off?
Yes! Teachers can open or block their schedule when they have conflicts, want to take vacation, or just want to work less – it’s up to you!
Note that teachers must submit their weekly VIPKID schedules a month ahead of time so it’s important to plan for any breaks in advance!
Will taking time off affect my booking rate?
No, VIPKID does not punish teachers for taking time off and there are plenty of reports of teachers returning from breaks and jumping right back into their normal booking schedule.
VIPKID Teacher Requirements
Like most established online teaching companies, VIPKID has very strict requirements for their teachers:
- Bachelor’s degree
- Native English Speaker
- Eligible to work in USA/Canada
- 2 years experience with children (definition is flexible)
- Background check
Teachers who cannot meet each of these will not be accepted into the interview process.
What about a TEFL?
Chinese laws now require teachers working for online teaching companies based in China to have a TEFL. While VIPKID doesn’t explicitly mention this on their website, they do offer their own course (similar to Magic Ears) during the application process.
If you want to get a jump on this requirement before applying, our 120hr online course is perfect for future VIPKID teachers and is fully verifiable by the company and Chinese government!
Note that VIPKID has stopped hiring California-based teachers in response to recent laws surrounding independent contractors.
Winding Down
If you meet the requirements and are looking to get involved with online teaching, it’s hard to find a better option than VIPKID. Not only do they have the clout to attract students year round, but they have the experience to help support you as an online teacher.
Even better is that the teaching hours for VIPKID are incredibly flexible and you’re able to pretty much work when you want (with a little bit of planning). If you’re looking for alternatives to VIPKID, have a look at these companies that are hiring for teaching English Online to Korean students!
