Austria
There is always a demand for qualified teachers of English however there is also a large supply in Austria. The ability to speak some German will increase your chances but is certainly not a requirement. Having a degree, instead, or experience in a specific field such as management and business English - on top of your TESL/TEFL Certificate - will be a distinct advantage as Austrian language schools seek to differentiate themselves by offering more than just traditional general English courses. Teachers who plan on long term stays as well as those who are native English speakers will also find it easier to secure employment.
In private language schools most teachers work on a freelance basis so contact the individual language schools for information about their employment criteria and the type of contract they offer.
UK citizens will find it easier to find employment due to their right to live and work in any EU Member Country. Americans and other native English speakers will have a harder time as getting a work or residence permit is notoriously time consuming. If you are a non-EU citizen you should contact your embassy to see what the specific requirements are for you to work in Austria.
A work permit to teach or tutor English is not required in Austria if you are self-employed. There is however a license (Gewerbeschein) required if you wish to form classes of 5 students or more.
If you are freelancing and have a work contract (Werkvertrag) with a firm, however, it is important to distinguish whether you are truly self-employed or whether you are an employee of the firm. The most important issue legally is how dependent you are on the firm. Make sure you are aware of what is involved with this.
For all matters concerning EFL in Austria visit TEA (Teachers of English in Austria), a non-profit organization run on a voluntary basis by professionals from various areas of English Language Teaching.
