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PhilOffice
Joined: 21 May 2013
Posts: 23
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 Posted: Mon Dec 07, 2015 9:07 pm Post subject: International School Workers |
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Hello,
I would like to get in contact with someone who works/has worked in an international school anywhere outside North America.
I have a few questions about the recruitment process/finding work. I've been just Googling schools and sending my CV when there is an interesting opening, but so far I've only had one reply saying I almost made the shortlist.
Something tells me there has go to be a better way. How fierce is the competition? Is it over-saturated? I'm willing to work almost anywhere to get international experience so I can have more leverage in the future.
I should have the required qualifications: bachelor's degree in ESL, Canadian teaching certification, 2 years of experience in a private school.
-edit- I should add that I am certified to teach French as a second language as well. |
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nomad soul
Joined: 31 Jan 2010
Posts: 11454
Location: The real world
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| Posted: Mon Dec 07, 2015 9:15 pm Post subject: Re: International School Workers |
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| PhilOffice wrote: |
I should have the required qualifications: bachelor's degree in ESL, Canadian teaching certification, 2 years of experience in a private school.
-edit- I should add that I am certified to teach French as a second language as well. |
For international schools, try sites like Seek Teachers, Teach Away, and Footprints. |
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spiral78
Joined: 05 Apr 2004
Posts: 11534
Location: On a Short Leash
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| Posted: Mon Dec 07, 2015 9:19 pm Post subject: |
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Your timing is probably an issue; many regions have 'normal' contract periods (Sept-June, for example) and there aren't openings year around.
And yes, better international school gigs don't experience high degrees of turnover so the market may be tighter than you expect.
Yes, some places have fierce competition. In Western Europe, for example, the adverts are often only even placed to satisfy legal requirements - a candidate has already been chosen in reality. Usually someone with family/other ties to the area and local contacts. |
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PhilOffice
Joined: 21 May 2013
Posts: 23
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| Posted: Mon Dec 07, 2015 9:34 pm Post subject: |
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| spiral78 wrote: |
Your timing is probably an issue; many regions have 'normal' contract periods (Sept-June, for example) and there aren't openings year around.
And yes, better international school gigs don't experience high degrees of turnover so the market may be tighter than you expect.
Yes, some places have fierce competition. In Western Europe, for example, the adverts are often only even placed to satisfy legal requirements - a candidate has already been chosen in reality. Usually someone with family/other ties to the area and local contacts. |
Yes I understand timing can be an issue. So far I've only been contacting schools that start in August/September. I have to finish my school-year here in Canada.
I haven't even looked at Western Europe since I was under the impression that you needed a EU passport.
I have sent to schools in Cambodia, El Salvador (so close...), Hong Kong and Shanghai. |
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kpjf
Joined: 18 Jan 2012
Posts: 385
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| Posted: Mon Dec 07, 2015 9:54 pm Post subject: |
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I found http://internationalschoolsreview.com/ quite useful for the kind of information you're after.
FYI, I have been told that HK is very very competitive for the international school market (as it's very western for an Asian country etc), but don't think the same would apply to El Salvador or Cambodia, so maybe it's timing as Spiral mentioned? |
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PhilOffice
Joined: 21 May 2013
Posts: 23
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| Posted: Mon Dec 07, 2015 11:07 pm Post subject: |
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| kpjf wrote: |
I found http://internationalschoolsreview.com/ quite useful for the kind of information you're after.
FYI, I have been told that HK is very very competitive for the international school market (as it's very western for an Asian country etc), but don't think the same would apply to El Salvador or Cambodia, so maybe it's timing as Spiral mentioned? |
Thanks for the website! I've been looking through it for almost 2 hours now. |
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nomad soul
Joined: 31 Jan 2010
Posts: 11454
Location: The real world
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| Posted: Mon Dec 07, 2015 11:28 pm Post subject: |
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Be sure to inquire about upcoming job fairs in your area for overseas schools. Additionally, since you're qualified to teach French, if you haven't done so already, have a separate CV in French solely for those language skills.
No doubt you'll land a good job. |
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spiral78
Joined: 05 Apr 2004
Posts: 11534
Location: On a Short Leash
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| Posted: Mon Dec 07, 2015 11:46 pm Post subject: |
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| Quote: |
| I haven't even looked at Western Europe since I was under the impression that you needed a EU passport. |
There is a work visa program for Canadians that might apply to you if you are under 30. Also, 'real' international schools can get visas for non-EU citizens (private schools that use the 'international' appellation cannot, though, so the pool may be smaller than it seems). It is still a long shot, though, as openings are few and far between and as noted before many adverts are for form's sake only. |
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suphanburi
Joined: 20 Mar 2014
Posts: 916
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| Posted: Tue Dec 08, 2015 2:06 am Post subject: Re: International School Workers |
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| PhilOffice wrote: |
Hello,
I would like to get in contact with someone who works/has worked in an international school anywhere outside North America.
I have a few questions about the recruitment process/finding work. I've been just Googling schools and sending my CV when there is an interesting opening, but so far I've only had one reply saying I almost made the shortlist.
Something tells me there has go to be a better way. How fierce is the competition? Is it over-saturated? I'm willing to work almost anywhere to get international experience so I can have more leverage in the future.
I should have the required qualifications: bachelor's degree in ESL, Canadian teaching certification, 2 years of experience in a private school.
-edit- I should add that I am certified to teach French as a second language as well. |
If you are properly certified as a teacher and have a few years of classroom experience under your belt then quit looking on EFL boards.
If your only claim to fame are qualifications in EFL-ESL and FFL/FSL then most international schools in Asia won't treat you much differently than someone with an unrelated BA and a Canuk passport (their language of instruction is already English). You'll start near the bottom of the ladder like everyone else but if you are decent at what you do then the climb should be much quicker.
China will be the easiest job search. The demand for EFL teachers exceeds supply by an order of magnitude.
. |
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kpjf
Joined: 18 Jan 2012
Posts: 385
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| Posted: Wed Dec 09, 2015 4:34 pm Post subject: |
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| PhilOffice wrote: |
Thanks for the website! I've been looking through it for almost 2 hours now. |
Glad it was useful! |
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RedLightning
Joined: 08 Aug 2015
Posts: 137
Location: United States
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| Posted: Fri Dec 11, 2015 11:50 am Post subject: |
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Your qualifications should land you a decent job.
I've found that openings for the upcoming school year are usually posted in January, March, and June. So, keep an eye out in the near future and do not rely entirely(if at all) on recruiters. |
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nomad-ish
Joined: 21 Oct 2010
Posts: 153
Location: Moving up the food chain!
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| Posted: Tue Dec 22, 2015 4:11 am Post subject: Re: International School Workers |
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| suphanburi wrote: |
| PhilOffice wrote: |
Hello,
I would like to get in contact with someone who works/has worked in an international school anywhere outside North America.
I have a few questions about the recruitment process/finding work. I've been just Googling schools and sending my CV when there is an interesting opening, but so far I've only had one reply saying I almost made the shortlist.
Something tells me there has go to be a better way. How fierce is the competition? Is it over-saturated? I'm willing to work almost anywhere to get international experience so I can have more leverage in the future.
I should have the required qualifications: bachelor's degree in ESL, Canadian teaching certification, 2 years of experience in a private school.
-edit- I should add that I am certified to teach French as a second language as well. |
If you are properly certified as a teacher and have a few years of classroom experience under your belt then quit looking on EFL boards.
If your only claim to fame are qualifications in EFL-ESL and FFL/FSL then most international schools in Asia won't treat you much differently than someone with an unrelated BA and a Canuk passport (their language of instruction is already English). You'll start near the bottom of the ladder like everyone else but if you are decent at what you do then the climb should be much quicker.
China will be the easiest job search. The demand for EFL teachers exceeds supply by an order of magnitude.
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i'm a little confused about your qualifications, but i know in my province, if you have a teaching certification, you need to have a bachelor of education degree. is that the same for you?
anyways, i second search associates and have heard good things about international school services (https://www.iss.edu). search associates can be pricy, but they give you free entry into one of their recruiting fairs. they're very well done by the way. you can also try tie online which is cheaper, no fair, no school profiles, but the schools do list directly.
i would definitely steer clear of places like footprints or teach away, etc. those are just recruiters who will tell you that they've got an awesome school for you and it turns out to be a dodgy school in some remote place that no one has ever heard of. not to be nasty about them, but i've used them before and they just wasted my time.
if you have more questions, send me a pm. the main hiring season for international schools is coming up (jan-feb). good luck; it's worth the hard work! |
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nomad soul
Joined: 31 Jan 2010
Posts: 11454
Location: The real world
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| Posted: Tue Dec 22, 2015 5:31 am Post subject: |
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| Quote: |
| i would definitely steer clear of places like footprints or teach away, etc. those are just recruiters who will tell you that they've got an awesome school for you and it turns out to be a dodgy school in some remote place that no one has ever heard of. not to be nasty about them, but i've used them before and they just wasted my time. |
Teach Away and Footprints are a good option for those with teaching qualifications and relevant k-12/private school experience from their home country. I have several friends who got work in the Gulf through these agencies. But again, they're Canadian and US licensed teachers. |
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nomad-ish
Joined: 21 Oct 2010
Posts: 153
Location: Moving up the food chain!
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| Posted: Wed Dec 23, 2015 5:33 am Post subject: |
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| nomad soul wrote: |
| Quote: |
| i would definitely steer clear of places like footprints or teach away, etc. those are just recruiters who will tell you that they've got an awesome school for you and it turns out to be a dodgy school in some remote place that no one has ever heard of. not to be nasty about them, but i've used them before and they just wasted my time. |
Teach Away and Footprints are a good option for those with teaching qualifications and relevant k-12/private school experience from their home country. I have several friends who got work in the Gulf through these agencies. But again, they're Canadian and US licensed teachers. |
didn't mean to offend you - there are jobs for certified teachers there, however as a certified canadian teacher myself, i found footprints/teachaway/similar agencies don't hire for first or second tier international schools. these agencies usually hire for little known international schools or hire in bulk for programs like the local initiative run by the abu dhabi education council. |
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