International School Community Blog

Recruitment Resources for International Teachers: The long list of things to think about! (2 of 3)

There are so many things to think about and search for information about when recruiting.  Why not have all the links you need to reference all in one location?

London, England

Recruitment Resources for International Teachers: (Part 2)
Issues regarding overseas employment:Is it still a good deal?  Figuring out finances / package is a tough one. Usually there are many unseen costs and non-existent benefits that are usually taken for granted in the states.  Many schools have been cutting back on salary and benefits so it pays to check out packages being offered currently versus those that have been offered in the past.  There are no standards and every school is different! There are good schools out there, there are schools that use to be good, and there are and will always be some bad ones.

Some food for thought includes:

•  Social Security Disability Benefit is not valid after 5 years of teaching/living overseas (Good schools provide it, buy your own if not provided).

•  Medical Insurance Coverage (International insurances can usually be extended after a contract to cover in between periods, national ones usually can not).

•  Retirement planning is tricky… Check this out carefully… Social Security is greatly reduced if you are overseas for any length of period. Good schools offer over 10%… The best ones offer 15% or more!

•  Be sure to check on shipping allowances both in and out. Good schools offer 3,000 dollars plus!

•  Annual home leave should be standard. Schools with strong packages offer annual home leave.

•  Housing allowance or provision. size? quality? laundry? storage? monthly fees? maintenance fees?

•  Work and Residence permits, Immigration and bond fees, inflation, local taxes, (ever hear of a TV tax? as in Norway)

•  Fees for dependents including tuition, residence permits, other government fees… included or not?

•  Housing fees, phone, cable, utilities… included or not?

•  Professional development… supported or not?

•  Day care options (on site, cost, quality?)

•  School substitute / coverage policy (might you be expected to help cover for a long term illness of a co-worker?)

•  Outbound recruitment policy at the school and when do the outgoing teachers have to give notice. Jan? Feb? March?

•  Leave including Personal, Emergency, and Sick. What and how much?

•  School climate and teacher moral. Staff turnover will give a good indicator of the current situation (find current teachers to talk to or e-mail)

•  Protection: no unions in most overseas schools… You are on your own so watch out for yourself.

•  Is it still a good deal… I would say yes if you can find the right school. My estimate is that about 50% of the international schools out there are still a great deal…

Things that give you an advantage while at the recruitment fairs:

1. Be married to a teacher (Administration views teaching teams as a 2 for 1 deal)

2. Have very few dependents or children… (Most schools give children free tuition at their school) If you have four children and the tuition is 10,000 dollars then you are costing an extra 40,000 a year compared to a candidate with no children. *Some recruiters state a maximum of two children outright.

3. Have at least 3 years or more experience.

4. Have more than one certification and be flexible and willing to do a lot of extracurricular activities.

5. Fields that are filled locally and not recruited for as much as others… include, PE, ESL and Elementary. These positions are out there, just not as in demand as others.

6. Bring a very thin but action packed resume / packet of information about yourself. I include a resume and a one page cover including digital photos, icons, other flashy stuff that will make a memorable impression.

7. Target all schools on your first job search (recruitment).  Think of your first job as a training posting and keep an open mind…

8. Do your research on specific schools of interest.

Teacher Recruitment Checklist & Calendar:

Aug/Sept

Obtain registration material from recruitment agencies. Update resume and gather references.

Rethink and rewrite your educational philosophy.

Oct/Nov

Register with one or two recruitment fairs and make travel arrangements.

Contact and research schools of interest.

Dec

Finalize plans for the international job fairs.

Prepare 20 plus copies of your resume and 20 plus photos of yourself to include with it.

Get your suit dry cleaned and bone up on your interviewing skills.

Make a list of questions to ask the recruiters about their school.

Make a list of your priorities and / or what is important to you in a job.

Jan/Feb/March

Job fairs and lots of interviews. *some smaller fairs are held as early as Christmas vacation!

Be patient and follow up on all leads.

Some things are negotiable before signing on that dotted line!

Ask if there are any teachers from the school you are interested in attending the fair… then buy them a drink and get the real scoop on the school!

April//May

Prepare for round two “job fairs in June” and follow up on any leads.

June/July

Transition, Pack up, and ship out!

The overseas adventure begins (continues).

(Taken from the blog article from wwteach.)

Also check out all the comments and information about 1000s of different international schools around the world onInternational School Community!