8 Helpful Reminders on How to Find Success at an International School Recruitment Fair

If you are job-searching this school year, then going to a recruitment fair is definitely on your mind. To keep your mind set on the right path both before and during the fairs, here are 8 helpful reminders on how to find success at an international school recruitment fair:

recruitment fair

1. Keep an open mind – when attending the Fair you will be meeting many different schools at once. Whilst it’s always helpful to have an idea of what you are seeking, it also doesn’t hurt to remain open-minded to options you hadn’t previously considered.

2. Go to the PD Workshops – the feedback we have received from past attendees has been that the PD workshops are well worth attending. It’s a great opportunity to understand better the curriculum, culture and expectations of your potential new school and to connect with other teachers.

3. Get involved – it’s also your chance to shine! You can make sure you get noticed and stand out from the crowd by actively participating in the workshops. It helps to demonstrate your teaching skills.

recruitment fair

4. Prepare some key questions – before the interview stage you will get your chance to meet and greet with various schools and make an initial introduction. You don’t necessarily always have the luxury of time at the Fairs so make sure you have done your research and go ready to maximize your allotted slot.

5. Network – there should be time to mingle and get to know the other teachers, sponsors and schools. The day needs to be broken up a bit from just interview after interview and it helps to make connections in a slightly more relaxed setting sometimes.

6. Shop Around – it makes sense to talk to as many schools as possible to get a good idea of what’s available.

recruitment fair

7. Be Yourself – Give the schools a chance to see who you really are. Honesty is after all, the best policy. You are far more likely to end up in the right school environment and in a positive new role where you can flourish if transparency is respected and championed from the start.

8. Relax – and smile! The Fairs are quite intensive in terms of the amount of interviewing that can take place over those 3 days. A smile can go a long way in contributing to a pleasant Fair environment for everyone.

To learn more about what to expect from the Fairs environment, check out these past attendee experiences.

recruitment fairThis article was submitted to us by Explore CRS.

The team at Explore CRS facilitates a number of different programs to help applicants find teaching opportunities in wider Asia. In addition to posting current vacancies and providing consultation services, they also organize recruitment fairs that match candidates with recruiters actively looking for talent for their schools. Applicants will be interviewed on-site, and at last year’s fair over two-thirds of all attending candidates were offered positions. An added benefit of attending the Fairs is an opportunity to take part in our Professional Development workshops, after which all attendees can receive certification.

They have two upcoming recruitment fairs in Abu Dhabi and Shanghai that you may want to check out if you have considered teaching abroad. The dates are as follows:

Shanghai
January 13th – 15th, 2017

Abu Dhabi
January 19th – 21st, 2017

You can learn more about their recruitment fairs here and see what Explore CRS can offer you in your education or recruitment pursuits.

New Photo Contest: What Does Christmas Look Like in Your Host Country?

A number of countries around the world celebrate the Christmas holiday season. Though some cities celebrate in similar ways to your home country, other cities in the world do it in their own unique and special way.

Even cities that don’t get much snow put up decorations. It might be that stores just want to get your attention to come into their stores and buy things, but these holiday decorations help make the holiday season brighter and more joyful for its citizens (especially for the expat community living there).

Being away from friends and family during this time of the year is difficult, so having something to remind you of your home is a good thing. You try to keep some of your Christmas holiday traditions while living abroad, but inevitably you always create some new ones.

So, how does your host country celebrate the Christmas holiday season?  Submit your photo to us and enter our photo contest! All participants receive free premium membership to our website!

photo contest
Christmas decorations in Shanghai, China

Photo contest topic:
Your best photo on how your host country celebrates the Christmas season/holiday

The PRIZES:
1st prize: 2 YEARS FREE of premium membership
2nd prize: 1 YEAR FREE of premium membership
3rd prize: 6 MONTHS FREE of premium membership

(Those submissions that are not in the top three will receive 1 free week of premium membership just for participating.)

Send your photo to editor @ internationalschoolcommunity.com. Please remember to:

• Write your name and email address
• Attach your picture and write a short description about it
• Enter these words in your subject: International School Community Photo Contest Entry: Christmas season

or

Tweet the photo and mention our profile @IS_Community to make sure we will see it. If you are on Instagram, use the official hashtag #iscommunityphoto

(Deadline to submit your photo: 18 December, 2016. Maximum one photo entry per contestant.)

Check out our previous Photo Contests here.

Comparing the Schools and Comments: Working in Hong Kong

Around the world, there are cities that have more than one international school. Many times there is an American school, a British School, and an international school that uses an international curriculum.

Some cities, though, have MANY international schools!  When that is the case, how do the comments about each school compare to each other?

This blog series looks at comparing some of these comments, all coming from international schools in the same city.

international schools in hong kong

Hong Kong

Currently, we have 31 schools listed in Hong Kong on International School Community.

22 schools have had comments submitted on them. Here are a few that have the most submitted comments:

American International School (Hong Kong) (Hong Kong, China)24 Comments
Canadian International School (Hong Kong) (Hong Kong, China)79 Comments
Chinese International School (Hong Kong, China)9 Comments
Creative Secondary School (Hong Kong, China)39 Comments
Discovery College (Hong Kong) (Hong Kong, China)17 Comments
German Swiss International School (Hong Kong, China)13 Comments
Hong Kong Academy (Hong Kong, China)54 Comments
Hong Kong International School (Hong Kong, China)110 Comments
International Christian School (Hong Kong) (Hong Kong, China)19 Comments
Yew Chung International School (Hong Kong) (Hong Kong, China)18 Comments

Allowances

“I was a local hire, so I didn’t get anything, but I don’t know if they have added this as a benefit.” – American International School (Hong Kong)

“You get an annual flight allowance of $1500 (around 11 644 HKD), but it is paid in 12 monthly installments.” – Creative Secondary School

“There are not many benefits, so it generally takes quite a bit of money initially to move here – paying apartment deposits, flights, etc. There is a small settling-in allowance, but it does not cover your expenses. The school offers a high salary, but not much in the way of benefits.” – Canadian International School (Hong Kong)

international schools in hong kong

Teacher Expectations

“It depends on who you ask at our school. There is a lot of work that you need to do. You are required to stay until 16h every day.” – Hong Kong International School

“Teachers normally teach 5 out of 8 blocks, plus an advisory lesson each week (and a 10 minute Homebase each morning).
There are a few after school/evening events during the year (back to school night, Graduation, PTCs etc), but nothing onerous.
ASAs are run by outside agencies, or usually receive some sort of stipend…. and are purely voluntary anyway.” – Hong Kong Academy

“They are reasonable. Teachers are expected to sponsor one club, but you can make up virtually anything. I had a “Culture Club” one year and took students on a monthly trip to explore one culture through theatre, arts, and cuisine.” – American International School (Hong Kong)

“The world is rather easy. You can show at 8 and complete at 3:30.” – Creative Secondary School

Pension Information

“Hong Kong has Mandatory Provident Fund. Teacher pays $1500/month direct deposit into account, directs where money goes (type of investment), and receives accrued money when leaving Hong Kong.” – Canadian International School (Hong Kong)

“Pension plan is a matching 3% on your salary.” – Hong Kong Academy

“You have to put money into a Provident fund, either 6% or 12% of your salary and the school matches the 6% or 12%. If you leave you have to take it out.” – Hong Kong International School

“There is a national plan…” – American International School (Hong Kong)

international schools in hong kong

Demeanor of Students

“The students are from middle-class families which do not like local schools, but too poor to send their children to international schools.” – Creative Secondary School

“The majority of students are polite, well-behaved, and serious about their studies. Teachers are sometimes concerned that students are too serious about grades, at the expense of creativity and balanced life outside academics.” – Canadian International School (Hong Kong)

“The students are pleasant enough, and as an inclusive school with a wide international catchment area are certainly a varied bunch which keeps things interesting. Serious behaviour issues are rare.” – Hong Kong Academy

“The kids I have taught are very motivated and engaged in my lessons.” – Hong Kong International School

(These are just 4 of the 65 different comments topics that on each school profile page on our website.)

international schools in hong kong

If you work at an international school in Hong Kong, share what you know. Consider becoming a Mayor for unlimited premium membership!