{"id":119,"date":"2012-01-06T14:39:58","date_gmt":"2012-01-06T14:39:58","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/internationalschoolcommunity.com\/blog\/?p=119"},"modified":"2012-10-15T09:43:48","modified_gmt":"2012-10-15T09:43:48","slug":"the-wonderful-world-of-intl-school-hiring-fairs-lesson-5-check-your-ego-at-the-door","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/internationalschoolcommunity.com\/blog\/the-wonderful-world-of-intl-school-hiring-fairs-lesson-5-check-your-ego-at-the-door\/","title":{"rendered":"The Wonderful World of Int\u2019l School Hiring Fairs: Lesson #5 \u2013 \u201cCheck your ego at the door.\u201d"},"content":{"rendered":"

\u201cNine Lessons Learned\u201d taken from The Wonderful World of International School Hiring Fairs<\/strong><\/a> article by Clay Burell\u2019s blog Beyond School<\/a>.<\/strong><\/p>\n

5. \u201cCheck your ego at the door.<\/strong>\u201c<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

\n

\u201cI got about an even mix of offers and rejections from the schools I talked to. One school in particular seemed so right after two interviews that getting the rejection note broadsided me with the force of a turbo-powered school bus. I bumped into one of the interviewers later, and he told me that choosing my competitor over me was the hardest decision they made the night before, and that it took them over an hour of group deliberation to make it. A rejection can happen for all sorts of reasons \u2013 maybe they needed yearbook experience you didn\u2019t offer, or needed that administrator whose spouse happened to be a less-qualified candidate for the position you want. So don\u2019t take it personally.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cEvery normal person, in fact, is only normal on the average. His ego approximates to that of the psychotic in some part or other and to a greater or lesser extent.\u201d Sigmund Freud.<\/p>\n

The greatest sports legends, the inventors of things we rely on today, great actors and actresses, all of these people must seem to have a big ego. Maybe it comes with their achievements or our projections of them? Then there are the great dictators, the generals of war or just some average Joe that just won the biggest-ever on his lottery ticket. Ego comes in many shapes and forms, and albeit some are seemingly more attractive than others. It\u2019s a hard task to know when to enhance or down play your own ego.<\/p>\n

We\u2019re constantly told to either just stand in line or be like others, that we don\u2019t really deviate from the mass, that we\u2019re just one in a million, that perhaps we\u2019re not as special as we think. Then we\u2019re told we need to stand out, make a difference, show our true colors, let the ego steer and victory will come our way.\u00a0 So, what are you to do at the international school recruiting fairs?<\/p>\n

Ego is an ambivalent thing, you could say that it\u2019s both our chance and our fall. It\u2019s the chance to express ourselves, to enhance our personality to make it clearer how we stand out from the masses, what makes us special, what we\u2019re capable of; how we\u2019re the best of all of them. But there is a line, and if that line is crossed, our personality becomes too big and a bit desperate, we express ourselves in a way so superior to others that we make them feel small, we become way too special, maybe even too good for our own good; we are the best of all of them, no question there, there\u2019s \u201cme\u201d and no one else.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

It\u2019s often in job interviews we\u2019re left with the difficult task of being the best and out shining the competition, but in such a manner that we don\u2019t let our own ego get the better of us, and suddenly instead of standing out positively in the round robin session or administrator\u2019s hotel room during the interview, we stand out negatively instead. It\u2019s practically a game of ego vs. humble. It\u2019s pointing out the things you are good at and how you are the best for the position, but it\u2019s just as much being humble, being likable, charming, sitting straight, smiling, having eye contact, being interested, letting your ego shine from time to time, but not letting it consume the space.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere\u2019s nothing like rejection to make you do an inventory of yourself.\u201d James Lee Burke.<\/p>\n

And every so often your ego takes a blow. When you venture in life, there\u2019s always the risk of rejection. Sometimes it feels like there isn\u2019t any international school out there that wants to hire you.<\/strong> It\u2019s basically the same whether you open your heart for someone you love, or you are at a job interview, getting that \u201cno\u201d is a sour sting to your ego. And that\u2019s when the inventory begins: should I have? or could I have? Would it have? And so on and so on\u2026<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Every mountain we climb in this life should probably have two gates: \u201cfor exit hurry\u201d or \u201cin risk of rejection\u201d. We can\u2019t go through life (and international school recruitment fairs) without getting a little hurt sometimes, without bruising our ego. It\u2019s all part of living as they say; the smart and clever ones. So maybe you didn\u2019t have enough experience, maybe the connection just wasn\u2019t there, or maybe, just maybe someone was just better than you. You know, you shouldn\u2019t take it personal. It just means you get a few more rounds through the \u201cin risk of rejection\u201d gate. And who knows, just one week after the fair, when you weren\u2019t offered any contracts to sign, you might receive in your email inbox the offer from the international school you have been dreaming of working at!\u00a0 It is happened many times in our International School Community<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

\u201cNine Lessons Learned\u201d taken from The Wonderful World of International School Hiring Fairs article by Clay Burell\u2019s blog Beyond School. 5. \u201cCheck your ego at the door.\u201c \u201cI got about an even mix of offers and rejections from the schools I talked to. One school in particular seemed so right after two interviews that getting […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":false,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[7],"tags":[336,29,30,337,32,64,338,339,340,151,341,342,343,113,60,314],"class_list":["post-119","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-9-lessons-learned-regarding-intl-school-hiring-fairs","tag-cis","tag-international-school","tag-international-school-community","tag-international-school-recruiting-fairs","tag-international-schools","tag-interviewing","tag-iss","tag-job-hunting-teachers","tag-queens","tag-recruiting","tag-recruiting-fairs","tag-rejection","tag-round-robin","tag-search","tag-teaching-abroad","tag-uni"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p2flVT-1V","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":1306,"url":"https:\/\/internationalschoolcommunity.com\/blog\/comments-and-information-about-hiring-policies-on-international-school-community-5-vietnam-american-intl-school-intl-school-basel-misr-american-college\/","url_meta":{"origin":119,"position":0},"title":"Comments and information about hiring policies on International School Community #5: Vietnam American Int’l School, Int\u2019l School Basel, & MISR American College","author":"ISCommunity","date":"July 11, 2012","format":false,"excerpt":"Comments and information about hiring policies on\u00a0International School Community: Every week members are leaving information and comments about the hiring policies at international schools around the world.\u00a0 Which ones go to the Search Associates Recruitment Fairs?\u00a0 Which ones hold interviews over Skype?\u00a0 Which ones have hiring restrictions imposed on them\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Hiring Policies at Int\u2019l Schools"","block_context":{"text":"Hiring Policies at Int\u2019l Schools","link":"https:\/\/internationalschoolcommunity.com\/blog\/category\/hiring-policies-at-intl-schools\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/internationalschoolcommunity.files.wordpress.com\/2012\/07\/screen-shot-2012-07-11-at-11-13-50-pm.png?w=350&h=200&crop=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":2429,"url":"https:\/\/internationalschoolcommunity.com\/blog\/comments-information-hiring-policies-international-school-community-8-benjamin-franklyn-intl-school-escola-internacional-de-alphaville-guangdong-country-garden-school\/","url_meta":{"origin":119,"position":1},"title":"Comments and information about hiring policies on International School Community #8: Benjamin Franklin Int\u2019l School, American Cooperative School of Tunis & Green School Bali","author":"ISCommunity","date":"November 12, 2013","format":false,"excerpt":"Comments and information about hiring policies on\u00a0International School Community: Every week members are leaving information and comments about the hiring policies at international schools around the world.\u00a0 Which ones go to the Search Associates Recruitment Fairs?\u00a0 Which ones hold interviews over Skype?\u00a0 Which ones have hiring restrictions imposed on them\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Hiring Policies at Int\u2019l Schools"","block_context":{"text":"Hiring Policies at Int\u2019l Schools","link":"https:\/\/internationalschoolcommunity.com\/blog\/category\/hiring-policies-at-intl-schools\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/internationalschoolcommunity.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/11\/JobFair-Teacher-03lg.jpg?fit=600%2C397&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/internationalschoolcommunity.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/11\/JobFair-Teacher-03lg.jpg?fit=600%2C397&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/internationalschoolcommunity.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/11\/JobFair-Teacher-03lg.jpg?fit=600%2C397&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":5124,"url":"https:\/\/internationalschoolcommunity.com\/blog\/the-international-school-recruitment-fair-toolkit\/","url_meta":{"origin":119,"position":2},"title":"The International School Recruitment Fair Toolkit","author":"ISCommunity","date":"January 8, 2016","format":false,"excerpt":"The recruitment fair season has started! International School Community is the place to gather information and ease your mind. Over the past five years, we have amassed\u00a0a vast array of informative materials for everything to do with recruitment fairs. The following is a list of all of our materials and\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Great Resource"","block_context":{"text":"Great Resource","link":"https:\/\/internationalschoolcommunity.com\/blog\/category\/great-resource\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/internationalschoolcommunity.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/Screenshot-2015-01-13-22.50.19-1024x768.png?fit=1024%2C768&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/internationalschoolcommunity.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/Screenshot-2015-01-13-22.50.19-1024x768.png?fit=1024%2C768&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/internationalschoolcommunity.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/Screenshot-2015-01-13-22.50.19-1024x768.png?fit=1024%2C768&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/internationalschoolcommunity.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/Screenshot-2015-01-13-22.50.19-1024x768.png?fit=1024%2C768&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":2566,"url":"https:\/\/internationalschoolcommunity.com\/blog\/iscommunity-blog-series-highlight-9-lessons-learned-regarding-international-school-hiring-fairs\/","url_meta":{"origin":119,"position":3},"title":"ISCommunity Blog Series Highlight: 9 Lessons Learned Regarding International School Hiring Fairs","author":"ISCommunity","date":"January 11, 2014","format":false,"excerpt":"January: RECRUITMENT FAIR SEASON STARTS! \u2022 Stressing out about the upcoming international school recruitment fair that you are going to this year? \u2022 Want to get all the \"head's up\" you can get? \u2022 Want a review of all the basics so that you can be the most prepared as\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Information for Members"","block_context":{"text":"Information for Members","link":"https:\/\/internationalschoolcommunity.com\/blog\/category\/information-for-members\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/internationalschoolcommunity.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/iscommunity-blog-series-highlight-9-lessons-learned-regarding-international-school-hiring-fairs_2566_52bc0.jpg?fit=800%2C600&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/internationalschoolcommunity.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/iscommunity-blog-series-highlight-9-lessons-learned-regarding-international-school-hiring-fairs_2566_52bc0.jpg?fit=800%2C600&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/internationalschoolcommunity.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/iscommunity-blog-series-highlight-9-lessons-learned-regarding-international-school-hiring-fairs_2566_52bc0.jpg?fit=800%2C600&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/internationalschoolcommunity.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/iscommunity-blog-series-highlight-9-lessons-learned-regarding-international-school-hiring-fairs_2566_52bc0.jpg?fit=800%2C600&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":135,"url":"https:\/\/internationalschoolcommunity.com\/blog\/comments-and-information-about-hiring-policies-on-international-school-community-2-beijing-seoul-and-beirut\/","url_meta":{"origin":119,"position":4},"title":"Comments and information about hiring policies on International School Community #2 (Beijing, Seoul and Beirut)","author":"ISCommunity","date":"December 29, 2011","format":false,"excerpt":"Comments and information about hiring policies on\u00a0International School Community: Every week members are leaving information and comments about the hiring policies at international schools around the world.\u00a0 Which ones go to the Search Associates Recruitment Fairs?\u00a0 Which ones hold interviews over Skype?\u00a0 Which ones have hiring restrictions imposed on them\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Hiring Policies at Int\u2019l Schools"","block_context":{"text":"Hiring Policies at Int\u2019l Schools","link":"https:\/\/internationalschoolcommunity.com\/blog\/category\/hiring-policies-at-intl-schools\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/internationalschoolcommunity.files.wordpress.com\/2011\/10\/interview_vidconf_1014.jpg?w=350&h=200&crop=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":485,"url":"https:\/\/internationalschoolcommunity.com\/blog\/comments-and-information-about-hiring-policies-on-international-school-community-3\/","url_meta":{"origin":119,"position":5},"title":"Comments and information about hiring policies on International School Community #3","author":"ISCommunity","date":"March 3, 2012","format":false,"excerpt":"Comments and information about hiring policies on\u00a0International School Community: Every week members are leaving information and comments about the hiring policies at international schools around the world.\u00a0 Which ones go to the Search Associates Recruitment Fairs?\u00a0 Which ones hold interviews over Skype?\u00a0 Which ones have hiring restrictions imposed on them\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Hiring Policies at Int\u2019l Schools"","block_context":{"text":"Hiring Policies at Int\u2019l Schools","link":"https:\/\/internationalschoolcommunity.com\/blog\/category\/hiring-policies-at-intl-schools\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/internationalschoolcommunity.files.wordpress.com\/2011\/10\/interview_vidconf_1014.jpg?w=350&h=200&crop=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/internationalschoolcommunity.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/119","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/internationalschoolcommunity.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/internationalschoolcommunity.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/internationalschoolcommunity.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/internationalschoolcommunity.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=119"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/internationalschoolcommunity.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/119\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/internationalschoolcommunity.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=119"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/internationalschoolcommunity.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=119"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/internationalschoolcommunity.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=119"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}