Search found 40 matches

by OrangeSoda
Sat Feb 23, 2013 9:27 am
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: Getting hired is a numbers game
Replies: 28
Views: 31681

Re: Getting hired is a numbers game

[quote="danny514"]Back when the hiring season began, I thought my resume was pretty decent. Qualified teaching with 2 years experience teaching A-Level Mathematics. Granted, it was in a 3rd tier school and no IB experience, but still - Maths teachers are in demand, right?

However, as the weeks rolled by, sending out CV after CV and getting no responses, frustration started mounting. Schools that I thought I was qualified for didn't get back to me. I went to the HK Search fair, and couldn't even get a single interview at a Hk school. That's when I realized that I was still near the bottom of the totem pole - that I was competing with teachers with over a decade more experience than me (and IB to boot). The possibility of ending up unemployed, or teaching in some dusty hellhole in Africa or the Middle East, loomed larger by the day.

And then - I got the email I was waiting for all these months. The job I've accepted is pretty close to a dream. Great location in South East Asia, solid school, decent pay, and the opportunity to teach the IB Diploma Program in both my teaching subjects.

For all those teachers out there sending CV after CV and still waiting, just know that there are still plenty of jobs out there and the right job WILL eventually come around. I sent over 50 CV's and got nothing. Then, the right job came around and landed in my lap. It really is a numbers game.[/quote]


Fantastic news! It's great to hear that your perseverance paid off. Hope it goes well for you!
by OrangeSoda
Sat Feb 23, 2013 8:31 am
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: Some quick fire questions. Advice please.
Replies: 10
Views: 11256

Hi again people,

Just want to say thanks for all the assistance over the past few weeks in this and other threads, keep up the good work!

Also that myself and my partner won't be pursuing the dream this year, there's just too much going on and we have spent a lot of time with applications to get nothing back and we can't keep investing that time unfortunately.

However, we feel next year we will be more prepared and will also invest time into the fairs etc. I think we also need a bit of experience with the CV and cover letters to make things stand out in terms of what schools want in the ME. With barely having 2 years experience it will be take a lot to even be considered so I will still keep up with this forum and prepare for next year!
by OrangeSoda
Sat Feb 02, 2013 1:44 pm
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: Some quick fire questions. Advice please.
Replies: 10
Views: 11256

[quote="shadowjack"]For recruiting I created a new email account using my name and initials. I don't use it for anything but recruiting and contacting schools (OK, now I use it only for the school which hired me!)

ie if my name was Patty Cake, my email would be pcake@<insert provider here>[/quote]

Hi shadowjack,

I have a professional account which used for applying for jobs and also any other professional reasons. It is e.g. 'Patty_Cake@hotmail.co.uk' what I was thinking is if hotmail is okay to use?
by OrangeSoda
Sat Feb 02, 2013 11:18 am
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: Some quick fire questions. Advice please.
Replies: 10
Views: 11256

Excellent, thanks PsyGuy. And for the heads up on teachaway/teachanywhere. Although one of my colleagues has got an interview through one of them for a job in Abu Dhabi.

5. What about email addresses? I use my a hotmail address with my full name as contact details but I have applied through my official school email as well just to see if it would change anything!


I've always wanted to say 'pretty fly for a Psy Guy...' for no apparent reason and now you're probably thinking 'no wonder he can't get an interview...'
by OrangeSoda
Sat Feb 02, 2013 10:29 am
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: No interviews yet- should I be worried?
Replies: 31
Views: 36577

We have no problem working in a Tier 2 school and rolling up our sleeves and working hard to prove ourselves. It's just getting that chance. Even the IB is not an issue, I have had to learn a lot of new specifications in the past year and half because I am teaching from KS3-KS5 and that includes exam based, vocational subjects etc. So learning another is not an issue.

I think I have to start being more realistic instead of trying to live a dream that may not happen. I will start applying in the UK as well and if the ME does not happen this or next year then it will have to wait until quite a number of years as my priority will shift to having a family.

Thanks for your continuous advice shadowjack!
by OrangeSoda
Sat Feb 02, 2013 10:20 am
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: Some quick fire questions. Advice please.
Replies: 10
Views: 11256

Some quick fire questions. Advice please.

Thanks to everyone who has been replying to my posts and in general to other people. Every post I read I learn something new! and this is after hours and hours of research over the past few weeks!


1. What is the most important thing that recruiter will look for? Is it the information on their form and the experience first then then maybe CV/photo then cover letter?

2. My CV is well set out, but it does contain a lot of information. I am not sure which way it would be favourable, either having an easy to read CV with basic information or a CV with detailed information [which I have used to get my current job].

3. If an unmarried couple - both applying for a position within the school: is it better to leave it out of the cover letter that you are applying with your partner, or to mention that you are and you will be married soon? [which is what I have done]

4. If I am British but I have an Indian name which may look hard to pronounce, would this put some of the schools off? I know this is silly but someone has mentioned this to me.


Next week for me is going to be about ringing some agencies such as teachaway/teachanywhere etc. and signing up to Search and TIE after some recommendations.


I think whatever I may create a massive FAQ - Teaching abroad at some point in the near future with the most commonly asked questions and answers from great posters. As of yet, I am still on the hunt and still learning so that can wait!
by OrangeSoda
Fri Feb 01, 2013 12:44 pm
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: Newbie's impressions of Search and the London Fair
Replies: 67
Views: 63067

[quote="cdn"]I'll add my two cents...

My wife and I created double-sided "ichiros" on thick card stock (1 side for her and 1 side for me) that gave brief highlights of our educational philosophies, education, certification, and several pictures of us in the classroom or things our students have done.

These were invaluable for us at the fair in London. We had more than a few recruiters say something like , "Oh, I remember you." And that's the point of it isn't it? We lined up at least 3 interviews, because someone recognized us...we stood out. Out of those three interviews we had two job offers and the third interview we cancelled when we got the dream offer. Not a bad average. Also, we were contacted by a top school in a bar after they saw our ichiro with another recruiter (we didnt apply, because there wasnt a position for both of us). They sought us out, and recognized us, because of that flashy piece of paper.

We didn't bring portfolios, but we did direct recruiters to our blogs and we mentioned them in our interviews. Whether or not they visited them, I don't know. Our ichiros may have been sufficient portfolio-wise.[/quote]


Hi cdn, thanks for that advice! I'm certainly trying to take on board as many tips as possible!

One thing I'm unsure on is how some colleagues with the same experience as me have managed to get at least an interview. Maybe the recruiters are scared they can't pronounce my name! ha.

Is there any chance I could see the example of the 'ichiros' ? or examples you may have followed?
by OrangeSoda
Fri Feb 01, 2013 12:40 pm
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: No interviews yet- should I be worried?
Replies: 31
Views: 36577

As always shadowjack I thank you for the replies! I have been totally naive about the process because of people saying it's easy to get a job in the Middle East etc. but I have worked really hard on applications and and forms etc. but to no avail so far.

Is there a better chance of getting into a 'tier 1' school once you have a couple of years experience overseas?

Do you know much about Kuwait as a place to live? I've heard some mixes reviews.

Thanks a bunch!
by OrangeSoda
Fri Feb 01, 2013 3:26 am
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: No interviews yet- should I be worried?
Replies: 31
Views: 36577

[quote="shadowjack"]If you had signed up with Search, you can search their database by position, spouse position, and type of program (IB, A Level, ICGSE, AP, and more), to see exactly what is out there for you. That is one of the values of Search.

TIEonline is not as organized, but it does have jobs that Search doesn't (and vice versa).
[/quote]

Thanks again shadowjack! I guess we will try and be cover more angles next year if that's what it leads to and will sign up to search and TIE this weekend.

Well there is a massive funding cut in our school and they are going to lose the KS3 and KS4 element of it. I am only guaranteed part-time next year so instead of starting all over again at another school i wanted to fulfill my ambition of working overseas and seeing what impact I could have.


How do you rate the schools that actually advertise that they welcome applications from even NQTs. I'm guessing that's one way to find out it isn't a tier 1 school and they are desperate for any teacher?
by OrangeSoda
Thu Jan 31, 2013 2:59 pm
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: Fluency in language???
Replies: 3
Views: 5455

Namaste! [I speak Punjabi but some Hindi as well]

I don't know why you would keep it off? it cannot do any harm and surely being able to communicate in a native language is a bonus.
by OrangeSoda
Thu Jan 31, 2013 2:04 pm
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: No interviews yet- should I be worried?
Replies: 31
Views: 36577

[quote="seashell"]Ugh, I'm in the same place--feel like I'm going nowhere fast and am resolved that I'll be staying in my current position for another year.

Me: 10 years overseas and 4 Int'l Schools (including an assistant teaching position at an Elite School early in my career).

5 years PYP experience

Masters in progress (June 2013)

Applying for Kindergarten and Early Elementary positions in Germany and therein lies my problem. My partner is German and I won't be leaving Germany (trust me it's hard enough to be resolved to this;) Totally frustrated that even after sending personalized resumes to what seems like every PYP school in Germany (except the ones I can tell I don't want to work at) I'm getting nothing. I know some positions will open later because the labor laws here are quite different and you have to give less notice.

Trying to decide if teaching an upper elementary class is something I'd want to do next year to diversify.

I have applied at some schools outside of Deutschland and gotten some positive interest.[/quote]

You are much more experienced than we are, it will be a shame if you cannot move to the position and location you desire!

I think teaching in upper elementary is something which could give you a stronger case in your application, but I'm no expert! Hope it goes well!
by OrangeSoda
Thu Jan 31, 2013 2:02 pm
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: No interviews yet- should I be worried?
Replies: 31
Views: 36577

[quote="shadowjack"]

If you have not signed up for TIEonline (which you can do almost instantaneously), do so. Post your resume/CV and start researching jobs at ALL the international schools posting vacancies.

Good luck!

PS While a lot of recruiting takes place at the fairs, don't worry that there are no jobs out there - jobs will continue to come along until the school year starts...Also, apply to those schools I mentioned above![/quote]

Thank you once again shadowjack! :)

But I know a colleague of mine has had a couple of interviews, with the same amount of experience. So I really am concerned at this point! We did put in our cover letter that we want to be considered as a joint application [yes we did apply separately].

I think maybe it was naivety on my part as I was thinking well ahead e.g. in 10years if I want to come back to the UK maybe I will not get hired because I will have been working in an American school system?



Me and my partner will look at search associates and tie, we are also going to contact other agencies and ask for advice.
by OrangeSoda
Thu Jan 31, 2013 10:50 am
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: No Cambridge after all! (Hope for the frustrated!)
Replies: 8
Views: 10956

Re: No Cambridge after all! (Hope for the frustrated!)

[quote="SushiBreakfast"]My wife and I are new international teachers, and we've spent the better part of a year getting prepared -- Search Associates accounts, ISR account, organizing paperwork, clearing old debt, avoiding new debt, researching schools, and, of course, booking plane tickets and a hotel for the Cambridge fair.

Well, I guess we'll have to cancel those plans, since we were offered positions in a nice location based on Skype interviews. After months of sending emails based on positions listed in the Search database and getting next to no responses (a few auto-responses and one Skype interview that led to nothing), I was starting to get a little discouraged going into the fair.

If you were in the same boat as us, don't lose heart! Maybe your job is just around the corner, too.

Now the logistics of moving overseas for the first time... :shock:[/quote]


That's fantastic news! Hope it all goes well. Do you mind me asking, what you think changed from the period of getting nothing to some interviews etc.? As me and my partner are in the position at the moment of getting nothing so trying not to lose hope! but we also want to learn from the experience in case it's something specific about us they may not want.
by OrangeSoda
Thu Jan 31, 2013 10:28 am
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: No interviews yet- should I be worried?
Replies: 31
Views: 36577

Re: Comment

[quote="OrangeSoda"][quote="PsyGuy"]@OrangeSoda



The rule is when a school wants you they REALLY act like they want you. If your getting the form messages and emails from HR after waiting a week or so it means they dont want you. Your someone they might settle for at some distant point in the future, but they dont want you.

Your really just looking for excuses for the disappointment. I hate to be cruel, but its not your cover letter or lack of pictures, or anything else, its you, "theyre just not into you".




[/quote]


I understand your points PsyGuy and I agree, they must not be into me and my partner. Therefore, apart from experience I'm trying to think why they're not into me?

I will have to look into the tier system because I haven't looked at it that way and we have just applied to the schools offering both of our subjects.



They have mostly said minimum two years experience, which we will have by July. It's a shame because we really do want to make an impact and be there for at least 6 years.

Is there anything I can do to make me more employable or for them to be interested in the possibility of myself and my partner working in the same school?


I have noticed, for example, schools in Kuwait that say in their application they even welcome NQTs ! Maybe that's what I will have to look into to get some experience in the ME?

We are not picking these schools to be snobby or picky, it's just the ones we have found to have two vacancies for both of us.[/quote]