Thanks for the replies- appreciated it.

I got my last couple of jobs without Search so its helpful to know how things have worked out for people.

1. This was on of my first interviews fresh out of university. I was interviewing for a entry level position with a large international bank and there were two people conducting the interview (a man and a woman). The man asked all the questions I expected. I asked my questions about bank. So far so good. The woman then smiles and says that everything looks great. She then says "Are you pregnant or do you have any intention of planning a family within the next six months?"

I was gobsmacked. The woman keeps smiling and the man is ticking off boxes on his sheet This was the sort of question you could sue a company for in the US or UK. In my head I was fuming! I was also ticked as hell because no one would ask a man if he had impregnated or had plans to impregnate someone.

After speaking to a few other other people, I learned it was a fairly standard question in the Asian country I was living in. They didn't want to hire people who would be on mat leave during or right after the probationary period. I got the job but declined.

2. Recruiting Fair- The principal of a South American school was my last interview of the day. I was pretty beat. He seemed nice enough and the interview went well, standard questions. However after we finished up with that he moved on to talking about his past as PE teacher in the US. He talked my ear off. I tried to excuse myself on several occasions but I was in there for 1.5 hours and was mercifully saved by a knock on the door. I felt even worse getting the stare of death from three other candidates waiting outside. Staff meetings at that school must be hell on earth- the man loves the sound of his own voice!

3. Recruiting Fair- The same school interviewed my friend and I for different positions. She said it was a terrible interview and that she was asked several intense question about some obscure theory in an academic text. I went in and they talked to me about my childhood and near death experiences. It was very relaxed. Go figure. We both got offered jobs. Neither of us took them up on it.

I was prepping recently with an older friend who is an excellent science teacher with both IB/AP experience, has a PhD in his teaching subject and a master's in SPED, coaches several sports, and has an Ivy League university background . He told me he once walked into an interview where they told him his CV and accomplishments were impressive but his competition was no different. They then asked what made him a better teacher in a field packed with talent. My friend said the question caught him off guard but he did alright as he landed the job offer.

So what are the toughest questions you've ever been asked at an interview?

Does anyone know if it is better to contact a school through the Search Associates website (message feature) or just to e-mail the director/head of school/principal/HR instead?


Has anyone e-mailed both to hedge their bets? I thought it might be fine line and I don't want to annoy the recruiting ..

Furthermore if you choose to e-mail directly instead of using the Search message system is your cover letter in the body of the e-mail itself or is it attached along with a CV with the e-mail being a short expression of interest?

Please advise!

Cheers!

Try Korea. Some of the schools have good packages. Or you could try Brent in the Philippines...not at the top but a decent school with a friendly laid back atmostphere- some of the nicest students you will ever teach. Brent has both MS/US Humanities positions, no need for IB for the MS and if they are short on candidates they might even train you for IB in the US. The package is not the greatest but you can save a lot as the cost of living is not very high.

Have a look at the schools listed for the UNI (US) and Queen's TORF (Canada)- a lot of these will hire newbie teachers.


Also if you don't mind the Middle East or Africa you have a decent shot...SA too but savings are limited there...
Best of luck!

Is anyone familiar with the international schools in Busan and Taejon Christian International School in Korea?