OK…just walked in the door of my hotel (NOT the Sheraton) and it's 1.30am. Now some sleep before it all starts tomorrow. Realised on the plane that with all the preparations I'd done, I forgot one school's packet so will have to do that tomorrow morning. I'm sure I'll see some of you there tomorrow, so good luck again!

Sitting in an airport lounge waiting for the flight to BKK! Thai Air has cancelled its flight, so will be taking another airline and getting in at around 1am. Off to the Fair tomorrow, not sure how much time I will have to update this, but good luck to all this week and hope we all get the jobs we want and deserve!

Hi All,

will also be in BKK for Search on Wednesday morning. Haven't heard a thing other than acknowledgments. Worried that jobs are being snatched up at ISS fair (saw a job was deleted in my subject area today :( ) but still going in positive and going after 2 dream jobs and whatever else the fair brings!

Great news Briz!!!

Good luck Briz! Hope all is going well and you're hired already!

Agree with Briz on this one, but a silver lining is that some Singapore schools might run a January start of the academic year? Possibly? So it might be a more viable option.

Hi All,

for Fair veterans, how important do you think the arranged "Social" is on the first night? Do the recruiters attend this? Does it affect who they ask to interview? I want to do everything possible to maximize my chances. Any opinions on this one?

Hi jont,

I feel especially qualified to write about this one, as I have been an American teaching in a British style school for the past 15 years.

It is definitely worth trying with the British schools. Though I am currently trying to get back into the American system (internationally), I have had an amazing experience with British schools. Many good schools have SEN positions, and if you can combine that with a humanities background, you'll have a shot. Apply!

The only drawback I've had is that after so many years, I feel I might be considered "British" now when applying to American schools! That may be a function of my specialty, though, as my subject is definitely taught "differently" in the British system. Still, I'll be at the Fair in BKK in 2 weeks, and I'm going for it! Now, just need to get an interview!

Good luck!

Thanks wrldtrvlr,

have actually PM'ed you on TES website (since I can't here)…but thanks for the good wishes!

Another question here…SAS is asking for a "brief" personal statement outlining why want to move to Shanghai, experience with curriculum mapping, what I would bring in terms of development of their school and tech integration.

How "brief" can this be? Are we talking one page of A4 still? Or can it venture onto the second page?

Same boat as you (exactly!) Bluejay, and just to keep up the holiday cheer, I've been through this twice in the past 6 years, and both times, have landed in excellent schools. Only leaving my current place due to "environmental" reasons. Haven't had a nibble yet this year, but only putting my feelers out to about 10 schools so far. Will approach the fair with a positive attitude and hope to find the perfect place for my non-teaching spouse and 2 children. As my British colleagues say (stereotypically, of course!), "Keep a stiff upper lip!"

Hi PsychBean,

this has been an ongoing issue with me…I'm staying at a hotel within about 5 minute bike ride, but I worry that I won't be "in the action" if I'm not staying at the hotel. The price difference was huge, though, over 4 days, so I decided on staying at the "less pricey" hotel.

Any thought from Fair veterans (this is for the Search Fair, by the way).

Since starting this topic, many jobs have come up in my area, including my "dream job". Glad I didn't give up my fair spot!

Hi All,

a dream job has opened up and I'm wondering how far I should go to push in my application. Some questions:

1. Do I email everyone - Head of School, Head of section, head of dept - and hope someone notices me?

2. If I'm actually going to be in the country this winter, do I ask for an interview or just take my chances at the BKK Fair in early Jan (yes, I'm attending)?

This is the first time in a LONG time that this job has opened up when I've actually be looking. The other two times it came up I would have had to break contract to go after it. And FINALLY, I have a shot (though not a great one, as I've been in the "wrong" system for too long possibly (British vs. American).

Any thoughts? I don't want to screw it up by being overly "aggressive".

Just bumping this one back up…any information on Nexus? Have heard that it had a bad past, but is on the way up now? Any Singapore teachers with any first-hand information?