Search found 28 matches

by MusicTravel30
Fri May 26, 2023 5:23 am
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: Ghosted
Replies: 23
Views: 45627

Re: Ghosted

jschott wrote:
> justme123 wrote:

>
> Ghosting is of course highly unprofessional and says much about the institution (or
> people running the institution) that is at fault. Take the ghosting as a sign of how
> a place does business, and if anything, be glad that you didn't wind up working
> there.


I was ghosted once. The odd thing is I am not sure it was as you stated because the school claims they have a very low turnover rate. The teachers who go there stay. But, even after a phone interview, an interview in person, and a demo class, all during work hours for me, and they couldn't even get in touch. So I would think that would indicate the overall job, but apparently not. IMO it is indeed rude if you have gotten deep into the process to not hear anything back.
by MusicTravel30
Fri May 26, 2023 5:18 am
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: Ghosted
Replies: 23
Views: 45627

Re: Comment

PsyGuy wrote:
> @expatscot
>
> Thats true, cow is worth USD$10lbs after its over, ITs are worth nothing.

Maybe that is how you view a human life but most other people see human life as something that has immense worth and value. Because it does.
by MusicTravel30
Tue May 10, 2022 3:06 am
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: When to announce a departure
Replies: 13
Views: 19944

Re: When to announce a departure

A school knowing what it will do for the next year, in November, is a pipe dream. Many are still scrambling and/or unsure even in Spring from what I have both seen and especially heard from countless teachers in many schools in many countries in various continents. Plus people make last-minute decisions all the time, pregnancies, illness, moving, family, emergencies, etc. so the schools have to do the same too.

Tell them a few months prior to June 2023 IMO.
by MusicTravel30
Thu Feb 24, 2022 3:48 am
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: Employer doesn't show up to scheduled online interview, what do you think happened?
Replies: 10
Views: 10715

Employer doesn't show up to scheduled online interview, what do you think happened?

I have had this happen three times in my 10+ years doing interviews.

The first time I got an email very quickly after the scheduled interview. They apologized profusely and said they suddenly and unexpectedly became swamped. The interview was rescheduled and I had it and everyone was nice and they again said they were very sorry. How they explained the situation made complete sense to me.

The second time I got an email a day or two later. They were very honest and said the prior interview was very long and they ended up taking the candidate that had an interview just before me. I assume they were further along in the interview process and the other teacher gave a verbal commitment. Maybe I was a "back-up" of sorts, another interview in case the person prior to me did not take the job. I assume they ceased all interviews immediately after the position was filled, but who knows.

This latest time, the school was, initially, very prompt with emails and always very polite. But when it came time for the scheduled interview I waited in the waiting room for 25 minutes, they never showed up. They did not respond to my follow-up email. What do you think could have happened? Has it ever happened to you? The first two times I learned right away what happened. I think it makes sense that schools can not respond to all emails. But once you reach the interview stage, shouldn't they respond regardless? Just my opinion.
by MusicTravel30
Mon Oct 18, 2021 8:29 am
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: Vaccination and other issues.
Replies: 54
Views: 169398

Re: Vaccination and other issues.

What in the world is everyone talking about? Asking for the expected salary is very common in many fields, if not all.

What?

When interviews come to a close, I am, generally speaking, asked that. It is not at all a "red flag", lol.

On the other hand, bothering references BEFORE the interview, NO. If they are leaning towards making an offer after the interview(s), it is a common and expected last step.
by MusicTravel30
Tue Jun 08, 2021 3:53 am
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: What do you think about combining a Grade 9 and 10 English classes together?
Replies: 14
Views: 15277

Re: What do you think about combining a Grade 9 and 10 English classes together?

Verano wrote:
> What do you think about combining a Grade 9 and 10 English classes
> together?
> Our school is tiny and is going to eventually close in a few years.
> Therefore, combined classes are inevitable in the future. However, the
> English teacher has asked if we can combine the Grade 9 & 10 English
> classes together for next scool year, because she thinks that it will be
> good for the students. I personally think that developmentally, Grade 9s
> probably need their own class and Grade 10s can have a year to prepare for
> the DP program. Does anybody have any research concerning benefits or
> disadvantages of combining classes?


I have read good things about combining grade levels. Plus, if you are already differentiating any way, just continue with that. Use the older and/or stronger students to tutor the younger and/or weaker ones if needed. It is a way to show mastery of a topic, to be able to teach or tutor the topic to someone else. Should work out fine.
by MusicTravel30
Tue Jun 08, 2021 3:41 am
Forum: Forum 2. Ask Recruiting Questions, Share Information. What's on Your Mind?
Topic: Package ??? Love it or leave it
Replies: 31
Views: 92659

Re: Package ??? Love it or leave it

It is a fantastic salary and the benefits are good too. China is cheap (still), especially in a "Tier 2 city". You will live like kings/queens.

Anyone saying it is less than great is insane.
by MusicTravel30
Tue Jun 08, 2021 3:23 am
Forum: Forum 2. Ask Recruiting Questions, Share Information. What's on Your Mind?
Topic: International School of Belgrade - ISB- Tips
Replies: 3
Views: 22360

Re: Inquiry

PsyGuy wrote:
>
> Do they speak Serbian in Belgrade, Serbia? \

Is this a serious question?
by MusicTravel30
Thu Jan 21, 2021 9:05 am
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: 32K - Average Salary for International Teachers?
Replies: 39
Views: 32624

Re: 32K - Average Salary for International Teachers?

Such a vague figure.

32k for what? What type of teacher? How many hours/week or month? What region? How many years of experience does it take to reach that?

I can tell you, I haven't spoken to any teachers in S. America, China or E. Europe who make that...
by MusicTravel30
Fri Dec 27, 2019 8:56 am
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: Feeling very stressed in my new city - Advice?
Replies: 37
Views: 51821

Feeling very stressed in my new city - Advice?

I am in Serbia.

Am I demanding too much? Ok, the school does not provide housing but during my first two days I have not gotten any support in regard to finding housing. Maybe just a local from the school to come with me and help me find an apartment and other key things. I have been on my own. So in the meantime I am staying at hostels while I send email after email to various landlords to try and set something up, all fruitless.

I am bouncing from one hostel to another and will go to another one tomorrow because most hostels are full. In fact because I had to move from my first hostel to my second, I missed a visa meeting with the school today but I need to ensure I have a roof over my head every night, you know? The visa meeting is important but a roof over your head is more important. At the hostel today I was lucky because it was the last bed so I had to make sure I got it!

I am having a very hard time here in my first 48 hours. Advice? Thanks!
by MusicTravel30
Sat Dec 14, 2019 10:25 pm
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: Pet peeve of mine
Replies: 14
Views: 24063

Pet peeve of mine

This has not happened often, maybe three times. But my pet peeve is when HR or someone from the school messages you back after you send a resume saying something like "Thank you so much for the resume, we are interested, can you please respond to some questions (sometimes they ask you to make a sample lesson plan about ______.)

So you work hard, sometimes responding to 10 or more questions in-depth and put together a nice sample lesson plan only to never hear back from the employer. What gives?

Or you go deep into the recruitment process with a school, 3 interviews or more. Everything seems great. "Okay, you will be hearing from us shortly" or "I will recommend you to HR" after already having a great talk with HR, only to never hear back from them.

I get it, a school is under no obligation to respond to every person who sends a resume and they are busy. But, if you go deep into the interview process or jump through hoops to respond to a bunch of questions and/or make a sample lesson plan, the least they can do is take a minute to get back to you, in my opinion. To do the opposite is rude IMO, especially after 3+ interviews of 30 minutes +.

Just venting.
by MusicTravel30
Tue Dec 10, 2019 8:56 pm
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: Has Winter Break Already Started?
Replies: 4
Views: 6690

Re: Has Winter Break Already Started?

I got a job offer about a week ago Not in your Dec 10-Dec 25 range, but close. I accepted and go in just two weeks or so.

On the other hand, at another school and after my third interview, the person interviewing me told me they would recommend me to HR (HR was my first interview and they recommended me to the PYP coordinator, my second interview who recommended me to my third interview) and I never heard anything back. That was maybe two weeks ago. Well, a week ago I emailed HR asking if I was still under consideration and she said I would be hearing back from her shortly. Well, that was a week ago and I do not think a week is "shortly".

No bother, I still got a job offer.
by MusicTravel30
Tue Nov 26, 2019 9:51 am
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: Schools that pay for flights up front?
Replies: 11
Views: 14836

Re: Schools that pay for flights up front?

Well, thanks for the info everyone! Food for thought as I enter stage 3 for two different schools.
by MusicTravel30
Mon Nov 25, 2019 12:08 pm
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: Schools that pay for flights up front?
Replies: 11
Views: 14836

Schools that pay for flights up front?

I have interviewed with a few schools this month thinking they needed someone for August (give or take) but was a little blindsided that they asked if I'd be available for January, some even asking if I could arrive in the country in December.

Part of the issue are flight costs for such short notice. I had a co-worker, in the past, who had her flight paid for before she arrived at the school. My friend was able to negotiate, in his package, flights up-front. I am wondering how common this is or if they were just lucky in those two cases. How would you go about negotiating that? For one specific job, in particular, it would be a huge help.

Thanks.
by MusicTravel30
Tue Aug 13, 2019 11:11 am
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: When do schools begin hiring?
Replies: 53
Views: 48481

Re: When do schools begin hiring?

It really depends. For every school there is a different answer.

A few years ago I applied to a school in Hungary in March. They told me they had finished hiring for the next year and I should try and re-submit my application in October, for the next year. I got a similar message from a second school in Poland but they said November.

However, a school I worked for was still looking for teachers in June, for the next year.

All of these schools started in mid to late August.

You could have a school that is super organized that starts looking for teachers, for the next year, well before the new year. Or you could have a school that, for whatever reason, doesn't finalize rosters even with a month to go until the new year.

I am not sure why some schools do things last minute but I am also not sure why schools would do things so far in advance. Seems to be disadvantages to both.