There is a huge difference between cryptocurrencies and cryptocurrency infrastructure - the latter being quite a specialised niche and if you can design it for companies in various fields, that's where you make the big bucks. I "play" with cryptocurrencies and that is the difference. I think you may be reading too many FB newsfeed on cryptocurrencies. Who said that I didn't follow a Buffet path in the previous years? The "curious breed" that I am may be the result of following the Buffet path for several years and seeing the explosive goldmine of a field of 21st century digital finance. I am also curious to know as to why you consider infrastructure, sustainability sciences, technology and medical science as speculative and "start-up"? Btw, start-ups actually work for major, traditional corporations, banks, hospitals and infrastructure. These little guys are contracted to innovate but you would never know bc the CTO, COO, CFO and the CEO all take the credit for it by announcing the annual strategic plan. This is the new intelligence economy that is behind the financial structure (and as to why big banks are failing bc they are "traditional" like good 'ol Warren). I think you still hold the more traditional valuation strategy and hence you find me "curious" and possibly, incomprehensible.

@sid : Hahaha! Not everything is about money or banking or business. It's actually interesting to be in education and moving around. I can always go back now that business is more digitalised than ever, allowing capital to move around freely with one tap on my smartphone. But for now, this chapter of my life, IE is firing up the brain.

My previous profession still serves me as I have my CFA license in it. For many years (before edu), I was in a leadership position in private wealth management (finance) for two of the biggest world banks where I was stationed in New York and then, Hong Kong. I have a diverse portfolio with high-risk investments that deal from major sectors such as infrastructure, sustainability sciences, technology and medical science. I have three brokers who work with my investments in the Chinese, New York and London markets. I also have a broker that works with the emergent market economies because when they crash, that's when I do the daring swoop to buy, sell / trade. With the advent of digital financing, I jumped into it early in the 2000s. I invest a lot (and play) in cryptocurrencies but mostly focus on blockchain infrastructure which yields most money bags. I deal with two of my properties in two different continents in high-holidaying places as Airbnb properties. I do not rely too much on real estate as fluid / transient assets are much more high-yielding (despite high risk - so you do have to have a good knowledge of financial structures that deal with global patterns before delving into this type of portfolio that I have). In 3 years, I made the HNWI status with these types of aggressive, high-risk investments.

PsyGuy wrote:
> @OF2018
>
> Well then as one might say to the goblin king, when recruiting again having
> forged through dangers untold and hardships unnumbered and having fought
> your way here to the castle beyond the elite tier IS to take back that
> which they have taken from you, remember that; your will is as strong as
> theirs and your kingdom as great... That they have no power over you!

Best movie evvaarrrrrr! Thank you, Psyguy :) I will hold onto my courage, personal integrity, my qualifications/credentials/ experience to help me ride out the tide.

PsyGuy wrote:
> @OF2018
>
> Its not common, you will have two challenges. First; Elite tier ISs and as
> an extension first tier ISs are sort of a family the ay the mob is a
> family. once youre in, your in, and if you leave than whats your angle.
> Second, you will have to explain the coin as your reason, and that assumes
> you get an interview and an opportunity to give that explanation. If you
> left for coin and opportunities are you going to leave again when the next
> IS offers you more coin or opportunity. None of those are insurmountable,
> but they are going to be challenges.

Thanks for your note, Psyguy. The money is not the driving force in any of the future decisions I will make. My previous profession helped me out a lot and I still hold the license for it. It's a matter of me deciding whether I want to pursue the leadership journey in one type of a school or another type of school. Be a leader in high-stakes / high-work / high-stress / but well-renowned schools in Asia...or....be a leader in easy-going / slower-pace / lower-tier that pays relatively well but NOT in Asia?

secondplace wrote:
> In this scenario:
>
> - Has anyone ever said "yes" this early in October, only to find
> out that the school they were waiting for all this time contacted them
> "later" in the game (e.g. January)? If so, what did you do?
>
> What you should do is honour your commitment. There's no question to be
> asked or answered. Flip it the other way - what would you expect the school
> to do?

Yes, so judging from the info, advice and tips of others : Wait patiently for around December - January (peak) unless of course, a school that ticks all the checkboxes in my personal checkbox of "great opportunity" pops up earlier.

shadowjack wrote:
> OF - go for the tier 2. It is 'going backwards' but 'moving forwards' in
> that you are taking on a new role and playing a larger part in the school.
> Success there springboards you for moving back to a tier 1 in a few years
> for more money and at the same, or higher level.
>
> It's a win-win situation for you :-)

Hello Shadowjack: I agree with you. I tend to do this in my career. Go into a "small pond" and contribute what I learned from the big pond. Then go back into the "big pond" with the title and then work my butt off. Then, I go back to the "small pond" and contribute what I learned from the previous "big ponds" and the cycle continues. This would be my 2nd "small pond" if I were to go and pick the Tier 2.

I would try the following websites, if you want to get help but not have to pay high fees of travel and agency:
TIE Online
Teachaway
Teaching Nomad
CRS Education

You have better years in experience than most young teachers trying out IS for the first time with 0 - 2 years of teaching experience (e.g. ELL or "back home"). However, most of those young teachers may not have a trailing spouse and sadly, but truly, the trailing spouse for a new IS teacher will be looked at.

@Psyguy: I am really thankful for your detailed response. I would never break contract or go back on word (unless the situation endangers my life) and that is why I am going on this forum to do my research. I have a great track record with all my admin and schools and so, I really do not want to throw away 10 + - 15 years of IB experience and hard work because of that. The Tier 1 schools in Asia that I worked for are Tier 1 as you, yourself, mentioned them in previous posts ;) I will think quite hard (but quickly) about this offer.

Just a question: What are your thoughts about taking up a position in a Tier 2 school but pays a lot of money and has a lot of great opportunities for change management? I am also being recruited / offered a leadership position for this school where I know I will have more time to "breathe" and yet, get more money than I ever was offered at the last Tier 1 schools I had. How will this look in the eyes of admin that will hire me in the future? To see me in Tier 1 schools for most of the time and then to go to a Tier 2, smaller, somewhat "unknown" (but has potential) school? Have you personally ever done that in your career?

@vandsmith: Thank you for your response. I have been at two Tier 1 schools for the past 10+ years. I want to experience a more "laid back" type of deal without sacrificing the salary too much. That is why I am looking at areas in Europe (not necessarily central but more eastern locations) or other regions in the Middle East (e.g. Oman). I suppose I am interested in the responses of people who have said "yes" to a school that they were 70 % sure about (but not necessarily their first choice), only to find that their top choice contacted them later. I want to know what people did in those situations....

Every IS (no matter whether it is Tier 1 or Tier 3) has some form of "toxicity" in the work place that amps up people's need to vent (i.e. gossip). My advice would be....
- Be friendly, cordial, polite and yet keep a "distance" to your colleagues: Try not to get too close or reveal any personal information about yourself.
- Build a strong social circle of non-teacher friends outside of school. Keep the teacher friend circle separate from non-teacher friend circles at all cost.
- Avoid gossip at all cost. Sometimes, admin can be the gossip mongers themselves and they want to see if you can be part of the "in group" by gossiping about someone and see how you react to it. Always do the polite Mona Lisa smile and excuse yourself from gossiping by simply saying, "Ah, I don't know the person enough" and change the topic as well as you can.
- Avoid showing your own negative emotions or thoughts.
- Humour and "easy going" nature wins
- Playing a smart "political game" without the gossip is an art

I have been in the IT realm for over 10 years and this is my response:

Upsides
- Money, money, money (especially in Asia or Southeast Asia)
- Vacations that you can actually afford
- You learn so much from different educators at different schools
- You actually become a creative/transformative teacher
- IS can be much more "advanced" than national public schools back home
- Dating life can be amazing

Downsides
- Sense of "transience" and loneliness becomes stronger the longer you are in it : Many opportunities to date but you become lonely too because lack of commitment on your part or their part because you are an expat / foreigner
- Your family and friends back home start to grow up / change / become "strangers"
- Bad admin can get away with a lot
- Bad teachers can also get away with a lot
- Haaaarrrddd work (especially in Asia and Southeast Asia - you work like a corporate slave)

I am new to this site, Search Associates and all that jazz. Is October "too early" to say yes to offers? I am a single, mid-30s, no dependents. I am in an entry admin role (coordinator) with 10+ but less than 15 years of international /IB experience (6 in the classroom, 7 in leadership). I have a master's degree in educational leadership. My last two schools have been top Tier 1 in two of the most "sought after" Asian countries. Right now, I am being offered a position in a Tier 1 school in Asia. I was looking to try another region but many would say that saying "no" to this school would be a surprising / shocking decision. I guess my questions are these:
- When is the "peak" hiring time for schools in different areas of the globe?
- When is the "peak" hiring time for the majority of schools? November? Early January?
- Do I have a good chance in Europe?
- Has anyone ever said "yes" this early in October, only to find out that the school they were waiting for all this time contacted them "later" in the game (e.g. January)? If so, what did you do?

Any tips, advice, info would be greatly appreciated :)