Yes. 3 times now. Second place twice.

I was contacted by a small European school for an admin position about a two months ago. They requested an interview. I met with the HOS via Skype and it was a great interview. His parting words..."I think you will be a great fit here, you will be hearing from us again." Then a follow up e-mail encouraging me to contact him with any questions I had. I thanked him for the interview, and asked about salary range, which he sent me. Then nothing. Weeks went by with no word and the position still advertised.

I e-mailed him at Christmas break with a proposal that would make me a good candidate for his school. No response. Friday morning I got an e-mail from him with a short greeting and one sentence... "what days and times would be good for a second interview?" I responded with some suggestions. Nothing back from him. Other than thoughts about organization ... what thoughts occur? (PsyGuy - not interested in your point of view. Thanks for understanding)

I work in N. Africa in a similar setting as what you have described in School 1, though not Egypt.
Choose the second school.

Well that's the problem. A few plum international schools are now using them for admin. searches. They definitely seem unresponsive and a bit "snooty".

Well, I am seeking admin positions. Today I received an e-mail from one of their associates wanting to clear things up. Perhaps it was a glitch....but casting my net far and wide and they seemed at first blush to be fairly adept and reasonable.

I signed up with this Ed. Search group out of Boston. Very bizarre interactions with them...after trying to get some answers via their on line chat help and being told my portfolio was somehow in no man's land...I recieved an email a few min. later telling me I was not accepted, in spite of having recieved two prior requests to apply for searches they were leading.? Anyone else know anything about this group? I certainly don't recommend them, but curious if my experiences were unique.

It seems to me, indeed have heard second hand, that there is a glut in admin. candidates this year...... any confirmation of that? Been casting about to move from assistant admin. up, but everything seems closed up tight. Anyone?

I would suggest that you look for a possible position as an elementary counselor (teaching) at a PYP school. Psy Guy is the man behind the curtains working the rigging usually, but he is correct that you most likely do not have enough college counseling experience to come into a top tier school as a HS counselor. You might however get lucky and find exactly what you are looking for by trying to break into the IT world in a smaller school that is lesser known, and may or may not be in a hardship post. This was my route into the IT circuit with no international experience. I did however have extensive experience as a school counselor k-12 and as a manager of an agency. Start with signing up on TIE or Joy Jobs and follow up with a really good individually tailored packet to schools with positions. Best of luck!

@Kevin - Yes I encountered some very frustrating issues with banking here. I bank however at a very small credit union in the US... so wiring money is not easy. I don't do it anymore as I found an alternate route. However, many of my coworkers who bank at larger well known banks have smooth sailing. I had the same problems in Turkey. Morocco is not a third world country, but it is still a developing nation. Banking is not their strong suit. I still enjoy life here.

Wow, a couple of interesting responses. Read the reviews on the various schools in Rabat, Tangier, Marrakesh and Casablanca.

Not all of these schools are "toxic dumps". Yes the country is chaotic and difficult to navigate. Yes the schools pay less than most international schools. Yes there are clunker schools... however.....

It is a magnificent country with beautiful beaches and a simple lifestyle. It doesn't take a lot of income to more than get by here, and there are some good schools with some excellent teaching staff. PsyGuy who likes to take wine with his lunch so he can get through the rest of his day seems to be a know it all about the country, but do your own research and go a little deeper than second hand assumptions (which most of his are)

I live and work in Morocco.

I agree with every poster here who has stated that ISS was a selfish, money making entity that invests little care and attention in their applicant clients. They have recently attempted "on-line" fairs because I think they can see the beginning of the end to the meat market in person fairs. If you read many of the fair diaries (even Search) you will see that the hiring fairs are for many, just a chance for admin. to go on a junket that gets them away from the schools for a while. But I digress...

ISS has a poor customer service rating, and other than their database, are fairly useless in terms of assistance when you most need it. I would stay away from them. If you must.... go for Search, and if you are good, really good... Don't bother with the fairs....send your info to the schools and market yourself well.

PsyGuy - I asked for helpful kind answers. Yours was neither. Just sayin your communication skills could use some polish. You are rather a bore as well.

You know psy guy.... for the longest time I couldn't figure out why others on this site disliked you so much. For someone with "PSY" at the beginning of your screen name, you sure aren't too savvy on interpersonal communication.

Thanks. I did go back and re-read the Blog on this issue and others seem to concur with your statement Upper end ages seem to be accepted de facto in administration. I appreciate your response.

I am curious about how those in hiring positions look at age status. I am 58, former counselor in an IB school, moved to administration in another post where I am currently working. I feel I would like to work about 5 to 7 more years, but next fall if I decide to go casting about for another admin. position in yet another school... will I be looked at as too old? Honest but kind answers please. (I am aware that some countries... have age limits) Input appreciated thanks.