You're welcome - best of luck in finding a great job!!

There's a posting about the school on the TES forum - under the heading 'What's the crack in Taipei?' Do a search.
Not having worked at this school, I can't say - but I have worked in Taipei and heard some inklings that staff are worked REALLY hard with little thanks. Plus they get OFSTED inspections every two years which adds to the stress (British government inspections).
Think there's been a few problems, especially in the lack of care about staff morale which is not good - unhappy staff has resulted in many excellent staff leaving this year, but think the overall package is good and there are a number of staff who've been there a long time, so it can't all be too bad. The American school is the one whose package is much better.
American school got a 15/16% pay rise for next year - think the European school got a 2/3% pay rise.
But again, this is only hearsay.

Fear? Fear of the unknown? Not having a job? Money? Where will they live? Perhaps they are supporting a family and it's not just themselves they have to worry about?
I'm sure there's numerous reasons. Using a forum like this might also be a way of safely 'venting their spleen' - a bit like therapy!!
I stayed at a not so good school for six years in the Middle East - to be honest, it's reputation seems to be worse than it actually was. It wasn't THAT bad!
The reason I stayed was because I LOVED the country, and my colleagues were the BEST colleagues I have ever worked with - we all really lived, worked and socialised amazingly well together - perhaps it's because in the face of adversity, staff stick together!
I still miss the place - not the school per say, but the lifestyle, my friends and the kids I taught were great. It was the admin/owners that were the problem!!

Shanghai American School - fantastic overall package, great saving potential, bonuses, wellness money each year, fantastic housing, 75% of Masters degree paid for.

Ha ha! I guess the general concensus is get a babysitter!
I think that's our plan!

Thanks, Educator, for the tips about the mobile phone - great idea! Would be a great help with babysitter too!
And, yes, my kids are lovely and mostly well-behaved (except for when they're not!!!) So will just have to see how confident we are about taking them in with us for interview!!! You're right though - there might be potential recruiters who would be happy to see the 'full package' - perhaps a bit of a gamble whether it works for or against us!!
Anyone ever had experience of taking kids in with them to the actual interview?!!
Thanks again, everyone for your responses - you are all so helpful.
Happy holidays!

Thanks so much for your responses - it's heartening to hear other teachers take their kids along to the fairs.
Think we'll just have to hire the hotel babysitters for blocks of time in advance and hope that they can be flexible!
Getting very anxious and excited about the fair!
Thanks again,
Mary

Thanks very much for replying!
Since I posted the original question, we've been sent heaps of info on what to bring etc to the fair, so yes, you're right, my Search Associate has helped us out!
I asked the questions about babysitting as I was hoping that people with some previous experience of taking their children with them would have some extra tips/advice on what worked for them, but maybe we're in the minority - maybe no one takes their kids with them, or perhaops they take helpers along with them?! (if only that was an option!)
Best of luck to everyone on the job hunt!
Mary

Hi there,
This is my husband and my first time going to a fair and we're getting nervous and excited at the same time! If anyone has any great tips for how it all actually works etc, we would really appreciate it.

We're staying at the Westin (doesn't that hotel break the bank?!!) for the first two nights and then a hotel 2 mins walk away for the last.

Also, we have to bring our two infants along - has anyone ever had an experience of attending one of these fairs with children in tow? We are going to organise, in advance, the hotel baby sitters for the candidate meeting and sign up session as well as for the reception. Do you think it'd be wise to book blocks of time for babysitting on the interview days and try to organise our interviews around that, or should we wait and book the babysitting around the interview times? I guess what I need to know is whether teachers are non-stop interviewing back to back at this fair or is it much more leisurely paced?
I would assume my husband and I will be interviewed together so it wouldn't be a case of one of us being able to look after our little ones whilst the other is being interviewed?

Should we bring extra copies of CVs etc even though Search will have given all recruiters copies of them?

Sorry for all the questions - I really would appreciate your responses though.
Thanks so much in advance
Mary
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