I have a friend who just did this recently for the Bangkok fair. He received his first choice job a couple weeks before the fair and still went. It happens more often than you think for those lucky enough to secure jobs before the fairs.

Great advice and congratulations on the job!

"Thee is no demand for Art or Music and there is no such thing as an art or music specialist. It is very very difficult to be hired as a CONUS psychologist (you need to be dual credentialed as a counselor and psychologist) to be marketable CONUS in DoDDs. There is a long list of DTs in DoDDS that are waiting for library/media specialist vacancies."

You need to be dual credentialed School Psychologist and School Counselor to get a School Psych job at DODDS? Wow, that's pretty amazing! Can't be many people who have both.

Thanks for the feedback. I think I'll just stick with ISS since they already have all my stuff.

Any updated opinions concerning ISS versus Search? I've always used ISS and landed great jobs. What are the advantages of moving to Search? I've heard on numerous occasions that some personal reps. at Search are terrible and offer no help, while others help a lot. Thoughts?

"I would choose JP as the easy winner, SG a distant second and SK isnt even a contender."

I would agree with Psyguy in his ratings here having been to all three places (and worked in a couple).

I've becoming more intrigued by a possible DODDS posting due to the fact that most salaries at private international schools have not kept up in recent years. However, I've heard the application process is a nightmare for people that have worked at numerous international schools. Can anyone shed some light on this? Also, are specialists like Art teachers, Music teachers, School Psychologists, Media Specialists in demand?

My experience is the same as Shadowjack's. None of the 5 schools I've worked for offered any type of "marriage benefit" where you get time off or gifts from the board. My colleagues who have married usually scheduled it for a break or perhaps could cash in some personal days. There might have been one who was forced to take days off (w/o pay). The only gifts they would received, as far as I know, was from the division's social committee (after collecting volunteer contributions from staff). Would love to know which schools offer this benefit.

Here's an update on the JIS situation: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Eh-vtNAwaaY

Thanks for all of your thoughtful replies so far. Perhaps I have over-estimated the effect a non-teaching spouse can have on job opportunities.

Good Morning Everyone,

I am an experienced IS educator working in a specialist position that (luckily) always seems to have more openings than qualified candidates. I've worked at several Tier 1 schools and now am looking to my next posting for next recruiting season and how to plan accordingly to get the best position possible. I am single and have always secured good jobs easily; however, This time around I have a long-term (local) boyfriend with whom I plan to marry in the next few years. This is the issue I am pondering- Should I:

1. Recruit next year as a single (where I'm pretty sure I can secure a top job as usual) and then get married after I start my new job? I would then have my partner join me at my new location/school 6-12 months after I start.

or

2. Just "bite the bullet", get married, and then go recruiting as an educator with a trailing spouse? I feel that this 2nd option would eliminate some really good jobs and as a result, am very hesitant to do this.

Has anyone been in a similar predicament? I love my international school career and want to continue as long as possible, but in quality schools. The plan is that my partner would get certified to teach after we get married (thus, turning us into a teaching couple), but that is at least 4-5 years away and I am certain I want to leave my current school after next school year.

I would appreciate any feedback.

Congratulations! :-)