Search found 348 matches

by vandsmith
Tue Nov 19, 2019 11:52 am
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: applying to schools via search or website or other?
Replies: 5
Views: 6349

applying to schools via search or website or other?

hi everyone,

so, search has this newish thing where you can contact the school (to show interest) or use apli (an app that links to your search account); in addition, some schools say within the posting on search to go to their website and apply there. Still others might say on their website to send an email with an application package of the usual stuff.

my question is:

- if i have sent a contact letter through search, or sent an email package with the stuff, should i use the new apli app to apply for the job as well? will it hurt/help? i don't want to overkill it, as it is a school that i would love to work at.

any advice is welcome.

v.
by vandsmith
Thu Nov 07, 2019 1:32 pm
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: Search Associates Agreement
Replies: 12
Views: 13718

Re: Search Associates Agreement

If you are based in, or maybe even seem to be based in, the uk, it is free for you to join search.
The others have it correct.

Good luck!

v.
by vandsmith
Wed Oct 30, 2019 5:19 am
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: practicalities of Search from recruiters POV
Replies: 8
Views: 11908

Re: Discussion

PsyGuy wrote:
> Disagree with @vandsmith, the bio/personal educational philosophy is not th
> most important document. Thats something recruiters and leadership like to
> say because it sounds more 'woke' and more learned on recruiting factors
> and priorities. You do not go to recruiting events (fairs) and wait in line
> with your bio/personal educational philosophy statement, you wait in line
> with your resume and CV

meh, i didn't say that - it was simply what leadership said to me (3 different schools, including my own) at a recent conference.
take it however you like.

v.
by vandsmith
Sat Oct 19, 2019 3:42 am
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: practicalities of Search from recruiters POV
Replies: 8
Views: 11908

Re: practicalities of Search from recruiters POV

i have talked to 4 or 5 recruiters (principals/admin) and they all said the bio/personal educational philosophy was the most important thing.
next was the confidential references, which they all said they take as a whole - meaning that one review didn't necessarily spoil a candidate but multiple reviews with similar language could.
then the CV and qualifications - it's assumed that all have a baseline of qualification; he they said they were looking for anything that would stand out as an added value to their school.

so, i only talked to these ones - small sample - but they all said the same things, more or less. one principal said she was looking for some evidence of research on the school in the written area.

it surprised me somewhat about the bio statement being so important.

good luck!

v.
by vandsmith
Tue Oct 01, 2019 5:42 am
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: Reapplying at a school I previously turned down
Replies: 12
Views: 18617

Re: Reapplying at a school I previously turned down

be honest. 'at that particular point in my life, i knew i wasn't ready to truly live the values and vision your school advocates for'. if it comes up. otherwise, don't mention it.

good luck.

v.
by vandsmith
Wed Sep 25, 2019 11:35 pm
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: changing schools, same city
Replies: 5
Views: 8812

Re: changing schools, same city

a school i worked at in ukraine had a clause in the contract where you couldn't seek another job in the country for a time period (i can't remember if it was 6 months or a year). anyways, it was unenforceable and petty but maybe there was some sort of 'agreement' although i can't see any school having had an 'agreement' with my old school.

good luck!

v.
by vandsmith
Sat Aug 31, 2019 12:25 am
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: Viability of parochial school teaching experience
Replies: 11
Views: 15504

Re: Viability of parochial school teaching experience

well, to me, if you're of a religious bent and have experience with that kind of stuff, there are many religious schools abroad that base themselves on such stuff. i don't know if agencies look down on it as they only really care about placing candidate$. you would still need a valid teaching credential but, unless you are big into that kind of stuff, not sure why parochial schooling education would be a (first?) choice.

good luck.

v.
by vandsmith
Sun Jul 28, 2019 9:23 am
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: Savings in Europe
Replies: 61
Views: 58803

Re: Reply

> Interesting they set the price of rent for a 3LDK in the city center
> between 1300€ and €2100 of which €1900 falls within that range.
> Youre the only one debating it, because its €1900, thats the data.
>
> @vandsmith
>
> Because its still €1900

maybe there are requirements that i'm missing? because there are many apartments that are well below 1900 euros, including ones with 3 bedrooms and 4 bedrooms. i just took a quick look at one site, but there must be more: www.pararius.com

v.
by vandsmith
Sun Jul 28, 2019 4:26 am
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: Savings in Europe
Replies: 61
Views: 58803

Re: Reply

Heliotrope wrote:
> PsyGuy wrote:
> > If you go to the end of that paragraph it states the cost of living
> > difference directly "Consumer Prices in The Hague (Den Haag) are
> > 41.36% lower than in Zurich".
>
> That's what I said ("So cost of living in The Hague however is only around 59%
> of what it is in Zürich")
>
>
> Then at the bottom of the page it states
> > "Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax) 6,107.82 Fr.(5,529.31
> > €) 2,533.80 Fr.(2,293.81 €) -58.52 %"
>
> Note the word 'average'. Shocker: the average expat salary is higher than the average
> IT salary (even though lots of ITs don't seem to accept that and still try to live
> the same lifestyle as other expats), but ITs salaries aren't always a fixed
> percentage of the average expat salary. I've lived in cities where ITs made about the
> same as the average expat in the same city, and I've lived in cities where the
> average expat made about double.
> When it comes to consumer prices, the ITs expenses are more easily compared between
> cities, as prices at supermarkets, bars, etc. will be the same for both groups
> (average expats & ITs).
>
>
> Interesting to note btw, is that Numbeo sets the average rent per month for a 3
> bedroom apartment in The Hague, outside of centre (so where the ISs are) at € 1243
> (and starting as low as € 800). Even in the centre they are a lot cheaper than €
> 1900.

i mean, a quick google search proves the fact that you can get a flat for less than 1900 euros. i didn't realize y'all were still debating that one! lol.

v.
by vandsmith
Sat Jul 27, 2019 3:07 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: 48506

Re: When do schools begin hiring?

indogal wrote:
> I was under the impression that GRC could be considered somewhat exclusive
> because you have to have taught at one of the member schools to sign up.
> And most of the member schools are what would be considered top tier.
>
> Does anyone how difficult is it for a school to get added to GRC?

i don't think you have to be a member of those schools anymore to attend.
and the fair itself was a bit of an unknown when it started but is now a decent place to secure an early position.
their list of schools is fairly impressive, and the model is equally so - at least in my opinion.
if you're already in the gulf or near there, it is certainly worth it.

v.
by vandsmith
Fri Jul 05, 2019 3:38 am
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: Marketability and dogs
Replies: 47
Views: 59778

Re: Marketability and dogs

Sgphilli85 wrote:
> I have some typical and one atypical question/s.
>
> The typical is this: I’m a Board Certified HS Math Teacher with 6 years
> teaching experience in the States. I have a Masters in Teaching with
> endorsements in Math and ELL. I’m interested in teaching at an
> International School and have no experience thus far with teaching
> internationally but have done some traveling that I can point to. I’ve
> heard that for your first international school job you can’t count on
> getting a job in a “good location” or at a “good school.” I’m not sure what
> this means exactly as locations that are good/interesting for me might not
> be the same as they are for someone else. I’m most interested in South
> America and Southeast Asia (ex: Columbia, Peru, Thailand, Vietnam with a
> few other scattered countries that interest me like Spain and maybe South
> Africa). Can someone explain the types of job I should expect to be able to
> land and help me understand the distinction between opportunities I might
> expect to be open or not open to me based on my experience? Also, I like
> the idea of an international school best, but are there other options I
> should/could consider for finding a job internationally teaching math?
>
> Atypical: I have a bit of a family in tow. I would have a trailing spouse
> and baby (maybe school age by the time I am looking to work, maybe not).
> Moreso, we have a German Shepherd. If it were only up to me I would leave
> the dog behind but my wife doesn’t have the heart to. She says the dog
> comes or we don’t do it which I can understand given how important the dog
> is to us and with this breed you only get to enjoy like 10 years anyways .i
> don’t know if international schools give a stipend for family and you can
> shop around or if they have specific apartments they put you up in. Which
> is more common? Or are both? The former I imagine would allow me to locate
> a spot where we could have a dog, vs the latter I imagine we would be
> subject to rules which exclude the possibility. Also, how would you modify
> your answers above about my marketability based on these circumstances? I
> know we need to find a location that would allow our family To live off a
> single income so while I would love to teach in Western Europe, I’m
> assuming it would be too expensive in most countries (except possibly
> Spain?)
>
> Very much appreciate any advice and insights!
>
> Stephen

to answer your questions:

1. countries are different, and yes, you can make a place as interesting as you are willing. some areas have good savings potential, some places are very safe and the quality of life is great, some places have schools with perhaps a conflicting philosophy (i.e. the fit). so, for me, taking these 3 things into consideration, look at the countries and schools in the areas you listed. hopefully you can sort them out based on your preferences. you shouldn't have a problem getting offers based on your credentials, but you may face some difficulty based on...

2. the family. from dog to baby and trailing spouse, some will say good schools go for who they want regardless of costs, some say it's a definite 'no' for a school. the reality is likely a bit of both. it will be a factor but how much? maybe those who have done some recruiting can answer better. the dog - as our family sees it - is just part of the family and we are responsible for it. it's your family's decision in the end. it's possible to go places with pets, it's harder or easier depending on the country you're interested in. Some are impossible, some are very easy. as for the housing, it is up to the school. in most cases you can relocate or find a place on your own before school starts. many request you stay in school provided apartments for the first year only. it just depends.

good luck!

v.
by vandsmith
Thu May 30, 2019 4:21 pm
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: Colleagues with Big Egos - Say Something or Not?
Replies: 16
Views: 18749

Re: Colleagues with Big Egos - Say Something or Not?

zenteach wrote:
> Have you ever experienced working with someone in international schools
> with a huge ego?
>
> Signs of this include repeated mention of how great they are, what they use
> to do at their last school that was so amazing, how everything is terrible
> unless they are involved in it, so on and so forth. Additionally these
> types tend to put others down in order to feel better about themselves.
>
> Do you eventually point it out to them when they time and time again raise
> themselves above others, or do you just let them live in their la-la land?
> Are some things just better left unsaid? Or is it worth mentioning so that
> you do not have to listen to it anymore?

sure. constructive criticism and all that. the "one-ups-manship" was particularly annoying.

v.
by vandsmith
Sat Mar 23, 2019 9:29 am
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: Search or Not?
Replies: 14
Views: 13126

Re: Search or Not?

sid wrote:
> I think you can add a reference without renewing. Anyone know for sure?

i just emailed my rep and asked if i could. they need to put it in a different status for you to be able to add references, i think. but it's definitely possible.

v.
by vandsmith
Sat Mar 09, 2019 5:14 pm
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: Male applicant for Primary job at an advantage, or not?
Replies: 60
Views: 54806

Re: Male applicant for Primary job at an advantage, or not?

As a male elementary teacher, my experience is nearly the same as falloutmike. In Asia and the ME parents were sometimes afraid to have me teaching their 6 year old. One parent even had the admin switch out their daughter out of my class! Ya, I did take it personally.
But those kind of experiences are just the exceptions - overwhelmingly, parents are happy to have someone like me, the kids love it as up to that point (I teach grade 3 now) they haven’t had a male teacher. Admin in my experience have actively searched for males for elementary and primary, and not just upper elementary.

All else being equal, it has been my experience - both in IE and DE (Canada) - that being a male in elementary is an advantage.

V.