Search found 2138 matches

by shadowjack
Tue Jan 15, 2013 6:55 am
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: Why so many vacancies post-BKK fair?
Replies: 8
Views: 10379

Not all the "superstar" teachers show up in Bangkok. A colleague at the fair shared the theory that 30% of the hiring was done in Bangkok, 30% in London, 30% in Boston and 10% via other fairs/other avenues.

Sounded about right to me :-)
by shadowjack
Mon Jan 14, 2013 10:45 pm
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: Bangkok Job Fair
Replies: 121
Views: 181822

Andyleblanc,

I would have had them approach admin, sent my documents through them, networked with them regarding upcoming openings which might not even be posted yet.

That way you have an in at the top, your CV gets seen by those who make decisions, and you know what's open before most people...

Just my thoughts.
by shadowjack
Mon Jan 14, 2013 2:45 am
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: Bangkok Job Fair
Replies: 121
Views: 181822

What I Learned from the BKK Fair

So here we are now, three days post-BKK Fair. Now that I have collected myself a bit, caught up on my teaching duties, gotten down to planning next semester, I thought I would reflect a bit more on my experiences and what I might change up about it.

First off, I would definitely stay at the fair hotel again. The convenience of being there and having a room to retire to was wonderful.

Second, there are things I would change pre-fair.

1. When sending CV's to recruiters, I would scrap the cover letter. Instead I would put a simple statement of teaching philosophy followed by a 1 page Highlight Sheet which highlights my relevant experience. I would tailor this for the job applied for (in case of having multiple teaching areas).

2. I would make better use of my network of former colleagues earlier in the year. This time I honestly wanted to see what nibbles I would get just going in cold. I know from seeing others at the fair (and honestly, I did contact one friend later in the fall about one school, but that was it) that personal contacts at schools played a role for many in landing that interview/possible job offer.

3. For schools at the fair, I would hit them with the same 1 page highlights sheet, in color, on nice quality paper.

4. I would also take nice notepaper to attach a personal note to each interview request I put into their folders.

5. Not sure I would do an Ichiro or a CD, but think the highlights sheet serves the same purpose.

AT THE FAIR ITSELF, I WOULD CHANGE THE FOLLOWING:

6. I would be more aggressive about marketing ourselves post-interview. I think we did a good job landing interviews and we interviewed well for all the schools that we met with, but our follow-up wasn't that good. I learned that if you are really interested in a school, you need to let them KNOW that. A simple thank you for the interview, in retrospect, seems to perhaps indicate that you are not set on the school. Using direct statements and asking direct questions would have been better, I think. IE We are so impressed by your school and the interview process. What do we need to do to make this happen (or make this work)? That puts the ball back in their court, especially when you can tell they are interested in you (as we could at most of our interviews).

7. I would not hesitate to contact the interviewers again, either personally or via a phone call to their room. Notes are nice, but if you really want the job, a single phone call can provide the feedback that helps you realize that an offer is going to happen or not going to happen.

This was the situation with the school we ended up at. Had we not made that call, I don't think we would have ended up there.

NOTE - 1 CALL. ONCE. Then move on.

I am sure I am missing some other things I would have done (like tracked schools better via spreadsheets for all the features), but this is the major lessons we learned from our first fair.

Hope it is helpful to everybody else heading to a fair for the first time!
by shadowjack
Mon Jan 14, 2013 2:29 am
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: Bangkok Job Fair
Replies: 121
Views: 181822

Congratulations Mrs. Captain Underpants!

So thrilled that it all worked out for you and the Mr.

Always nice to hear a good end to the story :-)

Good luck next year in South America!
by shadowjack
Mon Jan 14, 2013 2:26 am
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: How goes Bangkok?
Replies: 24
Views: 28833

PsyGuy - better not to lie to anybody, isn't it? Not because the boss/employer is sacred, but because of core values. Simple as that.

Admin and heads have their own agendas, but I still believe honesty is the best policy.

You are entitled to your own opinion; however, I know that personally, even if my dream was to go teach in Japan, or wherever, I would not lie on my Search application - I would use the internet and other sources to locate schools in Japan and apply directly - god, even fly directly to the schools I really wanted.

Again, just stating my opinion. For me.
by shadowjack
Sun Jan 13, 2013 10:41 pm
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: Should I apply? When?
Replies: 21
Views: 22403

Math would definitely be the icing on the (already yummy!) cake :-)
by shadowjack
Sun Jan 13, 2013 10:40 pm
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: Should I apply? When?
Replies: 21
Views: 22403

NYC, Chem and Bio, with experience, would make you a golden candidate. Get certified and then get out there!
by shadowjack
Sun Jan 13, 2013 3:27 pm
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: Future international teacher with many questions regarding..
Replies: 11
Views: 12305

MS Social Studies seems to be morphing more to Humanities.

History in HS is a good one. You will be more marketable if you can (a) find a school that will hire you that teaches the IB program and

(b) having done so, get trained and then teach TOK for a year or two.
by shadowjack
Sun Jan 13, 2013 2:14 am
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: Single with one dependent
Replies: 16
Views: 17948

There is that - if you don't ask you won't find out!
by shadowjack
Sun Jan 13, 2013 2:13 am
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: Future international teacher with many questions regarding..
Replies: 11
Views: 12305

Most science teachers I know do NOT teach math. Science is taught as a discrete subject.

Your best bet would be to target Chemistry and Biology as physics has a high degree of math.

HS Science is more in demand than MS Science as it becomes much more specific at that level.

So, if you are planning on Sciences, get going for your certification (I think you need 30 credits in Science) and check with your advisor about the best way to do it.

As for teaching Social Studies/History - rarely have I seen single teacher hires for this - it is usually part of a teaching couple. However, that doesn't mean there aren't jobs, just that schools sometimes use those spots to place a spouse of another teacher.
by shadowjack
Sun Jan 13, 2013 2:08 am
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: UWCSEA Singapore
Replies: 18
Views: 55606

Take it. Many teachers go there and stay for years. You will grow professionally and personally. There is a ton of service learning in different places. I have had students go there from schools I was teaching at and they grew so much more than they would have if they had stayed at the school I had been at.

Take the chance and do it - amazing school in an amazing city!
by shadowjack
Sun Jan 13, 2013 2:06 am
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: Walk away from London fair?
Replies: 12
Views: 13618

Redvaldo,

do the fair. You will learn so much.

As for ADEC, you will be teaching Emirati students. Nothing international about it. You will go in and be a bit amazed at what really does and doesn't happen in those schools. More burden will be put on you as an IT hire than on the local teachers in the students' other classes.

If you want a true international experience, get thee to London!

BTW, 4000 bucks a month isn't that amazing on the circuit, and if they are providing housing, you might not like where they put you (remember, they will be working with schools all over Abu Dhabi, not necessarily just in the capital itself...)
by shadowjack
Sun Jan 13, 2013 1:59 am
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: Bangkok Job Fair
Replies: 121
Views: 181822

But the way to get the offers is to get the interviews.

Unless you are stellar and have offers prior to the fair (in that case, why are you there?), you have to interview to get the offer.

Therefore, you have to get the interviews first.

The objective is to get them as a vehicle for marketing yourself to schools you would go to (never interview with a school you have no interest in going to, in my opinon).

And while the objective is to land the contract, no interviews = no contract upon leaving the fair (barring the odd elevator contract, of course!)