Accepting a Job at any school just to get your foot in the door.
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newtothisgame
- Posts: 2
- Joined: Tue May 06, 2025 8:39 am
Accepting a Job at any school just to get your foot in the door.
I had visions of teaching in Thailand. I'd visited the country on three occasions and wanted to live there. At least for a few years. At the recruiting conference I wasn't offered a job in Thailand. There were few positions available in my subject area. But wanting to at least get my foot in the door I settled for a job offer in a country I never would have considered. In retrospect, I made an excellent decision. I really do love it in Romania and look forward to returning after the Summer break. Had I limited myself to only accepting a position in the one country of my choice I would have missed out on a wonderful experience. So, if you're new to international teaching I'm suggesting going into recruiting with an open mind, considering all options. That's my two cents. Anyone else have a similar experience?
Response
Sure, lots of those experiences, but there are just as many if not more that didnt and dont work out so well.
First, You essentially got lucky. Trusting to hope isnt the best strategy in planning ones well being. It could have just as easily gone the other way. Then youd be stuck in a meh (if not worse) IS in a location youre not enthusiastic about. At least when youre somewhere you want to be even if the job is bad, you have that life you want when the job is done.
Second, you dont know if LOS wouldnt have been better if not equally as fulfilling. Youre happy with the experience you had, but its difficult to test alternative hypothesis in these cases.
Third, you let recruiting event (fair) dynamics do their trick on you. Theres FAR too much framing that goes on at fairs that warps ITs perspectives that this is the big show, this is what you put all the time, coin and resources into it, and continuing the job search afterwards is the consolation prize for losers. Youre invested so much into the trip that you fool yourself into thinking that something is winning, and if you leave with something its a success (it is for your associate). You settled for an offer you wouldnt have accepted because you didnt want to leave the fair empty handed which in your mind would have meant you "lost" making you a loser. Recruiting events arent competitions though, despite how much work goes into them to make you think they are. They want you to think your "value"as an IT and as a professional is vested in how well you do at the recruiting event, by how many offers you get and which offer you accept. BUT there are no trophies, no medals, no awards, its just offers and YOUR goals alone, not anyone elses, is what matters. Fairs are just one part of the timeline in that goal. They arent the culmination, summation, or assessment of your job search, there just another activity thats part of the process.
My standard response is the opposite of yours (really the antithesis), lifes too short and two years is too long in a subpar posting to be somewhere you dont want to be. In the case of LOS, if an IT doesnt get an offer there, just go to BKK, find a job teaching ESOL, and keep hitting up ISs that are off circuit until you get the job you want AND where you want to be. Maybe in the few years you want to be there it wont happen but at least you lived that portion of your life where you wanted. Maybe youll make a career out of it, in which case plenty of time to find that dream IS offer AND live the life you wanted.
Your position is that of desperate leadership in hardship regions no one wants to be in, who need to staff their ISs with ITs. Theyre the recruiters/ leadership standing by themselves at their table watching the people walk by and the long snaking line of candidates make their way through the ISs that ITs want to be at. They to are basing their success plan on little more than hope (and a good sales pitch).
First, You essentially got lucky. Trusting to hope isnt the best strategy in planning ones well being. It could have just as easily gone the other way. Then youd be stuck in a meh (if not worse) IS in a location youre not enthusiastic about. At least when youre somewhere you want to be even if the job is bad, you have that life you want when the job is done.
Second, you dont know if LOS wouldnt have been better if not equally as fulfilling. Youre happy with the experience you had, but its difficult to test alternative hypothesis in these cases.
Third, you let recruiting event (fair) dynamics do their trick on you. Theres FAR too much framing that goes on at fairs that warps ITs perspectives that this is the big show, this is what you put all the time, coin and resources into it, and continuing the job search afterwards is the consolation prize for losers. Youre invested so much into the trip that you fool yourself into thinking that something is winning, and if you leave with something its a success (it is for your associate). You settled for an offer you wouldnt have accepted because you didnt want to leave the fair empty handed which in your mind would have meant you "lost" making you a loser. Recruiting events arent competitions though, despite how much work goes into them to make you think they are. They want you to think your "value"as an IT and as a professional is vested in how well you do at the recruiting event, by how many offers you get and which offer you accept. BUT there are no trophies, no medals, no awards, its just offers and YOUR goals alone, not anyone elses, is what matters. Fairs are just one part of the timeline in that goal. They arent the culmination, summation, or assessment of your job search, there just another activity thats part of the process.
My standard response is the opposite of yours (really the antithesis), lifes too short and two years is too long in a subpar posting to be somewhere you dont want to be. In the case of LOS, if an IT doesnt get an offer there, just go to BKK, find a job teaching ESOL, and keep hitting up ISs that are off circuit until you get the job you want AND where you want to be. Maybe in the few years you want to be there it wont happen but at least you lived that portion of your life where you wanted. Maybe youll make a career out of it, in which case plenty of time to find that dream IS offer AND live the life you wanted.
Your position is that of desperate leadership in hardship regions no one wants to be in, who need to staff their ISs with ITs. Theyre the recruiters/ leadership standing by themselves at their table watching the people walk by and the long snaking line of candidates make their way through the ISs that ITs want to be at. They to are basing their success plan on little more than hope (and a good sales pitch).
Re: Accepting a Job at any school just to get your foot in the door.
Working overseas is great. However there is a downside. You lose State funded retirement and social security. The cost grows every year. You cannot make that up in your 60's when you really need the money. Interesting how people don't think about that.
Re: Accepting a Job at any school just to get your foot in the door.
Yeah it is a good idea. The first international school I worked at was terrible. 70% turnover of staff both local and international while I was there. Most arrogant and out of touch management I've ever met. I will admit though that it got my foot in and now I am working at the best international school in the country. Gotta put the work in.
Re: Accepting a Job at any school just to get your foot in the door.
Every school has its features in every country. There are good schools and slowly improving schools and even "Dead culture schools". Accepting a job because the school is in the country you would like to visit is not the best strategy. I agree with the comment that "Life is too short to waste a few years working at a school you would not like". Of course, the country is essential and influences the school's culture and atmosphere, but there are particular features you should pay attention to, and the key one is its leadership. We should not expect that leaders would be supportive and polite.
In most cases, leaders are toxic and make teachers' lives hell. There are other factors to pay attention. The most important thing is how to recognise them from home, rather than visiting the school when deciding whether to accept a job. One of them is reading school reviews.
In most cases, leaders are toxic and make teachers' lives hell. There are other factors to pay attention. The most important thing is how to recognise them from home, rather than visiting the school when deciding whether to accept a job. One of them is reading school reviews.