| You may be holding back form seriously seeking an | | | | yourself when signing an employment contract for a |
| overseas teaching contract because you are afraid of | | | | teaching job abroad. |
| getting trapped abroad. This rarely happens. When | | | | * Make sure that you receive a contract which states |
| teaching abroad you will be expected to sign an | | | | in writing all the employment conditions and benefits |
| employment contract covering 1-2 years and in return | | | | you and the recruiter agreed upon during the interview. |
| you will receive a plethora of benefits and the unique | | | | Do not accept a verbal assurance because there is |
| experiences the come with working abroad. But this | | | | no come-back if the recruiter does not deliver. If the |
| does not mean you are powerless to end the contract | | | | contract you receive misses out some part of the |
| early if some unexpected catastrophe should occur. | | | | conditions and benefits you thought you had agreed |
| Breaking your contract (leaving the school before the | | | | upon, send it back to have them added. |
| contractual period runs out) should only be done as a | | | | * Make sure that you have a copy of your overseas |
| last resort because it can seriously hinder your efforts | | | | teaching contract that it is signed by both yourself and |
| to land another teaching job abroad. The community of | | | | the school’s representative. |
| international teachers is a very small one and word will | | | | * Keep a copy of your contract handy so that you |
| spread if you break your contract without a good | | | | can refer to the conditions written down whenever |
| reason. | | | | you have a question about your rights. |
| Most international school directors are reasonable | | | | * Talk to people at the international teaching job fair (if |
| people who are experienced international teachers and | | | | you are attending one), to establish the school’s |
| recognise that there are occasionally circumstances | | | | reputation as an employer. While you are checking out |
| that force you to break contract. | | | | the school’s reputation, check out the administration |
| Such circumstances may include: | | | | staff’s reputation too. Sometimes a great school |
| * A critical change in the political situation in the host | | | | can be destroyed by a bad administrator. |
| country which changes the level of safety for foreign | | | | * Find out about employment laws in the school’s |
| workers. | | | | host country and how they affect your employment |
| * The health status of a close relative at home or one | | | | contract. When you sign an overseas teaching |
| of your dependents changes and you need to go | | | | contract you are not signing away your rights for the |
| home. | | | | duration of the contract and it is important to |
| In these circumstances your best course of action is | | | | remember this. You do not become an indentured |
| to approach the school’s director and discuss your | | | | servant. Most countries have employment laws |
| options. By approaching the director and negotiating a | | | | covering how many days notice you must give your |
| timeline for your departure you will preserve your | | | | employer in order to leave legally. |
| reputation as a good employee and receive a good | | | | The important thing to always remember when you |
| reference. Most likely you will be expected to work out | | | | are seeking employment abroad is to get everything in |
| a period of notice in line with the country’s | | | | writing and believe that the people you are working for |
| employment laws and you are likely to lose your | | | | are reasonable people. If you have doubts, then do not |
| bonus and repatriation benefits. | | | | sign a contract with them! |
| Here’s how to make the right choices to protect | | | | |