| ght be tempting to skip over this article, sure you are | | | | TEFL as you can get a qualification to teach TEFL in |
| indeed the right person for the job, however, there is | | | | 2-4 weeks full time study. Again, with TEFL |
| key information included in this article which will help | | | | qualifications there are distance and part-time options |
| determine your employability, your motivation for | | | | available. |
| beginning this quest and your preferences for what | | | | Easy-going, flexible and adaptable people |
| kind of position you’d like. | | | | Recruiters are looking for people who will cope well |
| Single or married with dependents? | | | | with the move, living in a new culture and fit in |
| Teaching couples are the most sought after | | | | seamlessly to existing staffing situations. |
| commodity in international schools because they are | | | | Here are a few personal qualities that recruiters are |
| the most cost efficient to hire. They are hired together | | | | looking for in candidates: |
| and require only one living allowance. | | | | * Good sense of humour |
| Singles would come next, and are especially attractive | | | | * Easy-going |
| if they are willing to share housing. Also, some schools | | | | * Flexible |
| will only hire single people. Towards the beginning of | | | | * Adaptable |
| the new academic year, when schools are becoming | | | | * A good team player |
| desperate to fill their remaining vacancies, single | | | | * Positive outlook |
| teachers become even more attractive because they | | | | * Can do anything attitude |
| are usually very mobile, in that they have no | | | | * An optimist |
| dependents to make arrangements for. | | | | Recruiters are only going to employ people who they |
| Couples with children would head up the bottom of the | | | | judge to be able to thrive in challenging environments |
| list. One or two children are not an unattractive | | | | and in the midst of culture shock. It’s fine to |
| prospect for most schools, but you might find that you | | | | suffer from culture shock, but you must be able to |
| will not get extra benefits for having more than two | | | | function in your job whilst going through the shock of |
| children. Some people I have worked with that have | | | | moving countries. |
| three children have reported that they have had to | | | | There is a reason that recruiters are looking for these |
| pay tuition fees for their third child. | | | | qualities in applicants. They are needed! It’s |
| Teaching couples | | | | tough enough learning your way around a new city in |
| Teaching couples and teachers with dependent | | | | your own home country, now imagine going through |
| spouses and/ or children should apply early on in the | | | | that learning process in a different country where you |
| process when there is more flexibility. If you are | | | | don’t speak the language and can’t |
| intending to find positions as a teaching couple, you are | | | | read any of the signs. |
| not likely to be very successful to attend job fairs | | | | If this sounds awful to you, rather than an exciting |
| towards the end of the season. | | | | opportunity, then you probably aren’t the right |
| It is often the case that one member of a teaching | | | | person for a position at an international school. There |
| couple will find the perfect job, whilst the other | | | | are lots of opportunities for you to work in a country |
| member may have to make do with an acceptable or | | | | more in line with what you’re used to. I started |
| part time post. | | | | out moving from the NZ education system to living in |
| Single teachers | | | | the UK and working in the UK education system. |
| Single teachers are able to find positions through to the | | | | Check out the resources and links I’ve put on |
| beginning of the new academic year because they | | | | my website about finding a position in NZ or Australia. |
| can fill school’s unfilled or unexpected | | | | This is a better option to maybe work your way up to |
| vacancies easily. | | | | working in a really foreign environment. Don’t |
| Age (at both ends of the scale) | | | | try and be what you aren’t when applying for |
| Age might be an issue in some countries because of | | | | positions with international schools. |
| visa requirements, but usually more mature people are | | | | Your children’s education |
| attractive to international schools because they are | | | | If you have children you will need to consider how they |
| believed to be stable. | | | | will adapt to the new situation. |
| On the other hand, many schools operate a salary | | | | If they are going into Year 11 (Grade 10), it is not |
| scale that makes less experienced (which frequently | | | | advisable for them to enter either the IB MYP or the |
| means younger) teacher financially attractive to | | | | IGCSE system because both of these programs finish |
| schools. | | | | a program at the end of this year. The IGCSE exam is |
| If you are used to being on the top of the pay scale, | | | | the culmination of two years work, and the IB MYP will |
| you might want to ask if the salary step you start on | | | | only offer certificates to students who have |
| is capped. I have heard that some schools require all | | | | completed two years in the program and studied all 8 |
| new teachers to the school to start on the same | | | | subject areas. |
| salary step, regardless of years of experience. | | | | Students are able to sit IGCSE exams without being in |
| Qualifications and experience | | | | school for the full two years, but they will need to |
| Some sources of information on teaching in | | | | complete extra study in order to make up for missing |
| international schools state that you have to have a | | | | the first year of the course. |
| degree in education, a license to teach and two years | | | | Students who do not complete two years in the MYP |
| experience. This is not true at all. You will need some | | | | program will receive a Record of Achievement for |
| kind of qualification OR experience, but there are | | | | their final year. |
| opportunities for almost everyone. | | | | For your older children, the last two years of high |
| If you don’t have two years experience, then | | | | school in a British curriculum school or an IB Diploma |
| you will need to pay close attention to the sections on | | | | school also comprise of a two year course. You will |
| finding a job through job advertisements. You will | | | | need to investigate the possibilities for your particular |
| probably not be invited to attend a job fair, as two | | | | circumstances once you have identified schools you |
| years experience is one of their selection criteria for | | | | would like to apply for. Remember that you can ask |
| candidates. This doesn’t mean you are an | | | | questions as a prospective parent before you even |
| unattractive candidate for schools, just that you | | | | apply for a position. |
| aren’t necessarily going to get a job through a | | | | Understanding your goals |
| job fair. | | | | It is important to understand what you are trying to |
| If you have a Bachelors’ degree and a TEFL | | | | achieve by making this change in your life. This will help |
| qualification you will be able to teach in an ESL position | | | | you to focus your job search on securing the position |
| in most schools. The nature of your Bachelors’ | | | | that will enable you to meet your goals. |
| degree is usually inconsequential; many countries | | | | Consider whether |
| expect this basic level of education to qualify for a | | | | * you are looking for new challenges personally or |
| working visa. My first teaching job was in a private | | | | professionally |
| language school in Taiwan when the only qualifications | | | | * you are looking to make financial gains or take a pay |
| I had were a Bachelors’ degree in business and | | | | cut in order to give something of yourself to |
| a TEFL certificate that the ink was still wet on. | | | | developing communities |
| If you have no teaching qualification at all, and no | | | | * you want to develop new relationships |
| experience in teaching children, you will need to look at | | | | * you are looking to fund your move to another |
| the section titled ‘What employment | | | | country in order to adopt a child |
| opportunities are there for my non-teaching | | | | * you want to fund personal or professional research |
| partner?’, look into getting a TEFL certificate or | | | | * you are curious as to what it would be like to live and |
| one of the many non-government organisations that | | | | work overseas |
| sponsor or offer internships in teaching in different | | | | All of these goals are perfectly valid and you probably |
| countries. | | | | consider that more than one of them applies to you. |
| If you do not qualify for your dream job now, do not | | | | Or your goals may not be on this list. Whatever your |
| give up in defeat. There are many opportunities to | | | | goals, you must be aware of them and keep them in |
| increase your qualifications both by going back to | | | | the back of your mind throughout the process that |
| university full- or part-time, or distance learning online. | | | | follows. |
| Use this book to help you discover what qualifications | | | | You might have more self development goals in mind, |
| you need to get your dream job, and go get them. | | | | and working in an international school is a fantastic |
| Your situation does not need to stay stagnant, there | | | | boost to your self esteem. I know I am an attractive |
| are always options to try. If you absolutely must get | | | | employment prospect, simply because of the many |
| overseas now, then you should seriously consider | | | | experiences I have had and my proven adaptability. |