Teaching Overseas - Should You Register At An International Teaching Job Fair?

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When you consider that there may be 100 schoolsposition in your first recruitment season. Search offers
represented and 400 pre-screened candidates, youra number of job fairs and your registration fee covers
chances of securing a teaching position at anyour attendance at one fair per registration period (of
international school is high. Additionally, many of the topup to 3 years). You can attend more than one for an
schools will only consider interviewing candidates whoadditional fee of $US 50 per fair. Should you find your
are pre-screened by a recruiting agency.new position through Search Associates, there is an
Whether or not you decide to register with a job fairadditional placement fee of $US 300.
might depend on your ability to get to where one isOn application Search will assign you an
being held. Job fairs are held at locations worldwide,‘associate’ to give you personal service.
with a particular concentration in North America andOnce you are registered, your resume will be posted
the United Kingdom. Some of the organisations hostingonline for recruiters to peruse. It is vital that you go log
the job fairs do not charge participants to attend, theyin to the site and update your resume at least every
make their money from charging the recruiters.30 days or your resume might be pulled off the site.
There are several organisations that hold job fairs forTeachers in Australia and New Zealand can attend
international teachers. International School Servicesone of the Information Seminars offered by Search.
(ISS), Search Associates and the Council ofThese seminars are held throughout Australia and
International Schools (COIS) are three of them thatNew Zealand in order to provide information for people
hold job fairs around the world. These organisationsinterested in teaching overseas, and to pre-screen
pre-screen the candidates and invite those candidatespotential candidates prior to the Search job fair in
that meet the criteria published on their websites toSydney. Check their website for details.
attend their job fairs. You can go to their websites andSearch offer two specialised placement services
check if you meet their criteria.aimed at teachers with experience in either the IB
Both ECIS and Search Associates are verysystem or the British National Curriculum, see their
professional and experienced in their approach towebsite for more details.
organising job fairs, and it shows at their events.The dates and venues of the Search Associates Job
Recruiters rely on these organisers to cut out theFairs for 2007 are on the Search Associates website
unqualified or undesirable candidates. They turn awayand their first job fair is being held in Australia in
many candidates each year, so you should feel proudJanuary.
if you are invited to attend one of these fairs;ISS
it’s the first step to getting a contract at the fair.ISS charge candidates $US175 to establish a
COISprofessional file with them. If your application is not
COIS do not charge candidates to attend their jobaccepted by them, they will refund $US125, and they
fairs. The recruiters do pay a fee to attend.do not charge a placement fee if you accept a
COIS job fairs are held from February through to Juneposition at one of the job fairs they host.
in the UK and in North America. The requirements forISS job fairs are held in January, February, and March.
becoming registered with COIS are available on theirThe requirements for establishing a file with ISS are
website and include:available on their website and include:
* A current teaching certification/ qualification* A 4 year bachelor’s degree
* Three professional referees, one of which must be* 2 year’s experience
your current head teacher* Candidates should be willing to consider being placed
* 2 year’s experiencein two continents.
* Candidates should be willing to consider being placedIf you are interested in establishing a professional file
anywhere in the world.with ISS you should look at the more detailed list of
The dates and venues and application deadlines fortheir requirements on their website.
the COIS job fairs for 2007 are available on theirThe ISS name for a job fair is International Recruitment
website and the deadline for applications for their firstCentre (IRC).
job fair is January 18th.ISS are holding three IRCs in 2007, the first one will be
Search Associatesheld in Bangkok in January.
Search offer an online application process and aISS say that ‘typically 50 percent of those who
number of job fairs in a variety of geographicalattend accept positions as a result.’
locations. Before completing an application you can goThese are the big three of the recruitment
through a self-screening checklist on their website toorganisations for teachers looking at a career in
determine how competitive you will be in the jobinternational teaching and participation in one of their
market.job fairs can kick start you onto a new and exciting
Search charge candidates $US150 to register, which iscareer path.