Going Recruiting – Qs and As

Educators new to international teaching are actively looking for answers to a myriad of questions about recruiting fairs, teaching abroad and the international lifestyle. Meanwhile, experienced international educators have a history overseas, know the answers, and can be very helpful by “filling in the blanks” for newcomers to the International Schools recruiting scene.

If YOU have a recruiting question, or want to know more about teaching and living abroad, we encourage you to post your questions to our new Going Recruiting Blog. Or, if YOU are an experienced international teacher willing to offer up your advice to a newbie seeking to teach in international schools, here’s the place to share your knowledge.

Recently received questions to cross our ISR desks include:

• My husband is not a teacher and our daughter will be in third grade next academic year. What are my chances of finding a position?

• Do you normally e-mail schools copies of your references or simply provide their names and contact information?

• Do schools prefer reviewing applications and hiring through a recruiting agency? Or, is it just as effective to go it alone these days?

Do you have questions you’d like answered? Post Them Here.

Schools Can Change

Is your heart set on teaching at a particular international school but poor reviews have put you off? Despair not!

Most international teachers agree that schools assume an atmosphere and ambiance reflective of the leadership qualities of the man or woman at the top. Schools can change,  and usually do as a result of a quality director. A change at the top can make all the difference.

If reviews of your selected school were poor the last time you went recruiting, check again. Schools can evolve into quality institutions or dissolve into disrepute. Change is not always  for the better—be sure to do your homework and gather all the information you can about a school before making a decision.

School leaders come and go, with change and improvement the usual result. How have you experienced changes that take place as the result of an incoming director? Share your experience

International Teachers’ Bill of Rights Revisited

Once overseas you may find you’ve left your rights far behind

Schools with glowing reports on International Schools Review all have one  thing in common, their adherence to the tenets of the International Teachers’ Bill of Rights. In other words, these schools treat their teachers with honesty and respect.

If you’re from a country with unions to protect teachers’ rights, you may take these protections for granted. But once overseas you may find you’ve left your rights far behind.

A natural tendency is to think, “It can’t happen to me”. Yet, reviews on ISR show that it can  and does. Before signing a contract with an international school, we suggest you review the International Teachers’ Bill of Rights to decide which points are important to you. You’ll want to verify a school’s position on these items.

There are many excellent schools in the world. You’re sure to have the best experience at schools that support the International Teachers’ Bill of Rights.

Click to view  International Teachers’  Bill of Rights

Transparent Teachers / Opaque Schools: The risky business of recruiting fairs

Have you ever wondered why international teacher recruiting agencies require candidates  to spend weeks and months completing rigorous registration/verification processes, including multiple confidential references, yet continue to allow schools with long, sobering histories of incredibly negative reviews on ISR to recruit unsuspecting teachers through their venues?

For teachers, it’s certainly risky business accepting an overseas position based solely on the subjective ‘word’ of a school director during a twenty-minute interview in a five-star hotel room. One organization goes so far as to assure schools that should a teacher break contract, the teacher will be legally required to reimburse the school’s recruiting fees. However, we’ve yet  to see any stated penalties for schools that ignore basic labor laws, fail to pay their teachers or even meet basic terms of their contracts.

If you are planning to attend one of these recruiting events we recommend you do your homework and do it well. Find out everything you can about a school and its history and director before you interview. International school directors have a subjective perspective on their schools, while their teachers may have quite another. Be sure you get a fully comprehensive view of a school and director before accepting a position.

Caveat emptor: Just because a school is attending a recruiting fair does not mean it has been vetted through the same rigorous process you went through as a recruiting teacher. Thanks to the support of ISR members and site visitors, International Schools Review has become a source for the comprehensive view of a school you need before signing a contract. We encourage you to take full advantage of this resource.

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