How to Apply for International Schools

The past few days quite a few people have asked how I applied for teaching positions overseas. Was there an agency involved? Did I go to a hiring fair? Did I know people who were in international schools that were able to tip me off on potential jobs? The answers to all those questions are no, well sort of no. Let me explain.

I did not involve an agency due to the fees associated with signing up with one. That and the countless horror stories I heard in signing on with an agency being placed in an awful school and having to suck it up or break contract only to be blackballed from many other schools. I did however use quite a few agencies websites for the list of schools they worked with. With those lists of schools in hand, I began looking up each potential school's website. Some of the schools directly post vacancies on their websites in a specific section. If that section didn't exist I would send in an inquiry email to find out where they posted their information. Sometimes these emails were answered and other times they were not. This method was often time consuming as I had to to check the websites on a regular basis (at least 1x a week) just in case they posted any openings.

Another method I used was coming across second party websites that updated themselves daily with new teaching positions. Some of these websites only posted about specific regions or specific types of schools while others just posted a variety of jobs that needed to be filtered through to find the teaching jobs. It was through one of these websites that I managed to apply for my teaching position in Togo.

Though I do not currently have many contacts overseas right now in teaching positions I made sure I tracked down people who had taught overseas. Though some of the profs of my university I was able to meet some very knowledgeable teachers or administrators who had taught in a variety of different places all around the world. Since I also had quite a few connections through friends/neighbours who had gone overseas to work in a variety of different positions I was able to gather valuable information about working and living in a different country/continent.

Though I had intended to go to a hiring fair due to school this year it was not a possibilty. I have heard that fairs can be a very great place to find a position.

Next time I will talk about a few things to do once you have been offered a position. The advice I am giving comes from a number of different poeple as this will be my first teaching post internationally. I will also make sure I write a bit on travelling and moving overseas as the time draws closer.

Sooo...

I had my interview with the one school today. We had to rearrange this interview numerous times due to terrible internet connection, no internet, no phone and then a broken mic. The buildup leading to this school was quite intense.

Overall the interview went pretty good. I was asked similar questions to other interview like 'Tell me about yourself' 'Tell me about your music background' etc.

At the end of the hour long interview I was offered the job. I was taken a back as usually there is a bit more wait time involved but the offer came anyways. We have until May 1st to answer. Right now I am still in a daze. Africa really could be a reality this upcoming year. It would be in West Africa which would mean I would need to improve my french. A music/ primary teacher position would be an ideal choice wouldn't it? Being as music is something I love and being in a classroom part time would be fantastic as well.

Decisions, Decisions. Now begins the research. Well not quite right now as I still have to finish my final presentation for university in the next few days...

And more news

Remember how I said that I applied to a school in a place we didn't have any intention of going? Well... this past week I got an email from the one school there requesting an interview.

Would we go? I would like to say yes just because then we are a step closer. Sure we would not be on the continent of our choice but we would be somewhere. But if the goal was to just be somewhere then that would mean there are numerous schools I could apply to not just a select 25. Is it in Africa? No. Would we be able to make or save money? That is yet to be determined. It would not be as ideal on a few fronts but we shall see what happens.

Funny Story #2

Another school which shall remain nameless and countryless led me to experience the 2nd most interesting experience with the application/interview process.

It all started when the school wrote me and asked if I was available for an interview. The time here would have been 1:00 am. I told them that unfortunately that time would not work a sit was 2:00 am here. They replied with a second interview time 3 hours later. This would put the interview at 4:00 am. I told them this was not possible and suggested another alternative perhaps one at 7:00 am my time. The response was positive. We were all set.

The day of the interview D had to work at 5:30 in the morning. As soon as he signed on his computer there were 10 skype messages flashing on the screen asking if I was ready for my interview. They began attempting to call at 5:45. Then again at 6:00, 6:20 then at 6:30. I was ready (awake and preapred) for the interview by 6:40 when I sent a message saying I was ready on my end. There was no response. In fact there was no response until 7:15. The interview got underway 30 minutes later.

It makes me laugh as there is Africa for you.