Preparing for an Interview

Great I have an interview, but..

What do I do? What do I need? What should I prepare?

These questions no doubt will enter your mind especially if you’re Newly Qualified Teacher looking for your first teaching job abroad. In fact middle and senior managers would also be thinking these questions if they are going to foreign territory.

So the first thing to note is what format the interview is.  It can be on of the following

1. Face-to-face (recruitment drive or recruitment fair)
2. Web conference (Skype)
3. Telephone

Face-to-Face Interviews

It goes without saying that if the interview is a face-to-face, your personal appearance is crucial as it would set the stage before you begin answering questions, so ensure you dressed well, smell well and be professional.  Recruitment fairs can be extremely busy places and with hundreds of teacher being interviews you really do need to create an impression so being presentable is key.  Ideally be dressed in a suit.

Key points:

• The more you make yourself look professional and well-groomed, the greater your first impression will be to the employer.
• Be sure you arrive early and make sure you have a map of where the interviews are being held.
• Come with a portfolio of evidence

Web Conference Interviews

This is the next best thing to face-to-face interviews as employers don’t have to be physically be in the same location as you but you can still see each other and get a feel for you.  Again be well-groomed and come across professional. Do NOT come dressed casually thinking you’re interviewing from your house and you can be as you want.  That first impression is crucial! You will most likely need to download Skype and set up a Skype Account.  Best of all its FREE!

Key Points:

• Check your equipment is working and there is no technical glitch with your web camera or Skype software
• Be early
• Make sure you have your resume with you.
• Make sure you have sample evidence of work with you e.g. lesson plan, observation notes etc

Telephone interview

Again this could feel strange for some as you have to be on the ball when answering the question and you personally don’t get to see or get a feel for your employer.  However, again its crucial your early on the phone and have aback up solution in case you have phone problems.

Key Points:

• Be early and check there are no phone issues
• Have you resume with you
• do some homework on the school

Some of you may be wondering I have mentioned a portfolio but what should I include in this? Below are things we highly recommend you prepare to have to create a top impression:

1. Front page cover with your name and subject you teach
2. A table of contents
3. A copy of your resume/CV
4. Degree Qualification(s)
5. Teaching Qualification(s)
6. Good observations which have been carried out on you
7. Photos highlighting you top work
8. Lesson plans & SoW
9. Resources you have created
10. Testimonials from students and fellow colleagues
11. References from previous employers
12. Evidence of CPD
13. Powerpoint presentation

These are just some of the things you can prepare and get together before your interview.

Please note certain countries may have any eye for specific information they are looking for.  Any experienced teachers in different parts of the world who would like to comment or add to that list can do so

I wish you every success in preparing for your interview and if there is anything specific you would like covered let me know

Regards

The SeekTeachers™ Team
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Finding the Right International Teaching Job for You

How do I Find the Right Job for Me?

For those of you just starting out or considering teaching internationally, you maybe feeling like confused.com with all the options but at the same time the uncertainties of going into a foreign territory.

Schools often spend a long time finding the “best fit” for their school especially with the high turnaround that schools may have.  The high turnaround should not always be seen as a negative point.  While in some cases there may well be issues in a school, let’s be honest you make a decision to teach overseas but one day your going to get bored; one day you might want to explore another country or even miss being back home.  Whatever the reason the turn over exists.

The person interviewing you will review through the interview process if you are the “best fit” for his/her school. Therefore it is fundamental that you as the job seeker do you homework not just on the school but the country, location, culture, possibly even religion (depending on your belief and faith).  This would save you a huge amount of time before  you even go to the interview and will also show you have come well prepared.

There are simply no excuses for not being able to do the research, whether your using offline resources like libraries or books to being online where pretty much all the information you need will be online; so important rule – Do your research.

With an increasing number of international schools growing and developing all over the world most have websites, showing you images, types of curriculum, resources and much more.  ALways check to see if the website is up to date and whether it looks like someone has taken the time to do it or a mish-mash job just to promote the school.  Once you do find the school you should consider asking yourself some important questions:

• Where is the school located? – is it in a rural or city location
• How difficult is it to get in and out of the country during holidays? – some countries don’t give multi-entry visas
• What is there to do to socialise, explore and entertain yourself?
• Will the weather be too hot or cold for you during peak times
• How much money could you save or have as spending money once you are paid
• Will the religious belief’s of the country go against your own?

For example, with the recent influx of western teacher swarming to the middle east for Tax Free salaries and high quality lifestyle, many perceive it to be this glorious place to work but soon had difficulties adapting to the environment.  Couples should not hold hands in public, not being able to drink alcohol publicly, having documents attested, not being paid for sick days off etc.  The labour laws also prevent teachers just moving school to school and could face a 6 month ban, something which teacher found out only after they had begun working.  Rather than have a perceived idea and seeing the job as a long holiday pit-stop while you teach ensure the homework is done by you to save you heartache, money, time and effort.

Teachers who often don’t to the homework and get stung when they get stuck in to their jobs, have known to become quite depressed of the job not being all that it was meant to be and demand or request to breach contract.  Find out your implications of breaching the contract before signing on the dotted line!

On a positive note, if you have done your homework and have made up your mind on where you would like to be and teach think carefully about where you have been trained, how you have been trained and take a moment to think about what you will be offering or bring to the school.  Remember this is a marrying process so it while the school maybe able to offer you a great salary ensure you are confident you can give back in as well, as it is also common for teachers to be sacked if they don’t deliver.

We all know the education system is slow to adapt and change and while the western world has stronger models of practise take a moment to think that where you might be going your ideas, belief’s and teaching methods may simply be too advanced.  The best would be to go with an open mind. If your fixed that this is how things should be, tread carefully as you could be in for a lot of disappointment and frustration.

When it comes to technology most international schools are behind on this.  With 5000 international schools and growing, approximately 10% would be well facilitated.  What you will find from this is that those are the schools that generally also pay well.  Schools are slowly beginning to join the online community and networks so it might be worth checking websites or information like:

• Facebook
• Youtube (if they have any videos)
• Twitter
• Podcasts sites
• Wikipedia articles

Some simple questions to ask/to do before you begin your journey of teaching internationally:

• Make a list of your goals and targets
• Make a list of pro’s and con’s for each region you chose
• What is your reason for going?
• What can you offer to the school?
• What homework/research have you done?
• How much money will you save over the contract period? Is the Salary Tax free?
• What other benefits do I get? (accommodation, medical, visa, return flights)
• How long are the holidays?
• What support is there at the school?
• What IT Facilities do they have?
• What is the teacher to student ratio per classroom?
• What is the expatriate breakdown of students?
• What is the expatriate breakdown of teachers?
• Would you have enhanced your own career development by attending this particular school

From the more experienced teachers we would love to hear from you on further advice you can give teachers looking to work internationally or if your a international school what advice would can you give for teachers coming into your region/school?

Preparing for in interview will be discussed in another blog to come.  Take your time to digest the information and begin planning your journey abroad.

Regards

The SeekTeachers™ Team
Regards

The SeekTeachs&trade Team
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More Teachers Leaving the UK to Teach Abroad!

More teachers leave the UK to teach abroad after from budget fears and continuous Government interference

With increasing interference from the Government in classrooms there is an increasing number of in the number of British trained teachers seeking international jobs in schools, colleges and universities.

The bitter cold times during winter and the prospect of funding cuts after the election is giving teachers a greater reason to leave the UK to work in schools abroad

Recent figures have shown that approximately 70,000 British primary and secondary teachers are now working in international schools.  This is a huge increase compared to 41,000 in 2005.

There is  much greater increase in the number of international schools.  According to ISC Research the number of English-medium international schools has leapt from 1,700 to 5,400 in the past decade and anticipated at rising to 8000 in the next 5 years.

There is a huge boom of jobs in Asia and the Middle East. Top international schools and global educations chains like GEMs and Raffles are now focusing on getting students from increasingly wealthy families both locally and the expatriate base.

This opens questions to the Government to rethink its decision about reduce the number of hired trainee teachers for secondary teacher training. If changes are not made in due course, UK schools could be left no other option but to looking at bringing in overseas teachers from South Africa and Canada, which could have a huge impact in the way children in the UK are taught.

While there is huge appeal in teaching internationally there are some pitfalls that all educationalist should be aware of rather than get drawn in by good salaries and great weather.  Regulations in international schools is not as stringent as they are in the UK which could lead to teachers and leaders finding themselves in awkward situations, especially if they have disagreements or are not aware of the labour regulations in the country.  It is advised that teachers and leaders get as much information as possible from reliable sources before committing themselves into a role.

If done successfully there have been many cases where teachers have left and have not returned having found that “ideal” teaching job, not from a just because of higher TAX FREE salaries but also by not having the worry of OFTSED creeping up to come in and carry out a frightening inspection.  In addition it can generally be stated that children are far better behaved and there is a greater emphasis on learning and becoming the best that they can be.

• What side of the fence do you sit on?
• Are you already a teacher who has made that application to work abroad?
• If so we would love to hear of your experience(s) be they good or bad and shed some light on new teachers coming on to the international teaching circuit!

Regards

The SeekTeachers™ Team
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Welcome to SeekTeachers™ Blog!

Welcome..Benvenuto..Välkommen..Aloha!

to the SeekTeachers™ Blog!

This blog is dedicated to discussing all topics great and small about teaching overseas. Whether its your first time, or you’re an experienced international educator we want to hear from you.

Teaching alone is a challenging career enough! Think back to when you first started teaching – your own class, your own form, planning, marking, constantly thriving to come up with better ideas, planning trips, socialising with staff members,your own responsibilities all that and of course the wonderful holidays.

As the world evolves, and the need for education rises there is a growing number of international schools around the world. According to ISC Research the number of English-medium international schools has leapt from 1,700 to 5,400 in the past decade and anticipated at rising to 8000 in the next 5 years. Recent figures show that around 70,000 British primary and secondary teachers are now working in international schools, compared to only 41,500 in 2005.

SeekTeachers™ aims to help educators around the world but sharing, discussing and collaborating ideas for newbie teachers who want their first first job abroad or even experience educators who are moving to work in an unknown destination and want some simple help, support guidance.

If your an international nursery, school, college or university join our blog to provide hints and tips to educators coming into the country for the first time about the do’s and don’ts so they can be better prepared for you.

Subscribe to our blog, to follow latest reports and information and feel free to share your comments as well

Regards

The SeekTeachers™ Team
Regards
The SeekTeachs&trade Team
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