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Fair Interest
Please contact us asap to let us know your interest in attending any fairs this recruiting season. Please note there are still places available for candidates to attend Melbourne and Bangkok.
Fair Preparation
When you register for a job fair you will find information on your dashboard to help you prepare for the Fair. Log on and click on
'My fairs' - 'About this Fair' to access a range of information designed to help you hit the ground running!
The Fair Portal becomes 'live' around 2-3 weeks prior to the start of a fair (see article below), and relevant documents will also be stored there. Paper copies will be distributed at the Fairs.
Change Your Mind?
Cancel your invitation from your dashboard before the fair cancellation date (see below),
without losing your free fair attendance.
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Can't Make a Fair?
Be PROACTIVE
Use the Database to contact schools and apply for listed jobs to find a new position.
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F
REE webinars late Nov for-
1. Those new to international schools, and a
2. Q and A for experienced teachers.
For more information and to express interest
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Job Openings
Although some schools will not post openings until their teachers return their contracts just before the fair, there are quite a few jobs being posted daily because many teachers are informing their school head that this is definitely their last year. You are encouraged to read the daily updates carefully, view the school profiles, and contact the school directly if the school is of interest.
Every school manages their inquiries differently, and many schools will send an auto-reply "thank you for your interest..." while they screen candidates in the background. Most schools will only contact those on their "short list". Should a school ask you to fill out their school application, please do so. At this time of year, schools receive hundreds of inquiries and they need a way to organise all of these inquiries in a database. They can then sort, identify the Search Candidates, and go to the Search website to view the complete files.
It's important to understand that schools have different recruiting practices:
- Some schools are actively filling positions before the fairs.
- Some schools are interviewing candidates and doing reference checks before the fairs, and they use the fair as the last "meet and greet" before offering a contract.
- Some schools are actively screening registered candidates' files and setting up some interviews to take place even before the Interview Sign-Up Session.
- Some schools wait until the fair to do any candidate screening and schedule all of their interviews at the Interview Sign-Up Session.
- There are some schools who will ask you to fill in a completely separate application through either their own online management tool, or through a another company. Unfortunately, while we see this an unnecessary doubling up, there are a few schools who are insistent and in these cases if you really wish to follow through with the application you may need to comply. Schools such as Jakarta International School allow Search candidates to be exempt from this double up. If you are not sure you can always alert schools that you have an active file with Search Associates and welcome them to view your online profile through the Search Database.
You will see jobs come and go before the fair. You will see new jobs posted at the fair that schools did not have listed on their websites. You will see some schools cancel their attendance before the fair, while other schools might register before the fair. It's most important that you come with an open mind and a willingness to consider many parts of the world.
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Glossary of Terms
Find out what all the acronyms you hear at the fair! Here is an explanation of some of the terms used in the international world.
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Demand for International School Education Continues to Expand Globally
The total number of students aged between 3 and 18 enrolled in English-medium international schools in the Middle East continued to increase during the past academic year. This occurred even whilst bearing the brunt of the slump in the oil and gas market when many expatriate employees and their families were being sent home. The overall enrolment at international schools in the Middle East increased by 7.8% from September 2015 to September 2016.
Details of market developments, plus global and regional trends, and forecasts for the future of the market are available in the brand new 2017 Global Report on the K-12 international schools market published by
ISC Research.
The report indicates that the Middle East has seen growth of 40.3% in the number of international schools in the region over the past four years (from 1,086 in 2012 to 1,524 in 2016), and enrolment growth of almost 50% from 947,000 in 2012 to 1.416 million in 2012. The United Arab Emirates continues to lead the world, with 593 international schools for 3 to 18 year olds meeting the learning needs of almost 600,000 students.
ISC Research has tracked the global K-12 international schools market since 1994 and its trends show an increasing demand around the world for education in the language of English, for a Western-style of learning, and high school qualifications that are recognised by the world's leading universities and multi-national companies. In the year 2000 there were fewer than one million students attending 2,500 international schools available globally; mostly for expatriate families. Five years ago (2011), these figures had increased to 3 million students learning at 6,000 schools in a much wider range of countries and attracting many more children of local families. The 2017 Global Report indicates that, as of December 2016, there were almost 4.5 million students attending over 8,600 international schools in virtually every country of the world, with the vast majority of student enrolment being local children aiming for higher education in the West.
The greatest percentage growth in regional enrolment at international schools during the 2015-2016 academic year was seen in East Asia where the number of students increased by 13%. This occurred primarily in China as a result of the growing demand for English-speaking learning and globally-recognised high school qualifications by aspirational Chinese families and the emergence of private Chinese-owned bilingual schools offering international learning to meet their needs.
This year has also seen some emerging markets. Myanmar, for example, is at the early stage of major economic development and is experiencing the start of a booming international schools sector. Other countries noted in the report with emerging international school markets include Peru, Colombia and India.
ISC predicts the market will continue to develop at a healthy pace, forecasting that within five years (2021) the number of students attending international schools will have reached 6.3 million. "An increasing number of local families are expected to seek out international school places as their reputation continues to expand," says Director for International Schools at ISC Research, Richard Gaskell. "Far from being seen as an option for elite and expatriate families only, many local families are investing in international schools to ensure their child has an English-speaking education with learning and qualifications that prepares them well for university."
Fees range from those that are affordable for middle-income families to those exclusive to only but the wealthiest. According to the Global Report, the average annual tuition fees at international schools in East Asia currently stand at USD $17,272 compared to USD $7,085 in the Middle East.
The biggest challenge for the market is professional capital; maintaining the high calibre of skilled, qualified teachers and leaders who are experienced in delivering Western-style curricula and qualifications. Right now the market is, on the whole, managing to attract enough suitable staff, mainly from such countries as Britain and the United States to meet the demand. But with the number of teachers working in international schools expected to increase from 426,200 today (December 2016) to 581,000 in 2021, the need to attract more teachers of the calibre demanded by both the schools and parents, is becoming an increasing concern for the whole market. "Some school groups and universities are now considering a variety of solutions to address the future demand," says Richard Gaskell. "Potential options include upskilling local teachers, remote top-up training, conversion courses, and more."
The 2017 Global Report on the English-medium
international schools market is essential reading for schools, suppliers or professionals who wish to remain well informed on the market.
ISC Research
also publishes Market Intelligence Reports for key countries, statistical reports, benchmarking reports, an online data licence and also provides intelligence services, all of which support investment, development and strategic marketing within the international schools market.
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Welcome to our November newsletter. It includes information on how to best secure a new position overseas by attending a fair OR by using the Search Associates extensive database. The recruiting cycle is well underway now, so if your file is still archived or pending, please activate it as soon as possible to have the best chance of success. Please contact our office as soon as your file is complete.
If your file is "Active," please check that it is up to date, especially your CV and date of availability. There should be no dates listed prior to November 2017. If you are currently under contract, and NOT looking for a position this year, your date should be 2018 ONLY if you will be actively looking for a position next year.
Areas of Interest - You may want to consider expanding the areas in which you are willing to teach - flexibility is a great asset and increases your chances of securing more interviews.
Confidential References- You are most welcome to update your references or add any references you feel may be helpful at any time. This is not necessary if you have stayed at the same school and already have references from that school within the last year.
Standards are still being negotiated for school vetting of staff, but one piece of advice applies now - PLEASE make sure you obtain a background record check just BEFORE you leave the country you are currently teaching in. This is not mandatory at the moment, but will make your application more attractive to potential recruiters (and is far easier to obtain while you are in a country rather than after you have left.)
Enlist the support of your school in obtaining these clearances. An English translation may also be needed.
This, along with your Teaching Credential/s can be uploaded to the 'documents' section of your profile at any time.
We aim to have an up-to-date database with candidates who are actively seeking a job. When you log in, the date is captured and shows up to schools as your "last log on." Schools can see if you have been accessing your file. Candidates who do not login once a month will automatically be moved out of active status to auto archive status.
If you have already accepted an offer or are no longer actively pursuing a position for the 2017-2018 or 2018-2019 school year, PLEASE change your availability. See example below - 
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We are very excited to hold our next Melbourne Fair at
The InterContinental Hotel January 3-6th
. In 2017, over 70% of candidates who attended the Fair were made job offers and we expect similar numbers in 2018. There are a limited number of places available, as we keep the ratio of schools and candidates to around 1:4. If you are interested in attending you must be a registered candidate - please go to your dashboard and request an invitation.
Log onto Facebook to 'Like' and 'share' our
Melbourne Fair post to go in the draw to win one nights accommodation
at the InterContinental Melbourne. Drawn 12th December 2017.
Redeemable (room only, no cash) January 1 - January 8th, 2018.
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"After sending numerous letters and CVs and completing many of the schools' online application processes and not getting anything back except the occasional auto response, it was great to come to the fair; the heads of some fantastic schools were there and ready to seriously consider candidates and offer positions." - Mark
2017 Fair Testimonials |
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Experienced, strong educator couples and experienced, strong single educators without dependents have an advantage at this fair.
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The Bangkok March Fair, 2018
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This fair is moving to NIST Bangkok! The fair features around 30 schools, from an ever-widening list of locations, but schools from the eastern half of Asia are expected to form the majority. Note: Schools typically register in January/February. All Search Associates-registered candidates, of all nationalities and all standard specialist fields in schools, are welcome to request invitations to attend the Bangkok-March Fair.
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Recruiters Offer Their Advice to Fair Candidates-
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- Don't be negative regarding past teaching experiences.
- Access your Search email and online fair portal regularly during the fair. Some recruiters are only using technology to communicate.
- Respond promptly to every communication you receive! We asked some candidates for interviews and had no response.
- We met great candidates, but our issue was with the regulations that the Turkish ministry impose that prevented us from offering positions.
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The teachers who are new to international schools need briefing in regard to protocols - e.g. must make contact with recruiters if they have been offered a job, not just slip notes under their doors, etc. What level equals what grade level, calendar term and other simple facts about "American or International" schools.
(This information can be found on your fair dashboard under "Glossary of Terms").
- We had a couple of last minute 'no shows,' which was disappointing. If you sign up please let us know if you can't make the interview.
- Please encourage candidates to be serious about schools with which they would like to work.
- One of our interviewees used colloquial speech like "poor bugger" and "bloody difficult." I was not offended by it but I did feel it should not have been used in an interview.
- I need contact details for follow-up when the fair is finished. Still communicating with some candidates. Not too easy when they have gone back to many different countries.
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Always remember the importance of good communication via notes and email etc. Also be sure to clarify if they have an offer, and if so, what is the time frame for a decision.
- If candidates drop something in a school's box requesting an interview it would be good if they follow up by visiting the sign-up session to speak to the school recruiter directly.
- Encourage candidates to talk at sign-ups with all schools that have vacancies in their areas, even if they aren't interested in that location. (They may change their minds.)
- Candidates need to have professional photos on their CVs - sometimes you don't always get the right first impression.
- Although some Fairs do not have a range of PYP-trained candidates, their teaching philosophies and backgrounds are very aligned with what our school is doing.
- We look for quality primary teachers with solid backgrounds in inquiry, mathematics, and literacy. I'd rather have a strong practitioner that we can easily work through the PYP with, than have a 15 year vet in the PYP who still doesn't understand good practice.
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Past Candidates Offer Their Advice to Fair Candidates-
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In 2018, we will again be using our online fair portal. Here you can see interviews that have been scheduled with recruiters, along with the time and location. You can also access live updates, schedule changes and announcements during the fair. Recruiters will be able to see candidates who have left the fair, those who have taken a position and are no longer available. Please speak with one of our young helpers if you need any assistance or if you can offer any improvements. The usual hanging file system will work alongside the portal this year, so please remember to check both places for information.
Advice -
- " I used the schools information to obtain a quick snap shot of the school, which was very useful. The recruiter information was very helpful also as it allowed me to personalise cover letters and note down the names of the recruiters I wanted to meet and jog my memory of names before interviews. I also viewed the school presentation details and the position matches."
- "This was really useful - a one stop shop. Great to have all the information so easily accessible. Great organisation of the information under different categories too."
- " It was great, especially for checking updated positions of schools at the fair."
- "I used it to address recruiters by name, research schools, check jobs it was absolutely invaluable."
- "The online fair portal downloads information much faster than the website."
NB. The Portal will not become 'Live' until 2-3 weeks BEFORE each fair.
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