September 2017   
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.
 
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JOB FAIR SCHEDULE
(active candidates only)
JOB FAIR INFORMATION
 
Every year Search Associates holds job fairs across the globe, to bring international school recruiters and candidates together.

These fairs account for approximately 50% of total Search placements. 

Candidates need to be fully registered with Search Associates and ensure their file is up to date, before an invitation can be issued.

A check-mark next to the box "fairs I might be interested in", is NOT a request for an invitation.

Fair invitation requests can be made now. Please email Nick for information on which fair is best for you. He offers unbiased advice based on years of experience. 

A request for an invitation may be declined if the fair organiser's criteria are not fulfilled, primarily so that teachers do not waste their time or money attending a fair, which may not suit their qualifications/circumstances or result in an interview.

Late applications will be considered on a case-by-case basis. 

The Spring fairs (April) in Bangkok and London are open to any active teachers.

If you accept a place at the fair and cancel within 2 weeks of the fair date, that will be considered as a fair attendance.

Please make sure to inform both the fair organiser and ourselves asap if you no longer need to attend a fair you have signed up for.

As technology improves, we are finding that more placements are occurring with the aid of the database and Skype. Click for  Skype interview tips or please email if a school has contacted you and requested an interview. We are here to help you through the sometimes confusing and overwhelming process of finding a new international school position.
When you register with Search Associates you have -  

Registration for 3 years, or until you find a job internationally, with or without Search Associates.

Access to the the database which gives information on over 600 International schools worldwide.

An invitation to a job fair. (Please be aware that there is a USD$75 charge for each subsequent fair attendance).

Support through the process. We are here to answer questions and offer advice where we can. We are unable to contact schools on your behalf, but certainly will put your name forward if schools ask us for recommendations. 

Help with choosing the right school for you. If you are offered a position and are unsure - we can usually answer any questions you may have about the school. If we are not sure, we can contact one of the other 18 associates for some first-hand information. Collectively the Search Associates have either worked in the schools on our database; know the administrators; have visited the schools or know their reputations. We rely on repeat business - so we try to make sure that the school is the right fit for you. We want you to be happy!

Advice if a school has contacted you and requested an interview. We are here to help.

Access to thoroughly screened schools. You have a much better chance of finding a quality school through a recruiting organisation, such as Search Associates. We have made it a company goal to only accept new schools that meet our high standards. Schools wishing to recruit through Search Associates must undergo a rigorous screening process that can take up to several weeks.

"We have turned down many schools that other recruiting agencies have accepted. It is not our goal to have the largest school database but to have a database that is filled with schools who will take care of our candidates, both personally and professionally."
- President Jessica Magagna


You receive daily updates which allow you to find out what jobs are available for your particular area of expertise.

Schools can search for you. Schools can look at your details online once you become fully registered and you in turn, are able to contact them through our system.

Lastly, but most importantly, you have the association with the Search Associates name which gives credibility to your applications. Recruiters know that you and your information have been thoroughly vetted.
Tips to Get the Most Out of Your Application

It is our job to make sure your "profile" is as strong as it can be. If we see ways of improving your profile (i.e. better photo, more references, rewriting your bio notes) we will let you know.



 










As we begin this new recruiting season, please take a moment to make sure that your file is the best it can be. Specifically -


Make sure EVERYTHING is 
up to date . Most important is  your date of availability, your most recent  experience,
and having two  current supervisors' references.

  • If you have a teaching partner who has not logged on for a month, their file will be automatically archived and recruiters will not be able to access their file. We cannot make one half of a teaching couple active until BOTH files are complete. Recruiters need to see both files at the same time so partners need to be activated together.
  • Your photo creates an immediate impression. Make sure it is a head and shoulders shot with a plain background in great lighting and wear professional work clothes. 
  • Let us know if you are available for short-term placements and we will add your name and subject areas to our books. We often have schools write to us to ask for teachers to fill in with little notice.
  • Search Associates is committed to ensuring that candidates registered with us have been thoroughly evaluated not just for quality of teaching but for a background clear of actual or suspicious misbehaviour around children. Although we are not requiring candidates to provide copies (at the moment) of their background checks, certification, and college transcripts, we are STRONGLY encouraging candidates to upload these documents to their Search Associates candidate file on the "DOCUMENTS" tab. Candidates providing this information will be MORE competitive in the eyes of international schools. Details of the documents we are suggesting can be found on your "DOCUMENTS" tab on your candidate application. For overseas candidates we advise requesting a police clearance as soon as you know you will be leaving a country.
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Positions to Start ASAP
Japan:  
Design Technology (January)
China: 
Elementary teacher (Immediate start)
Middle school Science teacher (January)
Please contact this office for more information
Are you thinking about trying something new next year? There are many exciting opportunities available around the world for adventurous teachers.

We can help you find a great job in an international school in a few different ways. You can:
Brisbane : September 22nd
Sydney : September 25th
Melbourne : September 27th

"You may be asking yourself the question, why use Search Associates and how can Nick Kendell help? Our answer would be, why wouldn't you? Nick has been such a friendly and amazing associate to work with over the past few months. He has been a positive force behind us securing amazing positions in a fabulous international school. From the first moment of meeting Nick, we were confident that he knew what he was doing. He has the experience and knows the international school scene very well. What has impressed us the most is his regular and open communication where he is always ready to answer questions, support and be optimistic. We would definitely love to work with Nick again and we wouldn't hesitate in recommending him!"

- Michelle and Robert
Finding A New Position At A Job Fair
In a world where you can use the internet, Skype, and Search Associates' comprehensive website and database, you might ask yourself why you should attend a job fair. The answer: There is nothing comparable to the in-person opportunity to experience one of the 11 unique and exciting international job fairs hosted by Search Associates around the world! 

Job Fairs are a great way to meet many Principals and recruiters at the one time. The  Melbourne job fair is  held primarily to help Aussies and Kiwis to meet heads of international schools in person, each year from  3-6th January . The InterContinental Hotel will host around 200 candidates and 50 - 60 schools from Asia, the Middle East, Europe and South America.

Candidates will be a combination of teachers who are experienced in their domestic school systems, (but new to international teaching), and experienced international educators. Last year 75% of candidates who attended the job fair were made offers. The Melbourne fair has always been renowned for its friendly atmosphere, and attention to the individual needs of both candidates and recruiters.
Teachers must be active Search Associates candidates to receive an invitation to the job fair.
Information sessions on the IB Diploma are offered, as well as presentations on each of the international schools attending the fair. Free tax advice is offered from SCI Group.  Sign-up to interview with schools that take your interest, and network at the hotel and cocktail party.
This is the earliest Search Associates fair of the year, so our attendees have the first opportunity to impress the schools and recruiters. Those candidates who receive invitations to this job fair are teachers who are passionate about their students and have a proven track record. Last year's fair had 645 positions on offer - great opportunities for the right person.
Click here for a fast -paced look at our Melbourne fair
Held at the Royal Orchid Sheraton on the Chao Phraya River, this fair is designed for experienced, top administrators and teachers from around the world (with or without IB experience) who are looking for positions in highly regarded international schools.  As a fair early in the recruiting season, the Bangkok-January Fair favours strong teaching couples and singles without dependents. The numbers in attendance are expected to be about 600 candidates and 130 schools (most of which bring two or more recruiters). 
The schools recruiting at this fair come from a wide variety of locations worldwide. Search Associates-registered candidates, of all nationalities and all standard specialist fields in schools, are welcome to request an invitation to attend the Bangkok-January Fair.  They are extremely competitive and teachers need to fulfil a number of requirements to qualify for an invitation. 
Please register your interest in the Bangkok fair via your dashboard by the end of September. (Last year's Bangkok fair filled by October).
Finding A New Position Using The Database

SEARCHING FOR A POSITION:
The daily updates that you receive as an active candidate list all new positions as they arise. If you wish to apply for any of these positions you should email the specific school. Please be personal and address the principal of a large school or the director of a smaller school by name. Do not use "To whom it may concern". The school email address will be listed in the school pages in the database.

CV Guidance 
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CV's for international schools should be short, concise and easy to read.

Interview Tips

Some people have never interviewed for a job before, whilst others come across as super-confident and seem to enjoy talking about themselves to an audience. Wherever you are on this job-seeking spectrum, we have put together a few things to consider before attending an interview for an international school position.

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Skype Interviews- 15 Tips To Get Ready

You may have been Skyping friends and family for years, especially if you have been living overseas for a while. Or you may barely know how to log on! The main thing is to get up to speed with the whole process BEFORE you're under pressure to interview as well. 

Embrace this technology because it will make communicating overseas a whole lot easier. 

Before your interview -

1. Write down everything you want to say. Skype and phone interviews afford you a great opportunity to have a few "cheat notes." This includes highlights of your career, teaching philosophy, the difference that you have made to kids' lives, etc. Then try to weave this into the conversation. As you do this, make sure you tick it off your list. Also, have some information about the school and have some questions to ask, whether they be about the country, the timetabling of your subject, or whatever else are big picture items.

Read more....
 
 
Spanning the Globe with a Personal Touch - 22 Offices Worldwide