Yes it is in my opinion.
I used Search and got no job offers, despite messaging multiple schools.

I think most schools are moving to agencies now as they can recruit multiple staff in 1 swoop. Also all the agencies have the references and leg work done for the school, so schools prefer them too. I went to one interview for a school and they interviewed all the staff for posts in 1 day through an agency.

TES is very expensive. I heard 1 advert costs 1000 pounds a week?
Teacher Horizons gets good reviews and Teach anywhere offered me a list of schools and I had 5 interviews in 1 week. They have a mixed bag of schools, but lots of good ones too. You need to keep your options open. It can be competitive and everyone wants business done before Xmas.

The best bet is to join a few agencies and maybe direct to the odd schools. I always find getting a job is a bit like Pontoon. You can twist, twist, twist on a school, but could go bust and lose a good school. I weigh up my best option and location on offer and just make a decision.

Good luck.

Well, rightly or wrongly, I have told them. No response as of yet...

Hi,
This may seem an odd query but it can save lots of money. I booked a flight with Emirates to Shanghai from the UK. They pride themselves in having a baggage allowance of 30kg, but charge a massive £42 per kg if that allowance goes over the limits. I have never had to pay so much for an extra bag. It is disgusting to charge that.

My school said they would pay in the contract, but I need an extra 16kg, which is a massive £672 over! That is the same as an extra seat! I would feel bad asking for that back.

What to do? Ship? A bit too late, as leave in 10 days? Pay extra? Or go with 1 bag?

@psyguy

ha ha.

No, I did consider wearing underpants for a interview (with a suited upper body of course!) as I needed to turn off AC and fans due to the noise. I just decided to sweat it out.

Thanks for the advice ; it was all very useful. I have a job in a good school in Egypt now. It was not the number one destination (with planes falling out of the sky etc) but I think I will enjoy it. And as others have commented, you sometimes need to broaden your horizons and take a job in a less popular place on the international scene. It can be a competitive market.

I seems landing a job in a top International Schools relies on a bit of luck as well as experience in knowing the game/timing of top jobs. And learn how to smile in 5am skype interviews!!

Yes I think it was but also applied to numerous jobs on the TES.

Thanks,

I signed up for search in August last year, but my head took ages to complete the reference so I was only active last month even though I had 3 references.

I will go to most places in Asia really but would prefer a bigger city like Singapore, KL, Dubai, Shanghai, HK. I have no dependents. I have applied everywhere in these places. I need free accommodation as I need to pay for a mortgage back home.

I have UKNC experience only.

I have asked for feedback from some interviews but had no replies. I am better in face to face interviews but not great over skype as it is hard to read people's emotions.
My resume is strong I guess. Or so I thought. I am a bit modest and don't like to show off, but I guess I have outstanding qualities as a teacher to sell in an interview. I am just a solid teacher, who likes kids and gets on with other staff, works hard and generally goes the extra mile, not a superstar.

I have a PGCE.

Hi,
I am sure I am in the same situation as other people. I teach in primary, but still have no job despite handing in my notice after 2 years at an International School in the ME in order to find a better position. I have over 10 years experience in the UK in high achieving but challenging schools, 2 years international experience, outstanding Ofsteds, a history of extra curricular experience and leading trips and leadership experience, but have not been offered any jobs.

I have only been offered 3 interviews after numerous applications ; one involved paying a return flight to London, losing 2 days pay and disrupting my class. I look at the TES forum and search.

Is it just me or is this how International recruiting goes? You just go through recruitment cycles until you strike lucky with a decent job? I was told that there was more international jobs than teachers, but I'm not sure this is the case as there are very few jobs on TES and Search, even across the world.

Any advice would be appreciated. I didn't attend a fair and think this was a mistake.

Thanks,
I am currently teaching in Oman but interested in Malaysia/Singapore/South Korea or Japan. Not sure about HK or China. Will have a read.

Hi, I am thinking of paying money to join one of the job recruiting organisations like search, TIE etc.

It is a fair bit of money and my experience is 10 years in the Uk and 2 years abroad in a Brit curriculum school.

Anyone have any idea which company is most suited to British applicants? I have no experience of PYP ,IB curriculums so was thinking maybe some recruiters favour different types of schools and curriculums and I could be wasting my time applying to them?

Thanks.

ps, Montevideo look amazing too! It is so hard to decide! Unfortunately I only speak French (very badly) so learning the Spanish from scratch would be tricky.

Thanks, they all seem like good ideas. The dry heat seems preferable to the humid conditions.

I would love to go to Japan but not sure if it is too expensive. I also don't see many jobs advertised there. Is it competitive.

Hi,
I have taught in England for 10 years as a primary school teacher and I am just about to complete a year of International Teaching in Oman.

I have signed up for another year but I am looking for ideas of places to go next. I am a very hard-working and committed, have a strong CV and so would prefer a good school if possible, especially as the school I am at now does not pay the best. I am also sporty and like to run outdoors, so being stuck on a compound in Saudi would kill me.

I am looking for a good school 1st, but not just for the money, (for the school) and then considering the place 2nd.

I am looking at Asia in places like Abu Dhabi, Malaysia, etc. Are there other places I am not considering ?- I would try most places. I would prefer somewhere not too busy and polluted so have ruled out China or place like Bangkok/Jakarta. I like a night out but somewhere like Dubai is not for me.

Sorry, I know this sounds needy, but it is scary moving country. I am not very good at deciding. Is the TES the best place to send CVs, or the schools?