Search found 3 matches

by enchiladas
Wed Apr 18, 2007 6:46 pm
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: PYP/MYP/IB
Replies: 22
Views: 48244

Re: The integrity of Search Associates

[quote="mexteacher"]I had a pretty bad experience with Search Associates. Seven years ago, I got screwed over pretty royally by Jim Ambrose. I was a new-to-the-international-sceen teacher at the time, and near as I can figure it, he slandered me to a higher profile school that was interested in me in order to steer me into taking a position at a small company school in a southeast Asian country. Then, he completely lied about almost every single aspect concerning the school and the principal. Two months into the school year when I broke contract and left the country due to safety reasons (and at the encouragement of the US Embassy), he had the balls to send me a letter requesting reimbursement for the fee he had to return to the school. Needless to say, I did not pay him. Search Associates and ISS are a necessary evil if you want to teach overseas. Just don't expect anyone at either organization to have YOUR best intrest at heart. We teachers bring in a pittance compared to the schools, so of course, the schools will be who the companies serve.[/quote]

I'm curious which southeast Asian country you were steered toward. I was in one of those and had an awful experience. Was it Cambodia?
by enchiladas
Thu Jan 25, 2007 4:19 pm
Forum: Forum 2. Ask Recruiting Questions, Share Information. What's on Your Mind?
Topic: Search Associates-Sally Gordon
Replies: 4
Views: 11613

I think the reps do not like to be asked for suggestions and advice and so on unless you get yourself to a fair. Once you're there, you are all set. They seem to not put time into you unless you are a warm body in their face. I think that teachers who ask for help via email are considered too "high maintenance."
by enchiladas
Sun Dec 03, 2006 3:35 pm
Forum: Forum 2. Ask Recruiting Questions, Share Information. What's on Your Mind?
Topic: Search Associates Fair not recommended
Replies: 27
Views: 47810

starting fresh

go to a fair as if you have never had a bad experience before, or, if you have, you are completely over it (even if you are not). no school wants to hire anyone with baggage, especially if she or he is still talking about it 24 seconds after it's over. go to a fair like this: :D be happy every minute. if something goes wrong, such as someone's daughter screwing something up, do this: :D most of all, be future-oriented and forget about the past, especially if you were treated badly. when you are talking about contracts, read very carefully and ask lots of questions while doing this: :D the job fair is the easiest part of international education. if you are unhappy being romanced by thirsty recruiters who are showing you nothing but love and devotion, just wait until the welcome dinners are over and you are essentially trapped for two years. learn to put on a happy face while it's easy. if you were a search associate or the director of search associates, would you want to help find a job for someone still in mourning? if you need to be honest, just tell your associate: wow, the last school i was at was really, um, interesting, while doing this: :D and tell him/her that you can't wait to do it again with all your newly gained wisdom. and do this: :D