I'm home from Boston so I will answer my own question after gaining the experience of a recruitment fair.

I had 2 of the quickest interviews in my 10 years of teaching. I interviewed with a school from Switzerland and a school from England. Neither principal asked me for a professional portfolio, and frankly I don't think that they would have taken the time to do more than glance at it. It seemed to me like they were looking at the clock which was behind me so that they were not late for their next interview. (And for the record....I was totally weirded out by having an interview in a hotel room.)

The headmasters asked succinct questions about curriculum/teaching strategies, then asked if I had questions and that was it. My husband and I were out of there in 20 minutes flat both times. It was almost comical.

What got looked at and commented on the most as I signed up for interviews was my philosophy of education. I had about 3 paragraphs typed, and then at the bottom I put 2 pictures. One picture showed a student in my classroom navigating a website using the Smartboard, and the other picture showed me greeting my students at the door. More than one recruiter said, " Oh! We love pictures!" I would highly recommend this. (Also several comments on incorporating technology)

My husband and I were offered a job on Day 2 in England and we were thrilled to take it. (Especially because housing was included.)

Take the advice of a post that I read about a year ago: Sign up with CIS instead of ISS. You don't pay a single dollar and you get the same services as those who registered (and paid) for ISS. We paid for the hotel room and the gas to get to Boston and that was it. CIS does take about a month to process your paperwork - but that wait is worth the $500 savings that other agencies charge.

Good luck everyone in overseas pursuits!

My husband and I are trying to get jobs in Europe. (We have focused on Europe because my sister and her family live in Rome.) Husband is a guidance counselor/ and I am a middle school teacher with 3 years overseas experience.

We have emailed multiple schools and received a couple personal responses, but the majority send out emails that say: "Due to the overwhelming number of applicants we receive.....find us at the so and so fair". (several Swiss schools, a German school, American School of Warsaw etc.)

Is this normal? Do European schools tend not to set up interviews before the fair?

I am hoping that I am being paranoid....
Thanks. K

Thank you for a thoughtful response. I will definitely bring more than I thought after reading what you had to say. Many thanks.

My husband and I are going to our first ever recruitment fair (Boston-ISS) at the end of Feb. Is there a protocol as to what to bring? Do most people bring a portfolio with examples of lesson plans and student work? Any feedback would help me. Thanks!