I am a bit hesitant to say much about the job fair because it was the first such event I have attended so I really have no basis for comparison.
I did find that Queen`s information that we would do most of our sign-up for interviews during the stadium ``meat market`` event on Friday night did not match my own experience. Many of the schools I approached responded that they were already completely booked for interviews - even though I was at the front of their line. Now that may just have been a polite brush-off (I wasn`t born yesterday!) or it may have been because we received invitations to interviews from some schools in our original package of registration materials and so they may have already been filled. Either way it was frustrating when I had prepared to make that great initial impression for an interview spot and then didn`t get a chance to say more than a dozen words.
As far as hiring couples - I only know that I chatted with a couple who were finding it difficult to match up their two quite different areas of expertise into one school. The original lists of openings from schools that Queen`s had sent us was seriously different from what was posted when the fair began. This couple had come with two schools that looked really good for them only to find the last-minute changes at both schools left one of them without an opening to apply for. I don`t know if they were ultimately successful or not.
I found the number of recent grads without any teaching experience who were attending the fair to be interesting. As almost all of the schools specify that they require two years experience and there is a registration fee to attend, I was just a bit surprised. I don`t know how they fared - hopefully at least some were successful.
Search found 6 matches
- Sun Mar 08, 2009 10:34 pm
- Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
- Topic: winter job fairs newbie questions
- Replies: 23
- Views: 32044
- Sun Mar 08, 2009 1:08 am
- Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
- Topic: renting in Cairo
- Replies: 4
- Views: 8285
renting in Cairo
I am starting my international teaching career with a job at AIS in Egypt. Wondered if anyone had experience with renting furnished apartments in Heliopolis or Maadi areas - the recruiter suggested these would be most likely choice for me. The school offers paid but shared housing that does not interest me or the option of 3000 EGP toward renting my own place. Anyone got a suggestion on what I could expect to find for an apartment for that money, or what I would need to augment that sum with to find a nice place to live?
Thanks
Thanks
- Sun Mar 08, 2009 12:25 am
- Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
- Topic: winter job fairs newbie questions
- Replies: 23
- Views: 32044
Well, I attended Queen's recruiting fair and found the weekend exhuasting and stimulating - and ultimately successful. I interviewed with four schools and got job offers from three....and "happy day!" one of these was my number one choice of country so I am headed to the American International School in Egypt. I found the interviews to be a fairly enjoyable process but was frustrated that I couldn't get an interview with some of the schools I was most interested in. Oh well, I think it has all worked out fine.
Going to Egypt!! Now there`s a daunting thought for a gal from small town New Brunswick. I wondered if there were any Canadians with some experience on being declared a non-resident by the tax guys. I have a home and plan to try and rent it for the 10 months I am away but this is a really small town so I`m not sure that I`ll find someone suitable as a tenant.
Any insights on living in Cairo would be appreciated too.
Thanks for your help
JB
Going to Egypt!! Now there`s a daunting thought for a gal from small town New Brunswick. I wondered if there were any Canadians with some experience on being declared a non-resident by the tax guys. I have a home and plan to try and rent it for the 10 months I am away but this is a really small town so I`m not sure that I`ll find someone suitable as a tenant.
Any insights on living in Cairo would be appreciated too.
Thanks for your help
JB
- Sun Jan 18, 2009 10:21 pm
- Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
- Topic: teaching in Colombia? Mexico?
- Replies: 3
- Views: 6995
teaching in Colombia? Mexico?
I am attending Queen's Fair in Feb. and they have several schools from Colombia and Mexico listed. I wondered if anyone had information about the safety of living in either of these countries? or really any input on teaching in these countries?
This is my first fair experience. I've gone online to check websites and see what openings the schools have posted but quite a few don't have anything identified. Will that information be given to me when I get to Queen's? Should I contact schools that look interesting before the fair to email them my resume, etc. and tell them I will be at Queen's?
Thank you all for your help
This is my first fair experience. I've gone online to check websites and see what openings the schools have posted but quite a few don't have anything identified. Will that information be given to me when I get to Queen's? Should I contact schools that look interesting before the fair to email them my resume, etc. and tell them I will be at Queen's?
Thank you all for your help
- Wed Jan 14, 2009 5:46 pm
- Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
- Topic: winter job fairs newbie questions
- Replies: 23
- Views: 32044
Thank you to Shadocq and Overhere. I have taken your advice and am rather frantically trying to get a spot at Queens. I've filled out the initial paperwork but haven't heard from them if they still have openings.
To say international teaching is a whole new ball game would be an understatement! I thought the biggest issue was the introspection and soul searching necessary to reach a decision that this was what I wanted to do, but it has become abundantly clear that that was just a microscopic tip of the iceberg.
I have printed off the list of schools attending the Queen's fair and am busily researching their websites to see if they have openings in my disciplines and what they have advertised as teaching conditions and benefits. I am reading reviews posted here on ISR - although I have realized that these need to be read with a critical eye as after all many people I have worked with over the years would have had something negative to say about our schools. I seem to be spread across the globe in identifying schools that look interesting, so at least I have met the suggestions to be open to what area of the world I interview - hopefully - for.
I wondered if anyone could tell me if Colombia, which has 6 schools represented at Queens, is considered a safe location? and Mexico has a large contingent of schools represented as well - safe? Are either of these countries locations I should be putting near the top of my "preferred schools" list?
Well thanks again and thanks to all of the people who have contributed to this forum - I've been learning in leaps and bounds since I found this site.
To say international teaching is a whole new ball game would be an understatement! I thought the biggest issue was the introspection and soul searching necessary to reach a decision that this was what I wanted to do, but it has become abundantly clear that that was just a microscopic tip of the iceberg.
I have printed off the list of schools attending the Queen's fair and am busily researching their websites to see if they have openings in my disciplines and what they have advertised as teaching conditions and benefits. I am reading reviews posted here on ISR - although I have realized that these need to be read with a critical eye as after all many people I have worked with over the years would have had something negative to say about our schools. I seem to be spread across the globe in identifying schools that look interesting, so at least I have met the suggestions to be open to what area of the world I interview - hopefully - for.
I wondered if anyone could tell me if Colombia, which has 6 schools represented at Queens, is considered a safe location? and Mexico has a large contingent of schools represented as well - safe? Are either of these countries locations I should be putting near the top of my "preferred schools" list?
Well thanks again and thanks to all of the people who have contributed to this forum - I've been learning in leaps and bounds since I found this site.
- Mon Jan 12, 2009 8:14 pm
- Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
- Topic: winter job fairs newbie questions
- Replies: 23
- Views: 32044
I am a total newbie to the international teachiong scene - far from new to teaching! I have sent a dozen or so email packages of cover letter and resume to schools that had advertised openings on their website - some of these went out in early December. I haven't heard anything from anyone. I am feeling more than a little disheartened. My questions for all you experts are:
Do schools who have received a resume contact you before a fair to establish that they wish to interview you?
Does the lack of response indicate these schools have no interest in me and I shouldn't waste my time planning to see them at a fair?
I live in rural New Brunswick, Canada so attending any hiring fair comes with a considerable price tag - even those held in Canada. What do you think my chances of employment might be without attending a fair? I have over 20 years experience teaching high school and middle school both English and Social Studies/History.
I really do understand that no one has a crystal ball but I wondered if anyone would hazard a guess. Thanks so much for your help. This forum only serves to strengthen my own opinion that teachers are some of the most supportive people in the world.
Do schools who have received a resume contact you before a fair to establish that they wish to interview you?
Does the lack of response indicate these schools have no interest in me and I shouldn't waste my time planning to see them at a fair?
I live in rural New Brunswick, Canada so attending any hiring fair comes with a considerable price tag - even those held in Canada. What do you think my chances of employment might be without attending a fair? I have over 20 years experience teaching high school and middle school both English and Social Studies/History.
I really do understand that no one has a crystal ball but I wondered if anyone would hazard a guess. Thanks so much for your help. This forum only serves to strengthen my own opinion that teachers are some of the most supportive people in the world.