I went to UNI twice and was extremely pleased with the experience. I found my first and second interenational gigs there. The staff is very helpful and I made tons of contacts with other teachers that I still hold almost ten years later. I had tons of interviews and offers at both UNI fairs.

I went to Cambridge for my third fair and I thought I was in a lot better shape due to a little experience, but I walked away very disappointed. My associate was militant and I preferred not to deal with her. The better schools were only talking with couples and my competetion was way deeper then UNI. I walked away with an offer, but declined and found a job through a contact.

I found one job through TIE which turned out to be the best money I ever spent.

My current school sends a team to both UNI and Cambridge. Their goal is to hire veterans at Cambridge and new teachers they perceive as gems at UNI. They also hire interns at UNI and if they are great prospects they create teacher positions the second year for them.

My view is UNI is great for entry level teachers and also for those wanting to go to Latin America.

I think an above poster hit it on the head about candidates leaving it open to teach anywhere. I think this is critical in success. I personally will not teach in the ME so I spent a great deal of time in developing countries making chump change in Latin America. Im now in my dream school in an awesome country in Asia making bank and happy I went through the hoops.

There is a databank for UNI now, its just not as extensive as Search. If I was going to be going to a fair I would fly back to UNI, as I really did not enjoy my dealing with Search, but I would register to access their databank or get access from a friend as once you are abroad someone you know usually has access to the Search databank.

There is a fee for UNI.

You could for sure find a gig in Colombia. UNI fields tons of Colombian schools.

Psy, how did you earn 20 + credentials if can't even process the proper way to spell Colombia?

Colombia!!!!!!

Psy, I thought you agreed to spell Colombia right?

I'm sitting in the country right now on break and can tell you it's awesome.

Barranquilla is on the North Coast and kinda a run-down big city. It has a great nightlife and if you're a guy you will have a blast. There are getaways in many directions that make living in the city not a problem if you can deal with a not so lovely place. I would live there as the North Coast is beautiful if you travel.

Not sure about the school, but is considered the best school in BAQ.

Colegio Albania is a hole and so is the walled town it's located in. The director is shady, lame, and dangerous all rolled into one. The pay is average for Colombia and the benefits like getting a plane ride out of hell every once in awhile is not worth it. The kids are not very nice, but I don't blame them as they grew up in a man made fishbowl in the middle of nowhere.

The only benefit is the Colombian staff who are very nice and helpful. The closest escapes are Valledupar or Santa Marta which are mas o menos three hours away.

My minimum price for working back there would be $300,000 a year plus a bottle of Jack a day to deal with the pain.

Source: I worked there a few years back and have many close friends still there.

Where you heading?

P.E. jobs are not hard to find. I've found several through fairs, TIE and a contact.

I wasn't even certified in P.E. for my first three international schools. Just coaching/teaching experience and a K-8 multiple subject credential.

Psy are the majority of your sources found in dingy ex-pat bars, alleys, and hotel lobbies during international teacher fairs that you're not registered for?

Do PMs work? Can't figure it out, if you leave your email, I will do the survey.

Sounds like a challenge and if you can steer the ship in the right direction, you will have taken a gigantic step forward in your career.

If it turns out you're a puppet to the board you're going to sink fast.

Good luck!

Seems like tier 1 jobs would be no problem for you to find, but do entry level head positions grow on trees, especially with your little admin experience.

But then again we know how much you like the Brazilian ladies.

When you interview do the schools ask why you only serve one year and out for most of your career?

I was asked to buy my ticket upfront, I was a little worried, but I was payed back in cash off the plane. I love my school, no problems, thats just the way they do it.

A student and basketball player of mine who died in a car crash when she was 14 taught me a few lessons and changed my life.

During my fourth year of teaching in a very rough low income school she would come to my classroom and say, "Mr. *****, thank you so much for your stories of travel, I want to do my best and go to university one day and then discover the world. She then would give me candy, giggle and walk away.

As for many, the day she died was devastating. I promised at that point I would live my life to the fullest and not waste anymore time. A month later, I went to a fair and ten years of international teaching has past by. I think of her often and make myself live up to that promise.

So basically she taught me how to live life like it's my last day and it's a philosophy that has worked really well for me.

I'm on a 60% load teacher/coordinator contract and I receive a 4K stipend over a teacher salary. I end up working 15 hours or so more then a regular teacher (reason why I'm awake at 5 AM on a Sat. for an event in in two hours). I wish I made more, but I knew what I was getting into, but I'm in Asia and working extra and hard is expected.

I would try to negociate more money, I tried and didn't prevail, but now the I have a few years of success under my belt I gave it another try and instead of pay they gave me extra PD.