Thank you guys for the encouragement and advice. I promise all has been appreciated.

I am more of a realistic kind of professional but I do plan on applying for some top jobs that I might not be 100% qualified for. In the off chance I get an interview, I feel confident I would compete for the spot... I have been told interviewing is a strong characteristic of mine.

So I have taught inclusion for 2 years as well as resource classrooms for 2 years. I have a degree K-12 special education: general curriculum (basically says I can teach SPED in any grade), I also have a concentration in History/Social Studies. Would this have any sway as to what kind of jobs I can apply for?

I co taught all math for one year my first year with a mainstream teacher as well as co taught history the following year. The last two years I taught all resource classes. Just trying to understand the Special Ed field internationally. I have done the research but a lot is not accessible via the internet.

Thanks for the honest review psyguy.

Thanks for the advice. I understand the "anything is possible" idea and of course, even though I am realistic, I hope to land a great job in a great location with great pay... I feel like everyone is (or should) be that way. It really is all about selling yourself to that recruiter.

I heard the saying two summers ago from a Harvard admissions person that was describing to International students how the process of gaining acceptance to the school worked. Basically it boiled down to one sentence that stuck for me as a teacher that I try and relay to my students now "Harvard knows what it can offer you (as a student), but what can you offer Harvard as a student". I feel like this - applies to most IS. I plan on hitting my strengths hard, as hopefully everyone is haha, and if it doesn't work out then it was not meant to be at this time.

Still optimistic, however, but I just wanted a "measuring stick" per se to gauge myself on with my experience. With my research on here and other websites, I have somewhat stuck myself in the Tier 2 group. Not to say I won't hit a homerun but if I landed in Tier 2 in a great location with decent pay I would be ecstatic.

So I have now signed up for an agency to begin the IT recruitment. I plan to attend a fair in Dec/Jan and hopefully land my first IT job for the 2017/2018 school year. I have been a long time lurker on the board (roughly 3 years) gaining a ton of knowledge regarding IT which has come in handy about my future recruitment.

I know what I am about to do is "frowned upon" simply because each case is unique and schools are sometimes looking for certain things. However, for the most part, I am just looking for a generalization of where I might land. I am open to basically any school which I know will help my placement but lean toward Europe (popular I know) and SE Asia ( particularly South Korea and Japan... I guess that is technically East Asia). I am open to basically anywhere, however, those are just places if I "got to pick" I would choose. Hope that makes sense.

After this school year I will have:
-27 years old
-Taught 4 years as a high school Special Education teacher (Also Department Chair for all 4 years)
-Assisted in running summer leadership camps for high school ages international kids in the USA
-Coached numerous sports
-Sponsored a few different clubs
-Was head of a few committees as well

I really don't want to slap my Resume on here (and I know you guys could not care any less). Just trying to get a gauge... maybe more of a mental prep of where my possibilities are landing as far as where I want to be and if it is a decent school. I know first starting out in IT, you basically start at the bottom and work your way up which I am okay with. I am just curious, with my limited Resume listed above, do the "old timers" think I stand a good chance of landing in a location I desire as well as a decent school where I will enjoy working every day.

*Willing to elaborate more on my background also if that will be of assistance in answering my relatively broad question. Thank you guys for the assistance!

Thank you! I am still looking hoping to find something!

Not so much "Holding our for the most desirable locations" but more so hoping to snag a decent job last minute do to the reasons mentioned above.

Single guy here, 26, with a Special Education Teaching license for K-12. 3rd year of teaching as well as 3rd year of being Department Chair/Head. Looking at the WE/SE Asia area... Maybe South Korea/Japan.

I know I am flexible and (maybe I am being a little too positive) but marketable with experience/the willingness to up and go last minute.

Just curious where schools will be looking to fill vacancies for the upcoming school year. I know recruiting season is basically over... Basically if schools are looking they are trying to fill a void quickly.

My gut says they will comb through Search/ISS to fill these. Curious if they would be as receptive for personal solicitation. Don't give me the "well you can try" spill... I know anything is possible.

I have read on here that some good jobs pop up late in recruiting season (to almost finished with recruiting season) so I was just wondering what the process IS go through to fill these voids since it is a lot different then traditional recruitment.

Thank you PsyGuy! Very informative post

So outside of an Ichiro (maybe) and Resume what all should be brought to the fairs?

So I have been a long time lurker and jumping into the IT world in 2017. I read and digest quite a bit... often hoping on here every day seeing the new posts. I particularly find the "fair journal" style post interesting simply because each experience is different.

With that said, I was thinking it would be a cool idea to hear about everyone's first year teaching abroad. I know we have some "old timers" to the IT world on here as well as some "fresh" faces. I mean I would like to hear the full story like:

-How did your move go? From packing up in the US to your destination? Flight? settling into your new apartment/life.
-Challenges you faced within your first week/month/year
-Differences from your previous school in the US to your IS
-Did you stay for another year or choose to keep moving to another school?
-What was the fair like after you had some IT experience?
-What did you do to become more marketable at fairs? (Ex. sponsor clubs, certification, etc.)

I know that blogs/journals exist but I trust you guys on knowledge to the IT world. Plus it would be a great time for some of you "old timers" to reminisce back to their start to help the newbies out!

Than you everyone for the helpful posts so far. And yes, I was referring to ASIJ!

My reasoning for tacking on the other endorsements was to be more marketable. But I completely understand without experience with the endorsement they are basically meaningless.

Any suggestions on things to do over the next year as I prepare for fairs and the 17-18 school year? I am very excited with the process. I feel I have a decent chance at landing a school that I will enjoy.

As of now I am looking to go to the Cambridge fair next year after becoming a Search member.

I have pretty much decided to test out the IT field for the 2017-2018 school year.

My question is, ideally, what is the atmosphere like at the job fairs? Is it pretty intense with the competitive nature in the air? Are people supportive? I know a ton of posters have attended numerous fairs from around the world and some are "better" than others ( Cambridge since a lot of schools send reps).

My real question is going into the job fair I will have 4 years of teaching under my belt. I am the dept head of Special Education in my high school and qualified to teach k-12 Sped. Looking to tack on endorsements in grades 6-12 social studies as well as a math endorsement that will give me clearance to teach high school math. All that aside, what schools should I look at inquiring? No I am not clueless to think I am going to walk up to AIS Tokyo and say hey hire me! ( although if that would work then game on) with my experience, what should should I "aim" toward with my noted experience? Sure I would love to hit a homerun with a great school but I am realistic and understand the competitive nature of IT.

*please excuse any typos found...in am using a terrible tablet currently and it is beyond challenging to proof read!*

Thank you guys for the expert help!

Thanks for the response.

So about applying for jobs... Would the fairs be the best bet or applying directly?

Hello!

I am looking into teaching abroad. Come May 2015 I will have completed my second year of teaching Special Education in America. I am curious about the certification needed to teach abroad... More so, about the IB certificate.

I graduated from a 4 year University with my teaching license for Virginia. I am certified to teach K-12 Special Education... Kind of broad I know.

If you all were in my position, how would you go about becoming more marketable in the international school scene?

Thanks for the help