Thank you everyone! Great suggestions. It is not about having too many slips, it is about making a choice that works with my family. I want to leave a good impression regardless if I'm interested in that particular school. As mentioned, you never know where that Head will wind up. Also great idea to email my "Thanks, but no thanks" and copy my associate.

I've been reading some posts on what to expect at the fairs, but I have a question that I'd like some advise on.

As I understand it, it is not unusual for teacher candidates to find yellow slips in their folders from schools requesting to schedule an interview. But what if I decide, for whatever reason, that I am not interested in interviewing with that school. What is the courteous thing to do? I know I just wouldn't have to show up in their line, but should I write a note back to them and let them know I'm not interested? What is a nice way to say, "Thanks, but no thanks"?

Thanks to all! Great advise.

Psy,
Thank you so much. I feel like I have clearly communicated! Yes, an Ichiro! A few more questions. . . thanks in advance for your patience!

Scenario 1:
No cover letter on the Ichiro, but still put Ichiro in a full size envelope? Perhaps design the envelope to coordinate with the Ichiro? Use envelope when sliding under door, or putting in schools' folders, so others don't see it?

Thank you notes:
So glad you said this.
After the interview, do I actually mail the handwritten thank you? Or put it in their folder, slide under their door or what?

Dear Psy,
I respect your opinion and appreciate your time with responses.

I continue to have a bit of confusion of when to use the "colorful/bullet-point/photo" resume and when to use the more traditional CV.

1) I've read old posts about the importance of taking a "catch-recruiter's-attention/colorful/creative" resume with you to the fair. These have been described in many ways, such as "pink", "ticket for one great teacher", "cheesy", etc. In other words, not your typical, professional black and white resume. I've designed a classy, colorful, attention-getting resume, that has photos of me working alongside my students in the classroom, as well as, a small, individual photo of me. Also included is easy-to-read qualifications and experience. This is one sheet of paper, front and back. It is attention-getting but very professional looking.

2) I also have a three (single-pages) CV. Although I've never taught overseas, I have 12 years of educational experience, have been professionally published numerous times, etc. All of this information is note worthy for recruiters and gives a fuller picture of who I am and what I'm capable of, but it is traditionally designed and black and white. Currently I have a small, black and white photo of me in top corner.

Never having been to a Fair before, I want to be as organized as possible when I arrive. I loved your idea about cutting off the closure flap on a full size envelope. I will do that! I want to present a good representation of myself even from the choice of the envelope, thus will probably not use FedEx envelopes, but, hey, at least those were attention getting!

I'm glad to know about the Search printers that are available. I didn't know to expect a printer station. I like the idea of having personal letterhead already printed and then using that paper to send through the Search printers with the "body" of the cover letter, personalized to the specific position and school. I will definitely do that!! These are set up "letter size", not A4...right?

I feel that I understand the paperwork to have but I continue to be confused about when to distribute the "colorful" resume, the traditional CV and the cover letter/blank header sheet.

Please help me understand if I have this correct...

Scenario 1:
I don't have a pre-arranged interview set up with a particular school, but I want them to notice me. I paper clip a cover sheet to my "colorful" resume and put that inside the full size envelope and put that in the school's mailbox or slide it under their hotel door, or have this "packet" available for chance meetings in elevators, bars or restaurants. When/if they are interested in a F2F, I can then hand over my more traditional CV, along with any other paperwork they might request.

Scenario 2:
I'm standing in line without a slip that gets me to the front of the line. It is finally my turn and I hand over one of these packets, described above, as I am quickly selling myself to the gatekeeper. If I do a good job and they invite me to a F2F, I then hand over my more traditional CV.

Scenario 3:
Based on "Scenario 1", I have obtained a slip in my mailbox inviting me to a F2F interview. They already have my "colorful resume" b/c I had a beer with them the night before down at the bar. So, with my slip, I slide to the front of the line, and then sit down to a F2F and hand over my traditional CV.

Thank you for your time...

Oh, and also copies of letters of recommendation.

I will begin my international teaching career with the 2013-14 school year. I will be attending SA Cambridge and would like input on what paperwork to have with me. Would you mind double checking this list?

1) "colorful" and creative resume. This is to hand to recruiter/interviewer at front of line

2) traditional B&W CV. This is to attach to "colorful" cover letter and slip into school folders or under hotel doors. Should this be stapled or housed in an envelope?

3) access to digital photos of me in the classroom or a short video, via blog or laptop files

4) "colorful" cover letter. This to attach to traditional CV and slip into school's folders. How do you "generically" address it at the top where the name and address is? Should/can this include a photo?

5) Separate, individual photo (?) Is this necessary if my photo is on my "colorful" resume and "colorful" cover letter?

6) copies of passport, teaching certificate, diploma, birth certificate, transcripts (Do I need to carry Official copies of transcripts?)

7) 25 copies of all the above

8) Do I also need to carry CDs to distribute with all the above on it?

9) Big, white envelopes to house all the above.

What else am I missing?

If I ask for an invitation to the San Fran fair and get it, and then I decide not to go b/c I've already accepted another position at UNI, for example, is it frowned upon by SA to cancel my attendance?

If one cannot get an invitation to Cambridge, which is better UNI or SA San Fran?

Hi, all,
I am very involved in researching openings in my subject for next school year. Although I am signed up with SA and quickly submitting applications to their postings, there are openings that I'm finding on my own that I am applying to as well. When I see a job listing on the daily SA update list, I ALWAYS credit SA and give my representative's name. Do I need to do this for jobs that I am applying to that are NOT on the SA daily update? How do I handle it if I apply to a job that I find on my own, and then a few days later that same job appears on the SA daily update?

Thank you in advance.

Psyguy...I get it. Wow. okay. Geez. Thanks for the heads up.

I would appreciate some current information on this school. On ISR, there is an evaluation from 2006-10 and a website is linked that provides some evidence of religious tension in the school. Thank you in advance.

Like you, I will be interested in moving overseas to teach for school year 2013-14 and I have been working since March 2012 to get all my ducks in a row. Because you have no control on how fast others will write your recommendation letters (including parents of your students), or how fast your university will mail you your many copies of transcripts, in my opinion, you need to get on it! Some of the people who I thought would turn this around for me quickly have been surprising slow as molasses to get me what I need. Also, I've spent hours and hours this summer reading these Forum conversations. From what I can tell, not everyone needs to attend a fair. It seems there are many possibilities for being hired simply by having access to the data base provided by SEARCH, for example. It really depends on what subject you teach. I've developed an Excel spreadsheet to document the schools I apply to, once the season gets started, which can be as early as October. I've also made many notes from the conversations I've read on this Forum. As expected, there's many qualified teachers out in the world and competition will be great. There's no way to over-prepare for what's ahead. Good luck to you!

Thank you both. Great suggestions.

Greetings,
I am using the last weeks of my summer vacation to prepare for the upcoming 2013-14 hiring season. I've been making scans of these documents: teaching certificate, transcript, passport and reference letters and I have a couple of questions about this.

1) When requested, is it difficult (because of their size) to send these scans attached to email?

2) Has anyone been asked to send these items over email? It seems there would be a security/identity theft issue. I'm afraid to do it!

3) My references have provided me both with a paper copy and a digital copy of their reference letter. Therefore I would not need a scan of these letters, correct?

Thank you!