I get what you're saying. For that reason, I didn't consider Boston to be a complete fail because I made a ton of connections. I could write a book now on how to handle the elevators at those things. There are a couple administrators that were trying to fit me into positions that maybe weren't the best fit for me, but were at really good schools. I think I might have done better with the numbers not so against me. There were 6 math jobs. 3 were in IB and I got 1 interview out of those and didn't get it. 3 jobs weren't in IB and all were filled when I got there. 2 of those 3 were at the same school, but were filled by a math-teaching couple (What are the odds?) that had been offered months before the fair and finally accepted the morning of my interview. The administrator there (1st tier school in a super-competitive location) really liked me and was trying to combine positions to make it work for me, but I didn't have enough certification coverage to make it happen. When I step back from it, I feel like I might have a shot at even a competitive job fair as long as there are a reasonable number of jobs. As long as my school will let me off, I'll try to go to Bangkok. I should be able to do the trip cheaper than Boston and I've never been to Bangkok so should be fun.

Thanks Psyguy. Do you think I'd have any chance at Bangkok? With no IB experience and only part of a year overseas, I want to make sure it's worth my time and money. Boston was a huge expense for there to be essentially no chance for me to get a job. Bangkok wouldn't be quite as expensive this year, but it would still be substantial.

[quote="shadowjack"]I can see recruiters looking at your CV and saying, "This candidate is so hopeless, the only job they could get was in a language school. Not the person for us!"[/quote]

Hmmm...hadn't thought about how that would affect my resume long term. I can definitely see your point. Thanks Shadowjack.

Thanks for the info. You confirmed a lot of my thoughts on the Hong Kong fair. I'm kind of leaning toward the Skype route. I figure I should be a much better candidate just in the fact of showing up in Asia to teach this year and that route worked this year. I spent a lot of money to go to Cambridge this year with almost no chance at a job. As a safety, I don't even hate the thought of teaching in a language school if all else fails as I could at least have more choice of which location to go to (Bangkok, Hong Kong or Japan), places I have very little chance of landing as a math teacher.

[quote="shadowjack"]Hi Antitravolta,

I have been a tech/computer teacher off and on for the past 20+ years. Recruiting as a tech teacher is hot and cold, just like math. Honestly, some years there is a glut and other years there is a famine. This year there seemed to be more jobs than candidates: however, it may be (and I am not suggesting that it WILL be) that next year there are a lot of math jobs open and not as many tech jobs open. I had friends go recruiting technology a few years back and there were a lot of tech teachers chasing not so many tech jobs. You should keep that in mind.

As a tech teacher, you should be able to do a wide range of topics. Can you teach or sponsor yearbook (have you done yearbook before?). What about programming - not just the Java, but HTML, CSS, Python? Video production? Journalism and desktop publishing? ITGS for IB? iLife Suite, as well as Adobe, and Office? Keyboarding? Do you have philosophies, approaches and best practices in place for your different curriculums? The broader you can teach in technology, the more options there are.

One thing I would suggest is talking to your associate about which fair would be the best fit for you. Another is to monitor the job postings and either create two CV's for use at the fair - one for math and one for technology, or modify your current one to highlight both areas and show your strengths and background in each one.

It is great that you are finally starting on your international career - is the school you are going to an IB or AP school so that you can pick up stuff and maybe get some training?[/quote]

Thanks Shadowjack. I'm not convinced that I'd truly be a competitive candidate in computers. I have some experience in fields you mentioned, but not sure I have the broad set of skills that will probably be needed. I still expect under most situations that I'd still be more competitive in math. I might be able to get some AP training this year. They mentioned that being a possibility, but not sure how much they want to invest in me as a maternity cover. I will get in touch with my associate. Does anybody else have any thoughts on my fit with Bangkok and Hong Kong?

At the end of the Cambridge fair, I spoke to a head who said that there were 4 candidates at the fair for about a dozen computer jobs. My Masters was in Interactive Technology, but I've only taught math. The implication from the head is that there were quite a few schools who would have offered if I had come into the fair focusing on that. In some ways, I'd love to move on to computers as the pressure that faces a computer teacher is not even close to what a math teacher faces for the same salary.

I will be starting my first year of teaching overseas next year, but it's on a maternity cover for one year. That said, I'm right back in the recruiting game next year. I am certified in middle school math grades 5-9, but this year will teach classes as high as 11th grade. I will have 5 total years, but again this will be my first international. I have no IB or AP experience.

I'm trying to decide on my strategy for this coming year. The easiest job fair for me to get to will be the Search Hong Kong fair, but assuming they'll let me off for a few days, I could get to Search Bangkok as well. From what I've heard about Bangkok, is it even worth it for me to go with no IB experience? Is Hong Kong something that would work for me? I know it's very specialized. Are there any reasons to think I'd be a bad fit there?

This past year, I went to Search Cambridge and it was a very frustrating experience. Outside of IB jobs, there were 4 jobs. I set up interviews for all, but only 1 was still available when I reached the door for the interview. I ended up getting my job through a Skype interview. One thing I did learn at the fair is that teaching computers would have been my best path at that fair so I'll approach my resume with a much broader perspective this time. Will Skype be my best path next year or will one of the fairs be a good idea? Thanks in advance for your help!

[quote="CaliPro"]I sold my car / possessions and came to Korea to get my teaching license / certification.

I could work at night and do my program during the day.

The program I am doing is the best imo all things considered.

TeacherReady ~ University of West Florida

$5,000 USD

8 months

It is a online program that requires you to be placed in a school with a mentor teacher. You will have field assignments to complete for each unit (7 total units) The field assignments include observations, interviews, subbing, lesson planning, and student teaching. The program is very accommodating and lenient which is awesome. Once you finish the program you must return to the US to take the licensing tests for the state of Florida. (3 total) Upon passing the tests you will hold the state of Florida's Professional Teaching License. At which point you will be free to work in the US or at International Schools abroad. I return to the states in December and will take my tests then attend the UNI Fair in February.[/quote]

I did the TeacherReady program as well and don't have much to add other than another vote. It was an easy process to do around a busy life. It was easier for me as I live in Florida, but it is a good way to get what you need. Best of luck to you!

Here's some information on credit cards that should be useful:

http://www.nomadicmatt.com/travel-tips/ ... edit-card/

Thanks guys!

Hi all. I've gone a little quiet on these forums as the grind of U.S. standardized tests and searching for an international job has taken over my life, but wanted to pass on some great news. I landed a job in Eastern Asia teaching for next year. It's a young school with really good word of mouth on this site in a terrific location so I'm quite excited. After going to Boston and essentially having 2 jobs in my field, I was afraid this just wasn't my year, but this should be a nice place to go. I'd like to thank everybody on this site for all their help. Despite some Internet silliness, there's a ton of good information on here and it was quite useful in the process. To those of you still searching, there's still schools hiring so keep your chin up.

[quote="shadowjack"]Antitravolta,

Each year it is different. One year there might only be 10 music positions. The next year there might be 25. This occurs in all the subjects - some recruiting years are better for teachers due to the number of openings than others.

Always market yourself in all your areas. When I went to Bangkok I hit IT, English, DT, and History/Socials as I am certified in two of them and have loads of practical teaching experience in the other two.

The only thing I would have done differently is tailored my CV and had 3 different ones depending on the job(s) I was targeting at a particular school.[/quote]

Thanks Shadowjack. It's been a huge learning process. I've heard "math will save you" for so long that that's where my entire focus went. The funny thing is, I think I'd enjoy teaching computers more so maybe this will all work out better in the end.

Glad to hear it's working out for somebody. I went to the Boston fair and there were almost no jobs left in middle school math. To be exact, there were 3 that didn't involve IB. I got an interview at an IB and those 3. They hired somebody for 2 of the 4 by the time I got to the interview. I liked the IB, but heard they hired a couple. The other job I don't think we were the best fits for each other. I had a conversation with a head in the elevator the last day that maybe I wasn't casting my net correctly. She said there were way more math teachers than jobs, but computers (what my degree's in), there were 4 candidates for about 20 jobs. Oops. So, I'm redirecting my efforts and hopefully something will come up.[/list]

Totally agree, shadowjack. For me, it's just trying to figure out where to put my energy at this point as I assume it would be hard to get to every one of the schools listed for HS Math and MS Math/Science. Next time around, I'll definitely try to get to an earlier job fair as it's really slim pickings by the time it gets to Cambridge.

[quote="PsyGuy"]Well the cost of applying is almost zero, just dont be surprised if you dont get any action/attention of your application. If your going to the fair anyway you should maximize your time.

I always hear teachers who say they can do it, but too a recruiter what matters is that you can prove you can do it. Proof means experience and certification. At DIP level math and science those levels are tested. I wouldnt put a math or science teacher in a DIP1 or DIP2 classroom who wasnt certified and didnt have experience teaching with demonstrable results in that subject.

I think you could push your certification and experience to MYP (which technically goes to 10th grade) but beyond that I dont see it happening.[/quote]

Makes sense. Thanks for your feedback. I have a feeling pursuing MS Math/Science is a better use of my time than going towards HS Math. Hopefully I'll get one of the seven remaining tolerable jobs in MS Math and this will be moot.