Does anyone have any experience with the Search Associates spring fairs? I know a lot of interviewing happens over Skype once the February Fairs are over, but I'm considering going to London in April.
It seems the Dubai fair has a lot of middle east jobs and the Bangkok fair has a lot of Asians jobs. Does it then follow the London fair might have a lot of Europe jobs? No schools have registered just yet, but does anyone know if that is historically true?
I can't remember who, but a while back, someone mentioned European schools were often late to run their vacancies. Can anyone confirm that? Is that typical?
Spring Fairs
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It was probably my post, but various EU labor laws and union rules prohibit a school from requiring a binding notice of vacating or resigning a position any sooner then within particular time limits. Typically 30-60 days before the end of the contract. This usually means EU schools arent recruiting until May. Of course schools DO recruit before then based on projections, but then what happens every year is a certain percentage of schools find that the person who was supposed to be leaving, doesnt, and the school breaks the contract with the new teacher.
All the Spring fairs are Dump fairs, basically bottom tier schools that you could get hired at over Skype just as easily and without the money. The spring UK fair does see EU schools but unless you have an EU passport you would be very frustrated.
All the Spring fairs are Dump fairs, basically bottom tier schools that you could get hired at over Skype just as easily and without the money. The spring UK fair does see EU schools but unless you have an EU passport you would be very frustrated.
Probably the single stupidest statement yet
"This usually means EU schools arent recruiting until May. Of course schools DO recruit before then based on projections, but then what happens every year is a certain percentage of schools find that the person who was supposed to be leaving, doesnt, and the school breaks the contract with the new teacher."
There were dozens and dozens and dozens of European schools recruiting teachers at the January London fairs and at SEARCH Cambridge and ISS. If Dave Jaw is seriously contending that such schools are hiring based on projections, then he is barking mad. We are filling our staffing needs, not airplane seats. The idea that as a matter of practice we would take the risk of over-hiring and then cutting a new teacher before the start of the contract is deranged.
A few months ago, there was a thread on here about a teacher who was offered a post and then the offer was withdrawn. Dave Jaw immediately presumed that this was evidence of such a practice. From what I understand, it is much more likely that the school in question something about the candidate that made them revoke the contract and offer compensation.
Let me be absolutely clear: I have never heard of any European school doing this.
It is true that labor law in Europe allows for late resignations - between one and three months before the end of the contract - however:
1) It is usually the case that you only receive tenure (and thus this provision applies) from the start of the second contract. Thus schools are perfectly within their rights not to rehire and would know this in time to go recruiting at the fairs.
2) Even the most unreconstructed socialist in the Euro schools realizes that taking advantage of this late notice provision is desperately harmful to the schools because by April or May there really aren't that many great candidates about to replace those who leave with only a couple of months' notice. (That's one reason why so new teachers don't make it through to a second contract.)
3) There are plenty of decent teachers in Euro schools who, of their own volition, choose to give advance note of resignation or retirement simply to help out the school in its efforts to replace a good teacher with another good teacher.
4) You may be lucky and find a decent job at one of the spring fairs, but I wouldn't bank on it.
5) It's worth pointing out that CIS stopped running a spring fair because they didn't think the number of jobs and candidates made it worthwhile.
6) If you want a shot at a job in Europe, go to the January London fairs!
There were dozens and dozens and dozens of European schools recruiting teachers at the January London fairs and at SEARCH Cambridge and ISS. If Dave Jaw is seriously contending that such schools are hiring based on projections, then he is barking mad. We are filling our staffing needs, not airplane seats. The idea that as a matter of practice we would take the risk of over-hiring and then cutting a new teacher before the start of the contract is deranged.
A few months ago, there was a thread on here about a teacher who was offered a post and then the offer was withdrawn. Dave Jaw immediately presumed that this was evidence of such a practice. From what I understand, it is much more likely that the school in question something about the candidate that made them revoke the contract and offer compensation.
Let me be absolutely clear: I have never heard of any European school doing this.
It is true that labor law in Europe allows for late resignations - between one and three months before the end of the contract - however:
1) It is usually the case that you only receive tenure (and thus this provision applies) from the start of the second contract. Thus schools are perfectly within their rights not to rehire and would know this in time to go recruiting at the fairs.
2) Even the most unreconstructed socialist in the Euro schools realizes that taking advantage of this late notice provision is desperately harmful to the schools because by April or May there really aren't that many great candidates about to replace those who leave with only a couple of months' notice. (That's one reason why so new teachers don't make it through to a second contract.)
3) There are plenty of decent teachers in Euro schools who, of their own volition, choose to give advance note of resignation or retirement simply to help out the school in its efforts to replace a good teacher with another good teacher.
4) You may be lucky and find a decent job at one of the spring fairs, but I wouldn't bank on it.
5) It's worth pointing out that CIS stopped running a spring fair because they didn't think the number of jobs and candidates made it worthwhile.
6) If you want a shot at a job in Europe, go to the January London fairs!
I went to the Bangkok Spring fair a few years back. Very low-key, a few second-tier schools but mostly third-tier. Even Disney English showed up (didn't see anyone at their table, though). Probably about 20 schools. Schools will talk to pretty much anyone but the candidates are more desperate. I received an offer from a school in Indonesia but rejected it because the package wasn't enough.
Unless you happen to live in the area, I wouldn't bother.
Unless you happen to live in the area, I wouldn't bother.