How far into the recruiting season are we?

[MIS]

Are we just over halfway through, about 75%, or on our last leg?

I know people get hired in March and April all the time, but I'm just wondering if it's time to start getting nervous. I didn't have the opportunity to go to any of the big fairs, but I have landed two interviews, one of which was yesterday for a job that isn't ideal but is at least worth considering, especially since I have no international experience.

I don't want to settle for anything, and I won't, but where we are in the recruiting season could impact my decision-making with regards to this post. I just don't want to accept an ok job if there's a solid chance I could land something better in the coming weeks. Of course there's always a chance, but I'm trying to determine just how much of a chance there is.

[prince15]

I know you are trying to maximize your job opportunities, but I honestly still think you need to be more open because you have no experience to market yourself.

I have been teaching 3 years and in my experience I believe that the main hiring season occurs mid-January to mid-February. Objectively, of the two schools I have worked for or are working for, I have to inform them of my decision of renewing my contract with them in February and March respectively. In addition, if we follow the job fairs setup up by Search, 5 of 14 fairs remain:

https://www.searchassociates.com/Job-Fairs/Default.aspx

[prince15]

Sorry, I misread. I didn't realize you meant you had no experience internationally. Not sure how recruiters judge that.

[shadowjack]

In my experience, many schools now make you decide by mid-November (and some of the schools I was at have changed and are now MID-OCTOBER!). When I first started out quite a few years ago most common was end of December, mid-January.

By now, most schools have done the bulk of their hiring: however, there are state schools and schools in Western Europe where teachers are free to give notice later in the year, so all is not lost.

Then there are schools that have sudden openings come up. Parents get sick, children need medical attention not readily available, etc etc...so schools do late hiring also.

Even though Search has 5/14 fairs left to go, some are new this year, such as the Vancouver Fair (which just passed, I think). The rest are not big fairs. The big fairs are done.

For a teacher in a common area with no overseas experience, it is usually not likely to land at a top tier school (different for teachers in high needs/specialist areas with great references and credentials). So you have two choices. Hold out and stick around in the US or whichever country you are in for another year, but plan your recruitinging season better, or take a job just to get overseas, do your two years and then look to move onwards and outwards, or if you are happy, renew for another year.

If you hold out and still have nothing, the Bethesda Fair in later June is a good one to land a job.

Six of one, half dozen of another. Let us know what you choose!

[Nomads]

As a recruiter with ten years experience, the recruiting season is coming down the home stretch. Virtually all the positions at the top schools have been filled.

People do get hired in March and April at these schools, but this is generally due to late resignations. The jobs available now are largely at tier 3 schools.

[lemonlily]

I would say that we are about 75% through, but jobs do go out in March and April.

Last year I was hired at the very end of February. This year I have been recruiting since the very beg of January. I have had 4 interviews, one offer that I turned down. 1 job that clearly passed on me but didn't have the decency to let me know. And 2 that are still hanging.

I am going to start applying to a few more schools that I know still have openings. I think we have until Mid March to really start getting worried, but you never really know. There are also the March and April Search fairs available, but I feel like those are for schools who still have 1 or 2 really hard to fill positions.

Honestly though, if you get an offer now, I would take it, assuming you feel happy with it. Don't take it if you aren't comfortable with the offer/school/location just to take it. But if you feel ok about it, I would take it as it is nearing down, and I don't think there is anything "better" out there that you would get after.

As someone else mentioned, all the top schools have hired. I disagree that only tier 3s are left, but to each his own with the tier system. Do what's best for you.

[sid]

The recruiting season overall is largely done. I'd say close to 90%.
But you need to focus on your recruiting season, not anyone else's. You need a position, so stay active. Scour all the website postings, contact schools directly. Anyone out there with a position still open, is keen to hire. It's only too late if you throw in the towel.

[MIS]

Thanks for all the responses.

I don't have an offer yet, but I do think I performed really well in my interview the other day. The location isn't ideal but it isn't horrible (it's a smallish city but I want to live in a big one), the position isn't ideal (lots of daily preps) but it isn't horrible, and I was quite comfortable with the director who seems like a really good person to work for.

I know that I'm not landing my dream job right off the bat, but two years is a huge commitment to me. If the city were a little bigger it probably wouldn't be much of a debate but I'm afraid I'll feel isolated and thus bored and miserable. For me, teaching internationally is as much about the experience as it is the school.

Should I temper my expectations or continue to be selective? I have a very good teaching job here in the States. Another year there wouldn't be the end of the world, I'm just ready to get this show on the road. But I don't want to leave only to be unhappy for two years.

Thoughts?

[sunteacher]

Where is the job?

[MIS]

Europe. It's a legit international school, just small and in a relatively small city.