London Search Newbie Job Fair Diary...
Re: London Search Newbie Job Fair Diary...
It would be interesting to see a post of someone who didn't get a job at the fair. Although they probably wouldn't want to post if they didn't...
Re: London Search Newbie Job Fair Diary...
@interteach I hear you in regards to the media sensationalising the amount of pollution. But just the fact you have to live with Air purifiers at School and home does say a lot! Call me paranoid but my the whole idea of days where it's recommended to not go outside or extended period of times due to pollution is very interesting and definitely something to consider when moving abroad.
Re: London Search Newbie Job Fair Diary...
Some 50% of candidates don't get offers at the London fair, so you have to be prepared for that. I went in 2005 when I had two dependents (non-teaching spouse plus one child) and I lined up 7 interviews quite easily and received two job offers.
Six years later, it was a different story. This time three dependents, only 4 interviews, no offers.... but I did get a job I was very happy with some 3-4 weeks later.
Don't panic! There are still plenty of jobs that will come along. Even as late as August there are always some jobs available in China and the Middle East, so there's no need to get desperate just because it's (nearly) February.
Six years later, it was a different story. This time three dependents, only 4 interviews, no offers.... but I did get a job I was very happy with some 3-4 weeks later.
Don't panic! There are still plenty of jobs that will come along. Even as late as August there are always some jobs available in China and the Middle East, so there's no need to get desperate just because it's (nearly) February.
Re: London Search Newbie Job Fair Diary...
I do find it amazing the difference in schools in China. Some seem to have all of their jobs filled by Feb - while others can't seem to fill their openings by June ...
I'm guessing it's all down to location, reputation of the school and $$$
I'm guessing it's all down to location, reputation of the school and $$$
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shadowjack
- Posts: 2140
- Joined: Sat Oct 06, 2012 9:49 am
Re: London Search Newbie Job Fair Diary...
Sciteach - and leadership. Don't forget the impact an SMT can have on a school and it's climate.
Comment
About 30% get offers at the LON fair, but about another 30%-50% get offers after the fair as a result or as a factor of their attendance at the fair. Still a LOT of emotions run high at the end of the first day after signup. People cry on the last day.
Vacancies are posted the night before and updated int he morning, some vacancies are filled the night before signup, and some schools add vacancies the morning off. Be advised some schools have very few vacancies and in the interest of making their time work for them witll post "tentative" vacancies the day off when they really have no vacancy to fill at the moment or even foreseeable.
Vacancies are posted the night before and updated int he morning, some vacancies are filled the night before signup, and some schools add vacancies the morning off. Be advised some schools have very few vacancies and in the interest of making their time work for them witll post "tentative" vacancies the day off when they really have no vacancy to fill at the moment or even foreseeable.
Re: London Search Newbie Job Fair Diary...
Best and Worst of London Fair 2015:
Best Looking Recruiter Male: Head of School, Esbjerg International School
Best Looking Recruiter Female: Dean of Students, American School of Madrid
Worst Food: Anything in the fair hotel
Best School with Worst Presentation: TASIS Switzerland - M. Crist Fleming was rolling in her grave
Worst Experience: Waiting for an elevator next to recruiter who just rejected you
Best Experience: Leaving the fair
Best Associate: Diana Kerry
Worst Associate: Oh, there are so many possibilities...
Best Interview locations: Swiss schools dominating the mezzanine level conference rooms
Worst Feeling: Going into a hotel room alone to converse to a head of school from Asia
Best No-Show: American School of Milan; I might as well work at an average public school on LI or in NJ
Worst Behavior: Recruiters talking smack about candidates in the hotel restaurant
Best Moment: Gez saying, "let's say you have always dreamed of living in Tashkent..."
Best Looking Recruiter Male: Head of School, Esbjerg International School
Best Looking Recruiter Female: Dean of Students, American School of Madrid
Worst Food: Anything in the fair hotel
Best School with Worst Presentation: TASIS Switzerland - M. Crist Fleming was rolling in her grave
Worst Experience: Waiting for an elevator next to recruiter who just rejected you
Best Experience: Leaving the fair
Best Associate: Diana Kerry
Worst Associate: Oh, there are so many possibilities...
Best Interview locations: Swiss schools dominating the mezzanine level conference rooms
Worst Feeling: Going into a hotel room alone to converse to a head of school from Asia
Best No-Show: American School of Milan; I might as well work at an average public school on LI or in NJ
Worst Behavior: Recruiters talking smack about candidates in the hotel restaurant
Best Moment: Gez saying, "let's say you have always dreamed of living in Tashkent..."
Last edited by ffmary on Thu Feb 12, 2015 4:30 pm, edited 3 times in total.
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justlooking
- Posts: 118
- Joined: Sat Feb 14, 2009 1:02 am
Re: London Search Newbie Job Fair Diary...
Fun post, ffmary. Did you get a job?
Comment
1) If you say so.
2) Kims meh
3) Thats not true, the hummus is good.
4) There are good presentations? Ive seen a lot, I wouldnt exactly use the word "good" to describe them. The always make me feel like watching some late night infotainment on BBC local.
5) Thats pretty common, one female candidate was propositioned by a recruiter then had him walk onto the elevator standing next to her, as he inched closer.
6) What I like most is getting to see the people Im friends with online the other 360 some days of the year and getting to socialize in person.
7) If I had to pick one, as in someone had a gun to my head Id say Sally, since Dianna is the intern coordinator and Ive had limited experience with her. Dianna is a great candidate cheerleader though.
8) All of them really but John Maganga is the worse, everytime I hear that "your word is your bound" speech, I want to throw something at him. Jessica is a close second, I get it shes the founders kid, but thats her only qualification.
9) In the bar over a drink, Kim would look better.
10) The Turkish/Arabs are worse.
11) Sure id take a public school in NJ or LI too if you lifted it up and moved it to Milan.
12) Associates talking smack about candidates.
13) Thats a little too intimate.
2) Kims meh
3) Thats not true, the hummus is good.
4) There are good presentations? Ive seen a lot, I wouldnt exactly use the word "good" to describe them. The always make me feel like watching some late night infotainment on BBC local.
5) Thats pretty common, one female candidate was propositioned by a recruiter then had him walk onto the elevator standing next to her, as he inched closer.
6) What I like most is getting to see the people Im friends with online the other 360 some days of the year and getting to socialize in person.
7) If I had to pick one, as in someone had a gun to my head Id say Sally, since Dianna is the intern coordinator and Ive had limited experience with her. Dianna is a great candidate cheerleader though.
8) All of them really but John Maganga is the worse, everytime I hear that "your word is your bound" speech, I want to throw something at him. Jessica is a close second, I get it shes the founders kid, but thats her only qualification.
9) In the bar over a drink, Kim would look better.
10) The Turkish/Arabs are worse.
11) Sure id take a public school in NJ or LI too if you lifted it up and moved it to Milan.
12) Associates talking smack about candidates.
13) Thats a little too intimate.
Like Going to Vegas for .
I am not sure if London was a 'fair' fair.
We went with everything we've got: Excellent references, lots of experience, hardship locations on the resumé, etc. We had seven or eight interviews, all of which were quite positive and often inspiring.
But job offers? Nope. Close calls, all of them, but in the end: Someone else was the sligthly better "fit" (how I hate that word in this context by now...)
I would recommend to disregard all the chatter you may get in advance of a job fair: How brilliant you are. How excellent your career has been so far. How if anyone should get a job it's YOU. How well those years of PYP experience qualify you.
To be quite honest (and hopefully shattering most of your illusions in a still constructive way): Most of it is utter b******t!
We've met other teachers with likewise impressive credentials that any school worth its salt should hire on the spot. Yet, they also walked out with nothing. Some teachers were noticeably very young, but walked out with three or four offers. Others got jobs because they were aggressive and downright repulsive sycophants. And, indeed, some did get jobs because they fully deserved them!
If you go to a fair, it's not much different from going to Las Vegas for . (and, ironically, there was a 'real' casino adjacent to the hotel...). The odds may be slightly more predictable, but in the end I will argue that too much of it is sheer luck of the draw.
By the way, a huge caveat for first-time fair goers (we weren't, but I'm just saying...): Schools will be at sign-up who, in my view, have absolutely no business being there. If those schools (say in Switzerland or somewhere--*wink, wink*) appear at sign-up /only/ to present a facade of "We're still hiring", when they have already hired their top choices and just want to witness the signing and ink drying on that contract, and/or when all they are interested in are the candidates they've already vetted? What the bloody %&"! kind of example does that set to hopeful candidates? Get those schools out of the fairs, or have them do their thing in private areas. Call it the "Platinum Candidate Lounge"; call it "Priority Candidate Lobby"; call it whatever you want. Charge another 250 bucks for access. But get those damn schools out of the sign-up sessions!
I'm ready to go to Vegas instead, next time. It'll be a lot more fun.
We went with everything we've got: Excellent references, lots of experience, hardship locations on the resumé, etc. We had seven or eight interviews, all of which were quite positive and often inspiring.
But job offers? Nope. Close calls, all of them, but in the end: Someone else was the sligthly better "fit" (how I hate that word in this context by now...)
I would recommend to disregard all the chatter you may get in advance of a job fair: How brilliant you are. How excellent your career has been so far. How if anyone should get a job it's YOU. How well those years of PYP experience qualify you.
To be quite honest (and hopefully shattering most of your illusions in a still constructive way): Most of it is utter b******t!
We've met other teachers with likewise impressive credentials that any school worth its salt should hire on the spot. Yet, they also walked out with nothing. Some teachers were noticeably very young, but walked out with three or four offers. Others got jobs because they were aggressive and downright repulsive sycophants. And, indeed, some did get jobs because they fully deserved them!
If you go to a fair, it's not much different from going to Las Vegas for . (and, ironically, there was a 'real' casino adjacent to the hotel...). The odds may be slightly more predictable, but in the end I will argue that too much of it is sheer luck of the draw.
By the way, a huge caveat for first-time fair goers (we weren't, but I'm just saying...): Schools will be at sign-up who, in my view, have absolutely no business being there. If those schools (say in Switzerland or somewhere--*wink, wink*) appear at sign-up /only/ to present a facade of "We're still hiring", when they have already hired their top choices and just want to witness the signing and ink drying on that contract, and/or when all they are interested in are the candidates they've already vetted? What the bloody %&"! kind of example does that set to hopeful candidates? Get those schools out of the fairs, or have them do their thing in private areas. Call it the "Platinum Candidate Lounge"; call it "Priority Candidate Lobby"; call it whatever you want. Charge another 250 bucks for access. But get those damn schools out of the sign-up sessions!
I'm ready to go to Vegas instead, next time. It'll be a lot more fun.
Re: Like Going to Vegas for .
Dukkha wrote:
>Schools will be at sign-up who, in my view, have
> absolutely no business being there. If those schools (say in Switzerland or
> somewhere--*wink, wink*) appear at sign-up /only/ to present a facade of
> "We're still hiring", when they have already hired their top
> choices and just want to witness the signing and ink drying on that
> contract, and/or when all they are interested in are the candidates they've
> already vetted? What the bloody %&"! kind of example does that set
> to hopeful candidates? Get those schools out of the fairs, or have them do
> their thing in private areas. Call it the "Platinum Candidate
> Lounge"; call it "Priority Candidate Lobby"; call it
> whatever you want. Charge another 250 bucks for access. But get those damn
> schools out of the sign-up sessions!
>
I cannot possibly agree with you more. See also, schools that show up with one position to fill.
>Schools will be at sign-up who, in my view, have
> absolutely no business being there. If those schools (say in Switzerland or
> somewhere--*wink, wink*) appear at sign-up /only/ to present a facade of
> "We're still hiring", when they have already hired their top
> choices and just want to witness the signing and ink drying on that
> contract, and/or when all they are interested in are the candidates they've
> already vetted? What the bloody %&"! kind of example does that set
> to hopeful candidates? Get those schools out of the fairs, or have them do
> their thing in private areas. Call it the "Platinum Candidate
> Lounge"; call it "Priority Candidate Lobby"; call it
> whatever you want. Charge another 250 bucks for access. But get those damn
> schools out of the sign-up sessions!
>
I cannot possibly agree with you more. See also, schools that show up with one position to fill.
Discussion
I hope you understand why I often provide more competitive and aggressive options when going to a super fair.
Everyone in this field is awesome. Its like working on capital hill or the white house or the palace or the parliament building. Whatever you think of the people inside personally everyone got in the door because they have a marketable resume.
A lot of those "younger" teachers were the sycophants, they have less ego invested in themselves professionally. They are happy to say and do what it takes to make the deal happen, which usually means being a bobble head, and giving a school ownership of you, because really thats what it means to be a good employee.
Those schools that have no jobs really have to go. First, their is a fee thats fluctuated over the years between $500 and $1000 that a school has to pay if it doesnt attend a fair, being a Swiss school at the LON fair is a cheap trip. Second, SA and ISS want those recruiters from high desire locations and elite tier schools there, it gives the fair and the agency status. The reality is all the elite tier schools can recruit without the agencies at all. Third, most of those travel plans and commitments were made well before the actual date of the fair, and they didnt know how close or far they would be from fully staffing their school. Given the potential "sunk costs" even for 1 or 2 people its worth going since they dont really get anything back if they dont go. Fourth, the recruiters/admins want to go its a conference for them and a chance to socialize and have some fun on the schools expense account.
Everyone in this field is awesome. Its like working on capital hill or the white house or the palace or the parliament building. Whatever you think of the people inside personally everyone got in the door because they have a marketable resume.
A lot of those "younger" teachers were the sycophants, they have less ego invested in themselves professionally. They are happy to say and do what it takes to make the deal happen, which usually means being a bobble head, and giving a school ownership of you, because really thats what it means to be a good employee.
Those schools that have no jobs really have to go. First, their is a fee thats fluctuated over the years between $500 and $1000 that a school has to pay if it doesnt attend a fair, being a Swiss school at the LON fair is a cheap trip. Second, SA and ISS want those recruiters from high desire locations and elite tier schools there, it gives the fair and the agency status. The reality is all the elite tier schools can recruit without the agencies at all. Third, most of those travel plans and commitments were made well before the actual date of the fair, and they didnt know how close or far they would be from fully staffing their school. Given the potential "sunk costs" even for 1 or 2 people its worth going since they dont really get anything back if they dont go. Fourth, the recruiters/admins want to go its a conference for them and a chance to socialize and have some fun on the schools expense account.
Re: London Search Newbie Job Fair Diary...
Psyguy
Did you just actually write that everyone on Capital Hill, the white House, etc. is awesome?
Now I understand everything I need to know about your comments and why so many of them are ridiculous.
Did you just actually write that everyone on Capital Hill, the white House, etc. is awesome?
Now I understand everything I need to know about your comments and why so many of them are ridiculous.
Discussion
Yeah I did, politically you can think what you want about the elected, but these are the people who do the best at making everyone as happy as possible all the time. Its not about making you or I happy or getting what we want its everybody and balancing that against your supporters, etc. It is not easy raising the money you need to to run for national office.
The people that work their yeah they all have pretty impressive resumes, even the ones who are lite on academics, have social connections that to cultivate and maintain take social intelligence.
Its easy to sit at home and watch the telly and criticize and disagree, but having worked for the DOS, the people who do the day to day behind the scenes work, are soem of the best our nation has to offer.
The people that work their yeah they all have pretty impressive resumes, even the ones who are lite on academics, have social connections that to cultivate and maintain take social intelligence.
Its easy to sit at home and watch the telly and criticize and disagree, but having worked for the DOS, the people who do the day to day behind the scenes work, are soem of the best our nation has to offer.