Hello All,
I am hoping some of you will be able to help an amateur looking for answers. I have been reading through a lot of these threads, but haven't seen this particular situation addressed.
I am not a teacher, but my significant other is. I have recently accepted a job opportunity which will have us moving from the U.S. to Europe. My wonderful and supportive girlfriend is sacrificing a lot to support my career, so I'm trying to do everything in my power to make sure she is happy and can continue her fulfilling teaching career overseas.
What I'm looking for is any advice regarding the best way to go about targeting specific schools. There are only 2-3 international schools to which she will be able to apply, so it's important to handle it properly from the beginning. From what I've gathered from this forum, this is especially true in Europe, which seems to be very competitive. While she doesn't have any international teaching experience, I'm hoping that her other attributes (and the fact she will already be in the area) can offset that fact. Since I assume it is relevant, she is in her sixth year teaching elementary school and has a masters degree in early childhood education, among other skills and achievements.
Does anyone have any experience with a similar situation? Does she have to be certified in Europe, or is a U.S. certification sufficient? What can she do to prepare herself to be as competitive as possible in a targeted situation such as this?
Thank you so much in advance for any and all input!
Targeting Specific School(s)
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HuskerMigrant
- Posts: 3
- Joined: Wed Sep 05, 2012 3:10 pm
- Location: United States
Advice
The biggest issue is going to be her visa status. You write shes your girlfriend so you dont qualify for a dependents visa. That really only leave a business visa (which isnt a work permit) or a tourist visa (which could be as long as 6 months). Neither of them is a work permit, which is what she would need. Unless one of those schools has a vacancy for a primary school teacher this late in the year, targeting a school isnt going to be effective. Being a local hire she would be attractive, but the school would again, still have to secure a work permit for her.
Typically european schools want 5+ years experience, the masters is good, but a lack of PYP experience is going to be an issue for the real international schools.
Many european schools are always hiring for substitutes or tutors, and while it only pays an hourly or daily wage, its a way to build a relationship with administrators, so that when a vacancy or emergency vacancy (someone goes on maternity leave), she will already be there and have an established reputation in the school, that might get her a full time position.
An american (any western) teaching credential that is standard for teaching at a public school in your state/province is acceptable for teaching at a school in Europe.
My advice is that she start the authentication process for the country you are going to now. What she needs to do is get certified copies of her teaching certificate and degree (some countries also require the transcripts) and then send those to her secretary of state for an "Apostille", which is a document that verifies the authenticity of the documents. She then sends those off to the specific countries embassy for an authentication or legalization. It can be a lengthy process.
Typically european schools want 5+ years experience, the masters is good, but a lack of PYP experience is going to be an issue for the real international schools.
Many european schools are always hiring for substitutes or tutors, and while it only pays an hourly or daily wage, its a way to build a relationship with administrators, so that when a vacancy or emergency vacancy (someone goes on maternity leave), she will already be there and have an established reputation in the school, that might get her a full time position.
An american (any western) teaching credential that is standard for teaching at a public school in your state/province is acceptable for teaching at a school in Europe.
My advice is that she start the authentication process for the country you are going to now. What she needs to do is get certified copies of her teaching certificate and degree (some countries also require the transcripts) and then send those to her secretary of state for an "Apostille", which is a document that verifies the authenticity of the documents. She then sends those off to the specific countries embassy for an authentication or legalization. It can be a lengthy process.
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HuskerMigrant
- Posts: 3
- Joined: Wed Sep 05, 2012 3:10 pm
- Location: United States
Thank you very much for the input, PsyGuy. We have had to go through the apostille process with other immigration documents, so we are at least familiar. I will certainly pass this information along to her ASAP.
I'd like to clarify a couple points in order to see if it changes any of the advice you have. We are moving to Amsterdam and my distinction as a highly skilled migrant allows my girlfriend to get a work visa in the Netherlands (although this rule is changing at the end of this month). She will not be coming over permanently until towards the end of this year and is looking to get a full time teaching position starting next fall (2013). I've read here that schools begin posting vacancies right around when she will be coming over and maybe even a little before that. She is open to substituting, but primarily as a way to move into a full-time position.
In your opinion, do you think it is worthwhile to reach out to schools prior to them listing their vacancies for next year and describing the situation? Or is it better to wait for positions to be posted and then apply for them directly? Should she contact them about substituting and then mention her interest in full-time work?
Thanks again!
I'd like to clarify a couple points in order to see if it changes any of the advice you have. We are moving to Amsterdam and my distinction as a highly skilled migrant allows my girlfriend to get a work visa in the Netherlands (although this rule is changing at the end of this month). She will not be coming over permanently until towards the end of this year and is looking to get a full time teaching position starting next fall (2013). I've read here that schools begin posting vacancies right around when she will be coming over and maybe even a little before that. She is open to substituting, but primarily as a way to move into a full-time position.
In your opinion, do you think it is worthwhile to reach out to schools prior to them listing their vacancies for next year and describing the situation? Or is it better to wait for positions to be posted and then apply for them directly? Should she contact them about substituting and then mention her interest in full-time work?
Thanks again!
Reply
That clarification does. Hange things. I'll dispense with the lengthy discussion regarding recruiting and how the work permit process effects it, since you didn't ask.
She should apply whenever the school posts a vacancies for a suitable position. Schools really don't look at blind, or cold applications. IS recruiting starts in November, though many European schools don't really know how they need until May. Substitute applications are pretty much year round, but they will only be interested and accept your application when your local.
Municipal schools don't usually post vacancies until May or June either, but you would need native language fluency in Dutch and outside of EAL, an American teacher unfamiliar with their education system, shouldn't expect a lot of success with their application.
She should apply whenever the school posts a vacancies for a suitable position. Schools really don't look at blind, or cold applications. IS recruiting starts in November, though many European schools don't really know how they need until May. Substitute applications are pretty much year round, but they will only be interested and accept your application when your local.
Municipal schools don't usually post vacancies until May or June either, but you would need native language fluency in Dutch and outside of EAL, an American teacher unfamiliar with their education system, shouldn't expect a lot of success with their application.
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HuskerMigrant
- Posts: 3
- Joined: Wed Sep 05, 2012 3:10 pm
- Location: United States
Well, with a leading statement like that, PsyGuy, I have to ask: how does the work permit process effect recruiting? :) Since you mentioned a local hire being attractive, I didn't think to follow-up.
She will be focusing exclusively on international schools as she would be lucky to have fluency in Dutch by the time this rotation is up (2-3 years). Noted about applying only to open positions. We'll just have to cross our fingers that something suitable opens up and they have a strong enough preference for local hires to offset her lack of international experience.
She will be focusing exclusively on international schools as she would be lucky to have fluency in Dutch by the time this rotation is up (2-3 years). Noted about applying only to open positions. We'll just have to cross our fingers that something suitable opens up and they have a strong enough preference for local hires to offset her lack of international experience.
Discussion
Well simply put, she doesnt have the work permit/visa now (she doesnt have a Personal Identity Number). The Netherlands has really strict labor laws and regulations. So while IS recruiting is happening pretty soon, without a work permit shes like every other overseas foreign hire, and its a long time from now to then. As far as the recruiter knows you two may break up, she may never get the work permit and require sponsorship, she may not qualify and a whole lot of other "what ifs" between now and then. Primary positions arent very hard to fill either, and a recruiter would much rather go with an eligible hire now, then hold out until very late in the recruiting season on a hire thats a "maybe".
I see two paths unfolding, if there is a vacancy between now and when she arrives, she's not going to be given an offer. The schools involved can afford to be very selective, and and she's not competitive enough. If however its August, and there's a last minute vacancy for a grade your gf teaches and she's their, has her paperwork in order, an interview in person, and has the right visa and permit, then the odds shift into her favor.
I see two paths unfolding, if there is a vacancy between now and when she arrives, she's not going to be given an offer. The schools involved can afford to be very selective, and and she's not competitive enough. If however its August, and there's a last minute vacancy for a grade your gf teaches and she's their, has her paperwork in order, an interview in person, and has the right visa and permit, then the odds shift into her favor.