Q: How welcoming are schools to a potential candidate trying to stop by for a in-person visit early in the hiring cycle?
I'm a SS HS teacher in Texas. Four years under my belt, Licensed, Masters degree, AP experience, and ready to leave. From all the lurking I've been doing I think I should be competitive at least, but I want to potentially give myself a little springboard into my first placement internationally. I enjoyed Vietnam when I vacationed there a couple years ago, and am considering going back for my Thanksgiving break. Would it be well received by the schools there for a teacher expressing interest to come by while in the country on holiday? And if so, should I focus on the schools that are on the American curriculum or try to stop by as many as I can in order to get some face time? Any and all advice is welcome!
Primary reasons for targeting Vietnam: Familiarity with the culture and cuisine, Savings potential, and (could be completely wrong here) I feel like I could integrate into the local scene better than in my second choice of China.
Job Hunting on Vacation
Re: Job Hunting on Vacation
Most schools are pretty receptive and it could give you a leg up. Email ahead and make arrangements. In small schools you’ll likely get to meet a member of SMT, and in bigger ones someone from HR. Manage your expectations; a meet and greet with short tour is realistic. An interview or anything else is gravy, but if you push for it you risk coming across as too grabby.
Good luck.
Good luck.
Response
Thanksgiving holiday would depend on if the IS was actually on break. Thanksgiving is just a regular work day outside the US and outside ASs that follow a US calendar (In Japan Christmas is a regular work day for Japanese).
How it would be received depends on the IS , leadership and how busy everyone is that day, End of November is near end of term, and leadership may be very busy on any particular day, depending on the time you propose to visit.
I would suggest you get your travel schedule fixed, identify ISs with vacancies you are competitive for, than contact the ISs you are interested in and send an interest letter to them by email. You should try a number of leadership in the IS as individual schedules may vary ( IE.. the principal may be too busy but the HOS may have several open hours).
At that time of year, any IS that accepts the invitation is probably at least interested, and has a better than even probability of having some utility. I would otherwise concur with @Sid, keep your expectations low, a meet and greet and a tour is what you can expect, and if it turns into an interview thats the whole cupcake and the Hello Kitty sprinkles.
As for ISs to target understand that ASs that follow the US calendar, may have that single day off, and no ones going to want to give up a holiday with friends and family for an impromptu interview with a perspective IT, considering that end of November is early but firmly into the recruiting cycle.
How it would be received depends on the IS , leadership and how busy everyone is that day, End of November is near end of term, and leadership may be very busy on any particular day, depending on the time you propose to visit.
I would suggest you get your travel schedule fixed, identify ISs with vacancies you are competitive for, than contact the ISs you are interested in and send an interest letter to them by email. You should try a number of leadership in the IS as individual schedules may vary ( IE.. the principal may be too busy but the HOS may have several open hours).
At that time of year, any IS that accepts the invitation is probably at least interested, and has a better than even probability of having some utility. I would otherwise concur with @Sid, keep your expectations low, a meet and greet and a tour is what you can expect, and if it turns into an interview thats the whole cupcake and the Hello Kitty sprinkles.
As for ISs to target understand that ASs that follow the US calendar, may have that single day off, and no ones going to want to give up a holiday with friends and family for an impromptu interview with a perspective IT, considering that end of November is early but firmly into the recruiting cycle.