The International Schools Review Forum

Hello,
This is my first year trying to look for a job in an international school. I would really like to be in Latin America. I am registered with Search and TIE.. So I have been e-mailing schools directly and through Search for counselor positions and either no one answers or I get a "you don't have the right experience for the job"

I have worked in a public school for 2 years as a school psychologist and all through grad school (part time) I taught ELL plus I have been volunteering abroad for the past 5 summers in schools, shelters, NGOs in Latin America.

So any tips on how to get schools interested in me?

If a school says they are not interested and the job is still open months down the road is it OK to re-contact and try to sell my self again?

If a school doesn't answer my e-mails and I follow up once should I quit emailing, I hate to be a pest or seem like a stalker.

Does the fact that I am a school psych not a counselor hurt me? I do groups and individual counseling a lot currently, I'm looking at counselor jobs because there just aren't many school psych jobs out there right now.

I'm registered for the Cambridge fair but I wonder if it is worth going without having made prior contacts.

Maybe next years once I have 3 years of experience I'd have a better shot???
Any tips or advice would really be appreciated.

Thanks!

In the materials I got from my Search associate, it said that administrators are really busy, get dozens of e-mails a day, and often don't respond; it also said not to be too concerned. Before my first fair three years ago, I also sent out a lot of emails with my resume and got maybe one reply. When I got to the fair, I had all the interviews I wanted and ended up at a school I'd contacted previously.

Now I'm starting up the process again, and yes, it's a little unnerving, but I'm keeping positive and am attending the Cambridge fair. I think my age may be a factor, and my supervisor (who hired me) recommended I go to a fair so they can meet me face to face.

I heard that too, about administrators being busy, some of the schools I am interested in aren't attending the fair I am, and I can't attend more than one because of money and work. Do you think contacting the schools again is a good idea or will they eventually get to my information if they are interested?

You are not alone here, I've sent out around 20 emails. I received about 5 replies which consisted of 'thank you for your interest'. I did have 3 schools email me to arrange an interview based on my profiles at UNI / Search, but they are all in less desirable locations with somewhat dubious repuatations on this site.

I am keeping my fingers crossed that I'll have some notes in my file at the beginning of the fairs that I'll be attending.

Thanks for posting, as I am encountering a similar situation. I'm a high school counselor, and my wife teaches high school science. We have 3 years of successful international teaching experience. We have contacted around 15 schools, and attached cover letters, resumes, and letters of rec as a .pdf. We haven't heard anything back, other than automated responses. Kind of frustrating, but I'm sure something will come up.

Yes it is frustrating... I do understand they are busy at this time of the year though.... but what I really want to know is do you think it is OK to e-mail again???? A lot of the schools that I am interested in are going to fairs I can't attend so I had two thoughts..
1..... Email them before those fairs checking to see if they got the e-mail and see if they had any questions or would like any additional info...

2...... Email them after the fairs they attended if the job was still open.

So far I sent most schools an e-mail with the info they requested and about two weeks later a just checking to see if you got everything email... if I have heard nothing and won't be at one of their fairs should I just stop trying to contact them? Is it worth giving it another shot or is that too desperate sounding?

Nikkor
Did you check out the International School of Vienna in Austria? I know someone who worked there and really liked the school and the package looks great, they seem to have a biology and counselor opening, you should check it out!