There's a lot of postings on the different job fairs. Some posters think it's better to go early, to a fair like Bangkok. However Cambridge seems to be a fair with more schools.
Do schools 'save' jobs for Cambridge- or do they commit early- leaving those at Cambridge/UNI to 'pick up the pieces'. I know it depends on the candidates, opening etc.
I looked at the schools at Bangkok for Search, then looked at the schools for Search at Cambridge. I was surprised that schools such as SAS weren't at Bangkok, but were going to Cambridge.
Trying to determine whether I buy a plane ticket from US to Bangkok, or wait and go to Cambridge and save a lot of money in travel.
Early job fair- Bangkok or wait for later- Cambridge?
[quote="guest5"]If you check the list of schools in the ISS website, SAS went to the ISS fair in Bangkok.[/quote]
I saw that. SAS didn't go to Search though in Bangkok, but is going to Search SF. My question is more of whether or not an early, smaller fair is more advantageous than a later fair that might be larger.
My inclination is that if you're a good candidate a school will offer you a job no matter which fair- I've probably answered my own question.
I saw that. SAS didn't go to Search though in Bangkok, but is going to Search SF. My question is more of whether or not an early, smaller fair is more advantageous than a later fair that might be larger.
My inclination is that if you're a good candidate a school will offer you a job no matter which fair- I've probably answered my own question.
I also think that many of the better schools do a lot of their hiring outside the fairs. We've usually communicated with the schools we've been interested in and offered to fly out at our own expense for an interview. From what we've been told, they have many candidates who do that. It gives both the school and the candidate more of an opportunity to see whether it is a good "fit" than a 30 - 60 minute interview at a fair. Of course, it makes it very expensive and you don't want to be flying out to very many schools! We've done the fair route, but the last couple of times, we've done a lot of communicating with the schools we were interested in and then flew out to our top choice. It's probably a toss up as to whether to go to Bangkok or Cambridge. I agree that schools will probably want to hire the best candidates, but don't know whether schools hold a position open to interview a candidate who will be at a later fair or whether they will go ahead and fill a position if they see someone whom they think is a strong candidate and might be "nabbed" by another school. My inclination would be to think that some positions might be gone before Cambridge, but that others would open up that wouldn't be open yet at the Bangkok fair. I think that schools are pushing up their dates by which their current staff has to commit by, though.
[quote="guest5"]My inclination would be to think that some positions might be gone before Cambridge, but that others would open up that wouldn't be open yet at the Bangkok fair. I think that schools are pushing up their dates by which their current staff has to commit by, though.[/quote]
Thanks for the input. I hadn't considered flying to schools individually- and that really takes a leap of faith I think. On the other hand I'd think a school that had a candidate come out to meet with them specifically would, at the very least, be impressed by their commitment.
I do think that job fairs seem to be pushed earlier each year. I've also read reports of schools asking teachers to commit in Oct if not earlier as well.
Cambridge seems to have many interesting schools, but many of them have already been to prior fairs- and I can't help but think that some jobs have closed. Although like you say- some may have opened.
Thanks for the input. I hadn't considered flying to schools individually- and that really takes a leap of faith I think. On the other hand I'd think a school that had a candidate come out to meet with them specifically would, at the very least, be impressed by their commitment.
I do think that job fairs seem to be pushed earlier each year. I've also read reports of schools asking teachers to commit in Oct if not earlier as well.
Cambridge seems to have many interesting schools, but many of them have already been to prior fairs- and I can't help but think that some jobs have closed. Although like you say- some may have opened.
We went to UNI years ago when it was one of the last fairs (now it is one of the earliest). We did find that many of the positions we were interested in were gone by the time the recruiters got to UNI, but I would think that would be more of a problem when it followed the ISS/Search Fairs on the east coast than it would be for the people attending Cambridge after UNI, since UNI is a smaller fair and many of the top tier schools don't attend. That said, we liked the fair and did get a couple of offers at great schools.
Flying out to a school gives you a much better feel for the "fit" of the school and does take a leap of faith, but I think that the school wouldn't encourage you to fly out unless they are seriously considering you.
Flying out to a school gives you a much better feel for the "fit" of the school and does take a leap of faith, but I think that the school wouldn't encourage you to fly out unless they are seriously considering you.