I’m trying to get a Biology teaching job at an international school in The Netherlands. I have 2 master’s degrees and have been teaching biology, Astronomy, and Geology for 10 years here in the states. I also completed work to get IBO certification in MYP and DP level teaching, and received my DUO authorization for Bio teaching at all levels in The Netherlands, which typically takes 3-4 months of intense review to get.
Our dilemma is, should we move over before or after I find a position? We know where we want to be and our daughter is going to enter high school next year, so we’d prefer she start at an international school ASAP. My husband will keep his current job, which will allow us to possibly survive on one income. If I’m there, I can apply, interview, and start immediately for any openings. I can also apply for cover position, right? I was thinking this might be a good way to try out schools and get to know the routines, making it easier to get a full-time job with a school when a position opens up. It would also be a lot easier (I think) to interview and be hired if I’m local. But I don’t know if hiring works this way for International Schools? I know I wouldn’t qualify for the 30% rule if I’m already there. Can anyone give me some advice or pros/cons to moving over first or waiting and searching from a distance?
Thank you for your time and advice!
Moving before getting a job?
Re: Moving before getting a job?
I don't know about easier to get a job--but you may end up being a local hire, even though you're foreign--which means that you wouldn't get some of the big benefits that overseas hires get--housing, flights, etc. and that adds up significantly.
A lot of international schools are quite expensive--our tuition bills have run $30K+ per kid. Plus rent, settling in/setting up expenses, insurance, etc. You would want to make very very sure you really understand the cost of living and maintaining 2 households while you wait for hiring that may not happen the first year. Or the next. Or after that.
You didn't mention if you or your husband are EU citizens or Dutch nationals, so if you are, that may make some things easier, I don't know much about those specifics.
A lot of international schools are quite expensive--our tuition bills have run $30K+ per kid. Plus rent, settling in/setting up expenses, insurance, etc. You would want to make very very sure you really understand the cost of living and maintaining 2 households while you wait for hiring that may not happen the first year. Or the next. Or after that.
You didn't mention if you or your husband are EU citizens or Dutch nationals, so if you are, that may make some things easier, I don't know much about those specifics.
Response
A DUO isnt really that difficult and MYP/DIP certification in terms of workshops isnt really worth anything. The crucial question is are you a US citizen, or do you have EU or even better Norwegian citizenship?
If your just an American with a US passport, and all youve got is a DUO, than that means absolutely nothing in terms of eligibility to work. You can apply, you might even get some interviews but actually working immediately, no, thats not how it works in IE of for DE for that matter as an expat. You can apply for cover positions but all of those require you to have a work visa/registration, and none of them are going to really qualify on a relief/supply/substitute/cover position.
Yes being local would open up local DS types of vacancies, but you will need a visa and the requirements to get you one are the same whether you are in country or out. As a LH you will also lose out on a number of highly valuable benefits at ISs, and DSs dont provide those benefits. You will get social insurance a free lunch and salary at a DS.
If your just an American with a US passport, and all youve got is a DUO, than that means absolutely nothing in terms of eligibility to work. You can apply, you might even get some interviews but actually working immediately, no, thats not how it works in IE of for DE for that matter as an expat. You can apply for cover positions but all of those require you to have a work visa/registration, and none of them are going to really qualify on a relief/supply/substitute/cover position.
Yes being local would open up local DS types of vacancies, but you will need a visa and the requirements to get you one are the same whether you are in country or out. As a LH you will also lose out on a number of highly valuable benefits at ISs, and DSs dont provide those benefits. You will get social insurance a free lunch and salary at a DS.
Re: Moving before getting a job?
I can’t figure out your proposition. Why are you moving to Amsterdam? Unless you have some compelling reason beyond “sounds like a fun adventure”, you’ll want to rethink this. International school jobs there are scarce, and once obtained, salaries and benefits are not great. And as pointed out, visa requirements are tricky unless you already have the right passports.
If your husband’s job is moving you there, decide whether you can live on his salary alone, long term. You might need to.
If your husband’s job is moving you there, decide whether you can live on his salary alone, long term. You might need to.
Re: Moving before getting a job?
My husband will have a work permit with his new company, and I believe I can get a work permit after that? I've lived and worked in The Netherlands before, my ancestry is Dutch, so I really want to return and share it with my family. With my husband's job, we have the security to move at this time while our daughter (13) can still benefit and we're young enough to enjoy the traveling.
I'm not concerned with traveling expenses or relocation from the school, and I understand I would lose all of that if we move first. I thought it might be easier to get hired if I were in the country. It seems this isn't true? We are American citizens, but I would have a work permit. Are there other things I can do to qualify for a cover position or to improve my chances of getting a position over there? My main reason for getting the IBO certification was so I would know what I was getting into with the international IB teaching programs. I also wanted to get the DUO done so it was one more task out of the way.
Thanks for all of your suggestions and advice. I'm just trying to figure out the most successful way to go about this transition for my family.
I'm not concerned with traveling expenses or relocation from the school, and I understand I would lose all of that if we move first. I thought it might be easier to get hired if I were in the country. It seems this isn't true? We are American citizens, but I would have a work permit. Are there other things I can do to qualify for a cover position or to improve my chances of getting a position over there? My main reason for getting the IBO certification was so I would know what I was getting into with the international IB teaching programs. I also wanted to get the DUO done so it was one more task out of the way.
Thanks for all of your suggestions and advice. I'm just trying to figure out the most successful way to go about this transition for my family.
Re: Moving before getting a job?
If you have a work permit, yes it will be easier to get hired when you’re in the country, particularly if you’re willing to do cover work. Others can advise you better than I can about your eligibility for a work permit; I know that in most countries it’s harder than just having a spouse with a work permit. It may require that you first find a job at a school willing to sponsor you for a visa, in which case you’re not eligible for cover work and no better off than applying from the US.
Best check with your husband’s company if they can advise you more thoroughly on visas.
Good luck.
Best check with your husband’s company if they can advise you more thoroughly on visas.
Good luck.
Reply
@LJCole63
Your spouses work (residence) permit means noting for you. You will have a family immigration permit which allows you to live and cross borders/travel an unlimited number of times for the length of the visa, but it means absolutely nothing in terms of work. You will still need an employer willing to sponsor a residence permit for you. Which would be the same process for an expat foreigner as it would be for a local foreigner. However being local you will have an advantage as far as availability, and as a local with the DUO you will be able to apply and interview for DSs, as they can call you and you can interview you. None of those DSs will be able to sponsor a work visa for you solely for relief/supply/substitute/cover positions, those are all classified at temporary positions and are not eligible for a work permit. Sure, you can get a work permit after you arrive, provided you have a sponsor, which is the same process as an American in the US. It doesnt change anything.
You really need to be honest with yourself, this is not about you or IE, or you being an IT. This is a family relocation where your spouses job and company is the total game. Your daughter will be going to whatever IS your spouses company has budgeted for it, and if they havent, you will probably be sending your daughter to a local municipal Euro School, hopefully one with an IB program. I get it if you get an IE appointment than your daughter get to go to an IS, but thats not going to happen just because youre there. A dependent visa doesnt allow you to seek or be employed in regular FTE work.
Even if it did change something, even if you were able to obtain a regular work permit, you still have to get the job in an IS, and the ones you would want to send your daughter too and you work at, are essentially the Tier 1/Elite tier ISs and those ISs have very few vacancies in any particular AY and you would specifically need one in biology, and then you would have to compete for the vacancy with about 1000 other applicants. The only way that works for you is if its late late August/Early September a Biology IT leaves/dies and students havent arrived yet but are in a few days and your there and they would rather have someone in place now than a late start and youre in the right place and the right time.
The local DSs dont use roll lists for substitutes/relief/supply/cover DTs they all go through one of the service agencies to obtain those workers.
Your spouses work (residence) permit means noting for you. You will have a family immigration permit which allows you to live and cross borders/travel an unlimited number of times for the length of the visa, but it means absolutely nothing in terms of work. You will still need an employer willing to sponsor a residence permit for you. Which would be the same process for an expat foreigner as it would be for a local foreigner. However being local you will have an advantage as far as availability, and as a local with the DUO you will be able to apply and interview for DSs, as they can call you and you can interview you. None of those DSs will be able to sponsor a work visa for you solely for relief/supply/substitute/cover positions, those are all classified at temporary positions and are not eligible for a work permit. Sure, you can get a work permit after you arrive, provided you have a sponsor, which is the same process as an American in the US. It doesnt change anything.
You really need to be honest with yourself, this is not about you or IE, or you being an IT. This is a family relocation where your spouses job and company is the total game. Your daughter will be going to whatever IS your spouses company has budgeted for it, and if they havent, you will probably be sending your daughter to a local municipal Euro School, hopefully one with an IB program. I get it if you get an IE appointment than your daughter get to go to an IS, but thats not going to happen just because youre there. A dependent visa doesnt allow you to seek or be employed in regular FTE work.
Even if it did change something, even if you were able to obtain a regular work permit, you still have to get the job in an IS, and the ones you would want to send your daughter too and you work at, are essentially the Tier 1/Elite tier ISs and those ISs have very few vacancies in any particular AY and you would specifically need one in biology, and then you would have to compete for the vacancy with about 1000 other applicants. The only way that works for you is if its late late August/Early September a Biology IT leaves/dies and students havent arrived yet but are in a few days and your there and they would rather have someone in place now than a late start and youre in the right place and the right time.
The local DSs dont use roll lists for substitutes/relief/supply/cover DTs they all go through one of the service agencies to obtain those workers.