The International Schools Review Forum

Professional outfits, check. List for items I need to bring, check. Spreadsheets of school information, check. List of questions to ask prospective schools, check. Et cetera, et cetera, check, check.

As I prepare for my first fair next week, all that's left to do is go through my example interview questions a few more times (I am overprepared in that department) and think of how I can layer my clothing so that I do not freeze in Iowa (I live in Texas and I type this while looking out my window on an 80 degree day). I can't help but feel all mushy about how indispensible this forum has been for me as a member, as well as during the year or so before that as I lurked and learned.

Super-thanks to everyone who contributes to this site. Your time, opinions, and insight have given me confidence, made me consider things I wouldn't have otherwise, and made me feel part of an awesome community of teachers.

Perhaps I should save my thanks for when I get a job, but I am pretty sure that I will. It may not be the Super Tier One that many of y'all are going for or have already landed, but it will be something. I have dreamed of living overseas for 75% of my life. The thought of fulfilling that dream and combining it with my passion for teaching is too exciting.

Thank you, ISR!

I will be @ UNI also. I'm dreading the cold more than interviewing. I absolutely hate the cold.

Yeah, it's friggin' COLD in Waterloo in February! But the fair itself is very collegial, and even the recruiters will give you plenty of advice (I sat among several on the short flight and a shared shuttle). The schools there seemed more intent on hiring on the spot.

Escapeartist, I'd love an update from the UNI fair. Let us know how you're doing if you have time.

Best of luck.

Waterloo is cold in February ! So true.

Great fair, though. Professional, and lots of actual hiring going on.

Hope to hear how it goes.

Great little local pizza place across from the convention center called Doughy Joeys. Not a ton of options in the area, but this was a friendly spot with good pizza and local brews on tap.

Good luck!

I've been lurking for months, but this is my first post. I could echo everything escapeartist said... I'm grateful to all of you for your insight into this process! I, too, am gearing up for my first fair (UNI) and feel SO much more prepared.

escapeartist - I'm also coming from Texas and am dreading the crazy cold temps this weekend!

Trojan - thanks for the tip about the pizza place!

Doughy Joey's! That was indeed a pretty fun place. Just keep in mind, especially for lunch, that there will probably be recruiters eating there as well, so stay "on."

Nice. Good luck to all attending!

@heyteach

It would be totally awesome if a chance meeting at Doughy Joey's resulted in an offer for someone.

UPDATE!

I landed a desired position with a desired package in a desired location. Well, what I consider to be desirable, anyway. No, not a tier one, but a good fit and a respectable start to my international career.

Overall the UNI fair was a great experience. I, like everyone else, had some ups and some downs, but I found the staff to be professional and helpful, the fair to be well-organized and easily navigated, the recruiters to be in jovial yet sometimes frazzled spirits (I'm not gonna lie, though, one of them was a jerk), and Iowa itself to be freezing but full of friendly people. I highly recommend the fair as a place for people new to the international scene (like I am) to start.

There are loads of tips on this site, so I do not want to repeat too much what others have said, but here are my two cents:

--research schools ahead of time and, while remaining open to possibilities, have the general scope of your search pre-determined and the schools within your desired regions investigated (within reason). Too many people were doing this while at the fair. You will be busy enough with other concerns for this to be one of them. Take care of it ahead of time and enjoy the load off of your shoulders during crunch time. Save the researching for any schools that weren't on your radar but suddenly have a position or have taken an interest in you.

--take a bottle of water and decent snacks. There will be a lot of hustling about and you won't always be able to stop. Never underestimate the power of hydration and nutrition to soothe your nerves and keep you focused. I'm serious.

--if you don't have the luxury of staying at the fair hotel, being in walking distance to the fair, or having a rental car, research places to go away from the convention center. Find a library, a coffee shop, a restaurant, a bookstore so that you can get away from the energy of the fair for awhile. This made a tremendous difference for me. Being able to get away during my breaks, listen to music, and reflect on my experience was instrumental in keeping me calm and focused. The mood at the fair itself can be intense. Maybe that's your thing. It isn't mine.

Best of luck to everyone. Push through the disappointing times. Not everything will be a good fit, and that's okay. Stay positive and focus on your strengths.

Congrats to you! I'm glad it was a good experience for you!

Congratulations! And thanks for the post, great suggestions!

Great tips, especially water/snacks, and a get-away spot. Will keep those in mind! And congrats!