When I was teaching in Australia around the year 2000, I didn’t really know what international schools were. Sure, I’d heard of Aussie teachers working overseas, but I thought that they were either teaching in local schools (mainly in the UK, as I did briefly) or teaching English to local students in places like Japan and Thailand.
On a trip to Singapore, I also observed that there were some British, Australian and American teachers working in Singapore government schools. This seemed like something that I might like to try.
But it was on a bus trip somewhere between Hanoi and Hoi An while on a holiday with my housemate that my life changed. I met a couple of teachers who were working in an international school in China. They were Science and Mathematics teachers and were bragging about traveling to different countries on every single school holiday.
So I asked ‘What are international schools like?’ This is when I decided that this just might be for me.
Although there is no uniform definition or criteria, international schools are usually characterized by a multinational student body and staff, multilingual instruction, a curriculum oriented towards global perspectives and subjects, and the promotion of concepts such as world citizenship and intercultural understanding.
Many international schools adopt a curriculum from programs and organizations such as the International Baccalaureate, Cambridge Assessment International Education or Advanced Placement. They operate in virtually every country in the world. (I was once offered a job in Uzbekistan)
International schools often follow a curriculum different from the host country, catering mainly to foreign students, such as members of expatriate communities, international businesses or organizations or diplomatic missions. Admission is sometimes open to local students to provide qualifications for employment or higher education in a foreign country, offer higher-level language instruction, or foster cultural and global awareness.
You can read a little more about what international schools teach here
So what’s the appeal?
The commonly thrown-out reasons to work in international schools revolve around three things: 1. highly motivated and well-behaved students 2. financial benefits far beyond what many home countries offer 3. living in another country. These characteristics are in reality quite compelling.
However, to counter these it’s best to add that like everything in life … well it depends. There are great schools, students, parents, financial packages and awesome cities to live in. But there are also some horror stories out there.
I’ve been lucky, but many haven’t. I’ve known of teachers who have been so unhappy that they have broken contract by jumping on the first plane home, without notifying their school, and leaving a fully furnished apartment. In most of these situations, it is likely to be the teacher’s first overseas job and probably within the first few months after arrival. Some suffer from culture shock and homesickness. Many have clearly made a poor decision in terms of the job, school or country or even in determining that this was the right kind of life for them in the first place.
Yet many of us continue to move from country to country living an amazingly fulfilled life of international travel and great connections with our school communities while also saving large percentages of our incomes.
In my twenty years, I have lived in six different countries and enjoyed every one of them immensely. Discounting two years of being ‘trapped’ in Hong Kong from 2020-22, I can honestly say that every time I’ve made a decision to leave a school and country, it has been a difficult one. But each time, though sad at the time, I have left knowing that I had created amazing memories and made friends for life. Friends that are now scattered all throughout the world. Friends whose spare room or couch I can count on being made available whenever I need.
Ok, so how can you get a job and start the adventure?
Just like any job, there are many ways to get started or as I saw it, to ‘get your foot in the door’.
I quickly realised that without international school experience, it would be difficult to crack the best schools in the most popular places. I wanted to work in Singapore and had heard of a great school there that I dreamt of working at. My Head of Department in my Australian school also had ambitions to work at that very same school. When he failed to even get an interview with his outstanding resume and more experience than me, he quickly dismissed my chances of getting a job at any international school. That was pretty motivating actually.
So I started by getting online and sending emails to as many schools as possible. When I did eventually end up in Singapore after two years in the Philippines, I felt pretty proud of myself and was quick to get in touch with my former boss to let him know.
These are the different ways that I have obtained jobs in international schools
– Visiting a school while on holiday, asking for an impromptu interview and leaving my resume (despite there being no job vacancy at the time).
– Applying to a vacancy in Singapore and flying from the Philippines for an interview in person despite being asked to attend a recruitment fair in London a few weeks later.
– Being headhunted by a former boss and asked to fly to China for an interview (all expenses paid).
– Attending my one and only recruitment fair (often referred to as something like speed dating).
– Applying to a position advertised on a school website.
– Using an agency and having a Skype interview.
– Hearing about a job at my old school becoming available, contacting them directly before the position was advertised and having a Skype interview while holidaying with a mate in Thailand.
– A different agency but another Skype interview.
So the best advice that I could offer is here in this list:
- You may need to take a slightly less desired country, city or school for your very first international school job. Be open to all possibilities rather than just targeting one country
- You need to show initiative, be proactive and not be afraid to push the reasons why you will be a great ‘fit’ for your next school.
- You need to be open to applying in many different ways rather than limiting yourself to just applying from websites or attending fairs.
- Every job that you have creates further opportunities and having a good network can be invaluable.
- Continue to engage in professional development and document how you are developing in your career and how you have taken on responsibilities.
- Consider every move like a promotion, even if it isnt actually a job in a higher position. If its where you want to be then it is an improvement on where you are.
- Cost of living needs to be considered above salary.
But there is so much more to consider than just how to get a job. I hope to write much more about my experiences and the things that I have learned that I wish I had known 20 years ago.
Some upcoming topics that I will be getting into soon:
– the different curriculum taught at international schools
– why you can’t believe all that you hear and read (including International Schools Review)
– different career opportunities that can arise (and when every move is a promotion)
– non-profit vs for-profit schools
– taking your kids along for the ride
– the international school community
– recruitment fair advice
– when its time to leave
– reverse culture shock
Until then, thanks for dropping in. I hope you seriously consider the life of an international teacher. It’s truly a great journey to be on.