Job Search Strategies

• Job Search Strategy   A:"Know the overseas teaching market"
• Job Search Strategy   B: "Know why you want to go overseas"
• Job Search Strategy   C: "Start it right."
• Job Search Strategy   D: Learn the Specifics
• Job Search Strategy   E: Narrow Down your Search
• Job Search Strategy   F: Polish your interviewing skills
• Job Search Strategy   G: Be pro-active

Strategy A: "Know the overseas teaching market"

An interview with Pamela Campbell

• Q: How big is the overseas job market?
  According to Friends of World Teaching, there are about 6000 vacancies each year in a professional work force of approximately 18,000 educators in some 1000 American Community Schools, International Schools, private schools, church-related schools, and multi- national industry-supported English-speaking schools and colleges in over 100 foreign countries. In addition there are Department of Defense Dependent schools (DoDDS) in 14 foreign countries. DoDDS also hire many support personnel - secretaries, office workers, technicians.
  
  
• Q: How much do they pay?
  Depends on the school and your qualifications, the range from school to school is very big. From US$15,000 to US$85,000 a year for teaching positions. In a country like Indonesia it's a lot of money. Almost everything you make goes to your savings account. It's better to make 20,000 and save 10,000 than to make 100,000 and spend 200,000. But the most important aspects are the tax-free status, free housing, no utility bills, paid airfare, bonuses and so on. Formally, US citizens must pay taxes while abroad but as long as you make under the cap (US$74,000 per person in 2000, the Congress increases it every year) you owe no tax.
  
  
• Q: How long are overseas contracts?
  A two-year commitment is the usual requirement although there are shorter contracts, too. The majority of schools prefer to have their teachers sign a two-year contract. Most of these contracts are renewable, with a bonus.
  
  
• Q: Does one need to speak a foreign language?
  No, there are very few schools that require knowledge of a foreign language. It is not typical. However, if you are an English teacher looking for work in a local school, knowledge of the local language is important as you will need it to communicate with your employer. It all depends on the country. Nobody will expect you to speak Dutch in Holland as everybody understands English. In France, however, a working knowledge of French is essential if you decide to deal with local schools.
  
  
• Q: Is there anything for non-teaching spouses?
  Yes, there is. Counselors, librarians, coaches, substitute teachers, school nurses, audio-video media specialists, and secretaries are needed and hired throughout the year.
  
  
• Q: How do you get these jobs?
  There are two major factors. First, you must simply know where to apply for them. We have this information for you. Second, and most important, you must know how to go through the recruiting process to secure the best possible position. There are several approaches, including direct contacts, job ads, recruiting agencies, networking, etc. Do not go recruiting unprepared, it is a waste of time and money, as a rule. The best jobs go to those who already know the directors, who have taught overseas and have connections. You need MORE info and special preparation to enter the game. Popular schools receive tons of applications and don't even reply to most of them. And once the recruiting season is over you have no chances until the next year. So, take your time, browse the vacancies, read the Guide. Go through the OLD VACANCIES, too! -- these are an excellent resource for leads, contacts, special info. For example, if a school was looking for Special Ed teachers last year it will probably have similar openings this year, too.

DO NOT WASTE YOUR TIME IN SEARCH OF APPLICATION FORMS! Those who teach in US public schools are familiar with the standardized application forms and impersonal recruitment process. IT DOES NOT WORK THIS WAY OVERSEAS. Use our info for detailed step by step directions and samples.

The package is a combination of the following resources:

1. Daily vacancies online -- all areas, all levels. ESL and K-12 jobs every 24 hours(+occasional college level jobs).
2. The Overseas Schools Directory -- names of administrators, email addresses, webpages, fax and phone numbers, school data sheets, curriculum, enrollment, special programs, etc.
3. The Insider Secrets to Finding a Teaching Job Overseas -- our key program that you must read BEFORE contacting any schools. Overseas recruiting is not country-specific, the same procedures apply to all countries ( ESL schools described separately)
4. Free personal webpage and online resume for international self-promotion. -- you can update them by sending new files, pages do not expire. ALSO: Make sure you get your free subscription to Overseas Teacher's Digest, the monthly newsletter for American teachers abroad, at http://www.overseasdigest.com

****** FYI: TAX FREEDOM DAY Tax Freedom Day, or the day when the average taxpayer actually begins to work for himself and not to pay off taxes (local, state and federal), was May 11 of this year. In 1902, Tax Freedom day was January 31 and in the 1940s (World War II) it was around April 7. By the end of the 1970s it was towards the end of April. Since President Clinton has taken office, Tax Freedom Day has moved into the month of May. Is it any wonder that many people are moving their affairs offshore to take advantage of lower tax jurisdictions?

Strategy B: "Know why you want to go overseas"

Because there are so many personal situations and so many teaching opportunities the first thing you should do is to determine your goals and analyze your situation. Obviously, certified teachers who look for lucrative contracts overseas will have different routes from those without a teaching degree who simply want to explore the world through teaching English.

Professional teachers as well as school administrators, librarians, guidance counselors, etc. have a battery of options to turn to. Some of the choices are: American, British, Canadian and independent international schools, US Dept. of Defense Schools, Christian Schools, Corporate Schools, Private schools and academies, local public schools that recruit teachers from USA, Canada, UK and other countries. People who want to make a career move and teach English overseas also have a wide range of options, including private language schools and English academies, summer schools, private tutoring, etc.

Your strategy will depend on what group you belong. Generally, if you are a certified teacher (administrator, psychologist, librarian, etc.) you will have more options and better contracts. Your best strategy will be to research schools and school systems (not countries!)and target specific employers of your choice. If you have an ESL credential and want to teach English abroad, you should focus on a particular country or region and familiarize yourself with its education market, as well as its culture and language.

To sum it up. Use the strategy that corresponds to your situation:

• 1. All American/British international schools have much in common so you shouldn't worry about foreign languages, curriculum, etc. A US school in Rio has a similar curriculum to that in Milan. So your approach must be GLOBAL.
  
  
• 2. On the other hand, local language schools and academies are all different. The labor and visa regulations as well as cultural differences demand that your approach to these jobs be LOCAL. If you have experience teaching English in a Spanish- speaking country it may not be useful in South Asia, for example. Why is it important to study the program? Because you don't want to waste your time and money. (Yes, you must invest some $$ before you receive your first pay check from an overseas school.)

***** FYI: TAX AVOIDANCE The US Supreme Court found in Gregory vs. Helvering (1935) 293 US 465, that taxpayers may so arrange their affairs as to make their taxes as low as possible. In other words, tax avoidance is legal. Do not confuse this with tax evasion, which is using illegal means to not pay taxes. As a result of what the Supreme Court said in this case, you would be irresponsible to not investigate the use of overseas jobs to legally reduce your tax burden. You have nothing to lose, except the money you pay to the government in the form of taxes!

Strategy C: START IT RIGHT

CERTIFIED TEACHERS There are several very common misconceptions that prevent many potent teachers from entering the exciting world of international education. Perhaps the most common mistake is to define your overseas job hunt by regional or cultural preferences. We keep receiving messages that say, "I'd like to teach in London... or "I am looking for information on teaching in Spain." While starting out with a particular place in mind is a legitimate search method, focusing your efforts on a particular country -- in the beginning of your job search -- will only slow down your progress. Your travel agent will be happy to know exactly where you want to go. For an overseas recruiter, it is a red flag indicating that the candidate has no relevant experience.

Surprisingly, to streamline your search, you must forget about geography for awhile. Most beginners don't know it and waste a lot of time looking only in one small location, ignoring all other options. Unlike travel, teaching overseas is not country- driven. When you pick an itinerary for your overseas holiday, you can compare climes, cultures, landmarks, foods, seasons, transportation, currencies and languages, etc. etc. etc. Meanwhile, international education is defined by school systems, teacher-to-student ratios, facilities, salaries and benefits.

The difference between those who win and those who waste time is that the former are not after a specific country but a stable well-resourced school that offers great teaching opportunities as well as competitive tax free salaries and benefits, including housing, round trip airfare, allowances, bonuses, pension plans, health/life/emergency insurance, no interest car loans, etc.

Remember that teaching overseas is TEACHING, not sightseeing. If your plan is to simply see some famous places, stay at home, save some $$ and buy a tour. Speaking about money... Harry, What's the point of teaching in a fancy city if you can't afford anything? If all you have is just enough money saved to buy a return ticket? For example, we receive a lot of email about teaching in the UK. We have been to England several times and loved the country but to live and work, we found other countries more attractive. For one thing, UK is very expensive -- the fact of life known in the UK as "rip-off Britain", a phrase used now even by Prime Minister Tony Blair. Whether it's bikes or bananas, cars or computers, perfume or gas, you pay a lot more in Britain than anywhere else. The American Community Schools in London find it hard to recruit staff for that reason. Most experienced teachers go elsewhere.

The point being: know the facts before you pick a destination. Make a list of the countries to avoid, and leave all the other options open. There are all kinds of teachers out there. For example, here's a recent email: "I am a Muslim woman who is very strict so my other question is do you have schools in the United Arab Emirates that are more strict? I have been searching on the web and it seems that all of the schools are westernized. This will be a problem for me as I am fully covered." If there is a good contract offered by a school that is located in a country you've never heard about -- don't decline it simply because you have your mind set on a different place! Contracts expire.

In a year or two you will have contacts and experience to fine tune your search. This method is a LOT more effective than waiting for an ideal contract. Instead of picking a country, think in terms of geographic regions. Thus, you remain within the same cultural area but allow yourself the necessary flexibility. If you really want to go to a particular place, prepare yourself for a more extensive search. With the Internet's expansion it is possible although more time consuming. In the Insider Secrets... we have a separate chapter that contains specific information on a targeted job search -- using the Net and other resources. You may also spot a job ad that matches your qualifications and preferences (members please use the Members Login button on our website)--but don't make it your main job search strategy. The bottom line: certified teachers should not approach overseas employment as travel.

These are totally different animals. If you want a successful international career you have to stop thinking country-wise. Be flexible and you'll get where you want to be, sooner than you think. ESL TEACHERS: Use the opposite method. Pick a country or a region (e.g. Central America) and explore it inside out. There are substantial differences in almost all aspects of employment in different areas of the world. For example, a good degree in any area will be more important for Asian employers than an ESL credential and experience.

Schools in Europe will want to see your proven classroom ability first, therefore, references and letters of recommendation proving your teaching ability will count more. You must realize that a lot will depend on your citizenship, marital status, and other circumstances. While Americans don't need a visa to travel to Europe and many other destinations employment is prohibited without a work visa(a requirement that many people ignore). Since many local schools do not advertise internationally, a walk-in approach is often the best way to find work at local language schools. Local ads is the other good method.

* FYI: A GROWING EDUCATIONAL TREND The Department of Education estimates that nationwide there are between 500,000 and 750,000 children being taught at home in the United States. The Home School Legal Defense Association estimates the number to be around 1.23 million children. Regardless of which figure comes closer to mirroring the present popularity of home schooling in the USA, it cannot be denied that home schooling is a growing trend. The reasons for its popularity should be obvious to any casual observer of the present state of public education in the USA. According to Newsweek magazine some 78% of US colleges and universities in 1995 offered remedial courses for material that was supposed to have been mastered in high school. Even worse, 29% of college freshmen in 1995 took a remedial course in basics such as reading, writing and arithmetic. When considering the decreasing public educational standards, lower expectations for students, increasing school violence and greatly diminished parental control of educational policy and subject material taught, it is only logical that parents with the required free time and a strong interest in their children's educational well being would school their children at home.

Strategy D: Learn the Specifics

Consider this. The ECIS reported that its last year's winter job fair in London had 823 vacancies for 564 candidates; ISS Vancouver -- 188 vacancies for 104 candidates seeking positions. It seems like it's the buyers market -- there are more jobs than teachers. Yet only a quarter of them were actually offered contracts. 75 percent went home empty-handed! One of the reasons was that many of those candidates came unprepared. Even when there are urgent openings, overseas school directors are reluctant to hire those who demonstrate strong domestic attitudes and lack of international perspective. What works at home may not be an asset overseas.

There are many aspects to international teaching and if you are a beginner, you must be aware of them before you apply for a job abroad. Being a good teacher is not enough. You must be able to convince your employer, in a compressed recruiting session, that you are stable, self-reliant, and independent. This is where so many good teachers fail. They are good at teaching but not as skillful at promoting themselves. Another common problem is when a candidate is working hard to emphasize the wrong point. ("I am perfectionist!" Overseas directors do not like perfectionists!)

Start with learning about the overseas teaching market. Then analyze your strong and weak points in the light of international teaching. Proceed to developing your MP (Marketing Package). Because your opportunities to communicate with your prospective employers will be limited, your CV and supporting documents must be flawless. Fire your biggest gun immediately. You won't have a second chance. Unlike the traditional job hunting process, you and your overseas recruiter don't have the luxury of unlimited phone time, random job interviews, and flexible schedules.

Therefore, overseas recruiters rely heavily on the quality of the paperwork and phone calls. The reason is simple: it is difficult to learn about a candidate who lives in another part of the world. This is not rocket science but it takes some time and effort. Don't underestimate your professional CV. A good M.P. is a solid piece of personal and professional credibility. It targets a specific group of schools and emphasizes your specific teaching skills. Its impact is twofold; you project a strong image to the recruiter and at the same time it gives you the confidence that is often the main winning factor. Your MP is your laser guided type weapon. Dumb bombs are no competition to precise munitions.

Strategy E: Narrow Down your Search

Because of innumerable combinations of skills, experiences, qualifications, preferences and personal situations there can be no universal approach. Generally, there are jobs for all. But to find your perfect match you must narrow down your search by eliminating unrealistic options in order to save time and effort. A successful job hunt is always targeted (not in terms of Geography) It allows you to focus your time and energy on the specific goals. For example, if you are Canadian there are no jobs for you with the US Department of Defense, it would be a waste of time to pursue it. If you are not certified it would be a waste of time to go after those schools that require certification. If you have dependents there is no sense in trying to win a job with the schools that have a no- dependents policy. If you are an unmarried couple stay away from Middle East and Christian schools.

Some schools don't hire smokers. Others offer great bonuses if you help with administration and so on. Do you see where I am coming from? The info you need: overseas schools of different types and locations, foreign countries and cultures, good and bad experiences, successful techniques, useful tips, etc. You must be aware of the possible political complications in the region, cultural diversity and potential health hazards. Be informed, it ALWAYS pays back! Amazingly, a lot new candidates make no effort to learn the new job market. No wonder the rejection level among them is so high -- even when there are many available positions. It would be dumb not to use this situation to your advantage. It is relatively easy for those who are willing to learn: the vast majority of applicants still use the cowboy approach and are no competition to an informed candidate. ****************************************************

** FYI: A TAXING ISSUE The US taxpayer continues to be distressed at the state of the nation's tax laws and regulations. A recent poll conducted by AP found that 66% of those polled believe that taxes are too complex and that 56% pay someone else to prepare their tax return. Unfortunately, the situation is unlikely to change anytime soon as the Congress just loves to tinker with the tax code. The Internal Revenue Service has noted that 20% of all bills introduced so far this year in the Republican- controlled Congress have some effect on the tax code. President Clinton has also proposed over 100 changes to the code himself.

According to the IRS, over 6,000 changes to the tax code have been implemented since 1986 and the Agency finds itself unable to cope with all the tinkering. It only seems logical that numerous and frequent changes to the tax code not only confuse the taxpayer but also the IRS because it makes it difficult for the Agency to properly form procedures that take into consideration the changes due to its already overloaded computer systems and work force. This means the Agency is unable to give correct and concise answers to taxpayers on how the changes affect them. This in turn does nothing to further the IRS's brand new image of being "taxpayer friendly."

Strategy F:"Polish your interviewing skills."

Those who teach at public schools often underestimate the importance of a personal interview. Because the government recruiting is made as impersonal as possible, (to avoid lawsuits) many people think overseas schools are the same. No! IT DOES NOT WORK THIS WAY WITH OVERSEAS SCHOOLS! Of course, they will study your resume, too, but in the end it is your personality that will determine if you get a job. Overseas schools are like a submarine's crew that must be compatible and supportive of each other. Invest a good deal of time in preparation for your job interviews. Many first-time overseas candidates won't do it so it is your chance to stand out of the crowd. They'd think, "Give me a big list of vacancies and I'll find something that will suit me." Yes, we post new job ads every day.

However, it is not that easy... This is one of the most common areas where so many potent teachers fail. Do not complain that we did not warn you! A lot of people start out in the wrong direction -- by hunting down job ads and sending out dozens of resumes. It may be a good approach early in the season (fall) with the purpose of establishing contacts and generating links. This is the only way to go if your situation is specific: e.g. if your field is rather narrow and it is hard to find a position unless the pool of schools is very large. Do it right, though -- do not expect a job offer, so do not overload your message with details. Write a summary (use the guidelines and samples in the Insider Secrets) and ask for information. If your strategy is targeted you won't need to do the monkey business of sending hundreds of un-targeted letters.

Follow our program! Its only purpose is to maximize your chances and reduce risks. Recruiting know-how is vital for all overseas candidates. OK, so you've determined your market, your strategy, you've communicated with the potential schools and established some kind of rapport. You know where your best bets are. The schools liked your CV ... they like your webpage and you photo on it. They have vacancies in your field of expertise.

You have interviews on schedule and you feel good. This is where most people stop. But this is where the real game begins! If you have spent so much of your time and energy on responding to job ads you may not be able to concentrate on the most important goal, the face-to-face job interviews with the overseas recruiters! Because we have only a few job interviews in our lifetime most of us have little or no competitive skills in this area. But if you think it's an obstacle you are dead wrong. IT IS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY THAT MANY PEOPLE NEVER UTILIZE. Lack of interviewing skills among the majority of teachers presents you with an excellent opportunity to beat your competition -- most people do not know how to lead job interviews, they are too busy looking for job ads. As a result, these teachers perform so poorly that even schools with urgent vacancies turn them down.

Interviewing skills and techniques are so important that we included two separate chapters in our program with the specific strategies, techniques and detailed descriptions of the international job interviewing process. We even have a chapter on body language in an international interview. As you remember the ECIS London reported 823 vacancies for 564 candidates. "What competition?" I'd like to ask you. Is THIS competition? " Come on ... Right now, only a quarter of candidates are typically offered contracts. It's the lack of self-marketing skills (as well as ignorance of international specifics) that accounts for these astonishing results --being a selective fair, ECIS pre-screens candidates to make sure that they formally qualify for the jobs offered. Still, most of them fail! Isn't it amazing? The bottom line: devote much of your time to developing your interviewing strategy as well as rehearsing your performance because this is where most of your competition will fail. If you were an actor on Broadway wouldn't you learn your part before the show? International recruiting is much the same:. Beat that!

Strategy G: Be pro-active