Teaching Abroad: 5 Tips To Get Started
Calling all teachers! If you have ever considered working overseas, but aren’t sure how, when, or where to start, you have come to the right place. I taught secondary music at an American school in Morocco for the 2018-19 and 2019-20 school years. Here I met dozens of other educators all in different points of their career. Whether you are a brand new teacher like I was or a seasoned veteran, working in international schools is a wonderful and economic way to see the world, meet like-minded people, and pursue the career you love. Here are my top five tips to get started:
Tip #1: You don’t have to just teach English. When I first looked into teaching internationally, I thought that my only ticket there was to get a TEFL certification and teach English—even though my degree is in Music Education. Then one day in class during my junior year, our TA gave a presentation on teaching in international schools, which was something I didn’t even know I could do. This opened my eyes to the possibilities of teaching the subject I’m trained in anywhere in the world. While teaching English abroad can be a wonderful experience, it is something anybody can do without needing a teaching degree or certificate. Most international schools, however, will require their educators to hold a degree in the subject they have a teaching certificate in. Whether that’s elementary education, history, math, or in my case–music, you can use your subject-area knowledge in any international school.
My friends and coworkers from my first year. Teachers of kindergarten, math, history, English, and fourth grade.
Tip #2: Register with a recruiting agency. There are a few main recruitment organizations that work to connect educators with international schools. These are International Schools Services (ISS), Search Associates, and The International Educator (TIE). The vast majority of international schools will recruit through all three platforms, so all you need to do is choose the one that works best for you.
I conducted my job search through ISS, a non-profit with a goal of improving international education. ISS is a well-respected organization that works to connect over 500 international schools with thousands of educators. As a job seeker, you will want to pay the fee for a one-year premium membership. This grants you access to job applications, ISS-sponsored job fairs, and professional development opportunities. The fee for an ISS premium membership is currently $75.
Search Associates is an agency that is very similar to ISS, with one main difference: when registered with them, Search Associates will assign an “associate” to each candidate to aid in the job search process. This associate is somebody who has experience teaching internationally and knows what recruiters look for in each candidate. While the candidate is responsible for the legwork of applying and interviewing with schools, the assigned associate helps along the way and answers any questions that arise. The fee to join as a member of Search Associates is $225 and is valid for three years or until you accept an international job, whichever comes first.
TIE is less popular than ISS or Search Associates, but still a solid option when looking for an international teaching job. Their annual membership is $49 and includes many great resources such as a community connector so candidates can meet other international teachers and an events calendar so you never miss a webinar, workshop, or school recruiting fair.
Tip #3: Start early. If you’re used to teaching in the United States, you’ll find that most job openings are posted in the late spring and early summer. However, because of all the extra logistics that go into international teaching (finding housing, buying flights, work visas, etc.), positions at international schools are typically posted in the fall and winter. By March, the vast majority of these positions will be filled, which is why it is so important to start connecting with schools early. September or October is the perfect time to register with a recruitment agency and begin your dream job search.
Tip #4: Make sure your profile is ready to go. When joining a recruitment agency, you will have to fill out various forms and questionnaires that will be seen by international schools. These will include information about you and your experience as well as references of your choosing. Since I was a senior in college when going through this process, I asked the professors that I had a good relationship with to provide references. If you have some teaching experience, you will want to use relevant supervisors and coworkers. You will also want a revised resume and professional headshot that will be visible on your profile. Think of it almost as online dating for educators. School recruiters will only take a minute to review your profile and resume before moving on to the next candidate. You want to create a good first impression that can be carried with you to an interview.
Tip #5: Have an open mind. When I first began my international job search, the only place I wanted to be was in Western Europe, and more specifically, France. However, I quickly learned that I needed to expand my horizons for a better chance at landing a job. While Europe is a wonderful place to live, it is very competitive for teachers. Most schools there will not sponsor you for a work visa, and those that do likely will not offer the same benefits as schools in other locations, such as housing. International schools in regions like Southeast Asia, the Middle East, and Northern Africa will almost always offer their teachers a tax-free salary, housing, transportation to and from work each day, annual round-trip flights to visit home, and more. If traveling with a significant other or family, there are typically even more benefits that you are entitled to, depending on the school. In keeping an open mind about job location, you may end up in a better situation than you ever thought possible.
The most important thing when looking for an international teaching job is just to get started. I know firsthand how easy it is to get overwhelmed with information and opinions while trying to make this leap. However, once you begin the process, you will make connections with fellow teachers, recruiters, and administrators from all over the world. My goal throughout this teaching abroad blog series is to help you achieve your best international teacher dreams. Stay tuned for upcoming tips and stories from fellow international teachers to help you in your job search.
