Teaching at a top international school is a highly sought-after career path, offering unique opportunities to educate diverse student populations while experiencing different cultures. However, securing such a position requires more than just a passion for teaching. Competitive international teachers possess a blend of strong educational qualifications, extensive experience, versatile teaching capabilities, and a commitment to continuous professional development.
In this blog, we will explore the key factors that make a teacher stand out in the competitive landscape of international education, ensuring they are well-prepared to land their dream job overseas.
Educational Qualifications
To teach overseas at a top international school, a minimum of a bachelor’s degree in education plus a government-issued teaching certificate is essential. These qualifications are necessary to obtain a work permit in most countries. While there are exceptions, lacking one or both of these credentials makes you less competitive.
Teaching Experience
The more years of teaching experience you have, the more competitive you are to recruiters. However, many schools also seek to balance their faculties by hiring younger or newly qualified teachers. Relevant, recent teaching experience in the specific position you are applying for is also important. For example, if you are qualified to teach P.E. but have been teaching English for the past ten years, you will be less competitive for P.E. positions than someone currently teaching P.E.
Versatility in Subjects
Being able to teach a range of subjects significantly boosts your competitiveness. For instance, teaching both French and Spanish, or Physics and Chemistry, or even English and History makes you more attractive to schools. Smaller to medium-sized international schools often do not have enough students to justify hiring a full-time teacher for a single subject. Hence, flexibility in teaching multiple subjects is a valuable asset.
IB Certification and Experience
Having an IB certification or experience teaching any IB program definitely gives you a competitive advantage. Many top international schools offer IB programs: the PYP (Primary Years Program), MYP (Middle Years Program), or DP (Diploma Program) for Grades 11 and 12. Top schools in top locations can be selective and will prefer candidates with IB experience, but many other schools will be open to hiring non-IB candidates with inquiry learning training, and then offer to train you in the IB.
Strong References
With Search Associates, you need a minimum of four confidential references. The stronger your references, the more competitive you will be. References reflect not only your teaching and classroom management skills but also your ability to be a positive team member. Great teaching skills alone do not guarantee you will be a great employee! Search Associates’ confidential references are considered the gold standard in the industry, making our candidates highly desirable to top international schools.
Professional Development
Schools appreciate seeing recent professional development in candidates, as it shows a commitment to lifelong learning. Courses that keep you current in your field, any related to assessment and student feedback, and upgrading your IT skills (international schools expect teachers to be proficient in using basic technology in the classroom), you can even take some introductory IB courses online – all are beneficial.
Value-Added Skills
Schools look for candidates who can contribute beyond teaching. Coaching sports teams, leading music or drama programs, running clubs and after-school activities, wellness activities and participating in school-wide committees add significant value. Schools want to know what else you bring to the table and how you can enhance the school’s programs and the school community at large.
Community Involvement
Schools desire teachers who will be positive community members, acting as ambassadors for the school around the clock. Evidence of community service and involvement is a strong advantage.
Resume and Application
A strong, well-formatted resume is crucial. It should be concise, no more than two pages, and easy to read. Focus on achievements rather than a list of roles and responsibilities. An engaging bio and a standout cover letter highlighting your personal and professional accomplishments are essential. Even the best math teacher in the world needs a well-presented application to avoid being overlooked. Recruiters value candidates who can communicate clearly and concisely.
Support from Search Associates
At Search Associates, we assist candidates in writing their resumes, bios, and cover letters. We ensure your Search profile is as competitive as possible. As experts in understanding what international school recruiters seek, we help you present the best version of yourself.
By following these guidelines, you can enhance your competitiveness as an international teacher and secure a position at a top international school.
If you’re a 🇨🇦 Canadian-certified teacher, contact Gary MacPhie at gmacphie@searchassociates.com and visit https://ca.searchassociates.com/ to learn how you can join Search Associates and explore teaching opportunities at top international schools worldwide.
