Job Search Strategies
Searching for an international job requires perseverance, usually over many months. Candidates often describe the recruiting process as “a marathon, not a sprint”.
There are a few different ways to approach your job search.
- Wait for schools to contact you. While this does happen occasionally, in Search’s experience, this passive approach yields minimum results.
- Apply to only a handful of schools that exactly match your expectations, or only target schools in a specific city/country. While you should definitely apply to your favourite schools, you risk limiting your opportunities by putting all your eggs in a few baskets. This often leads to disappointment and could leave you scrambling at the end of the recruiting cycle. It’s important to keep an open mind.
- Apply to a broad range of schools – different types of schools in different regions, for all suitable positions. This approach does take time/effort but in Search’s experience this is the BEST strategy, and maximizes your Search membership. Apply first and then evaluate those schools that express interest in your application. Your communication with those schools will allow you to evaluate the schools far better than anything you can do in advance. Simply put: the more schools to which you apply and the longer you continue to apply, the greater the probability of success.
SEARCH JOB FAIRS
Attending a Search Job Fair should be an important part of your job search strategy, and should complement your online applications. Did you know that over 65% of Search placements happen via matches made via our database and daily email updates? Check our Fair Webpage for information about the fairs, eligibility criteria and the schedule of all of our famous job fairs. Our fairs will fill up quickly so if you are interested in attending a fair(s), register early to avoid disappointment.
If you are in or near Canada, we recommend that you attend the Toronto Search Fair, Feb 8-9, 2025, held in partnership with Queen’s University. Queen’s, renowned for its longstanding presence in international education through the Queen’s Fair (TORF), has now joined Search Associates to make the Toronto Search Fair the premier international teacher recruiting event in Canada.
The Toronto Fair is open to all certified teachers in all subjects and grade levels, including leadership candidates. Previous international teaching experience is an advantage but not required. Newly qualified teachers or soon-to-be certified teachers (B.Ed students graduating in 2025) are also welcome.
Here’s our Recommended Job Search strategy.
- Make sure you have a strong, effective Resume. Then tailor your cover letter to the position and school you are applying to
- Keep an Open Mind. Apply to as many schools as possible — different types of schools in different regions.
- Apply first…And then evaluate those schools that express interest in your application. Your communication with those schools will allow you to evaluate the schools far better than anything you can do in advance.
- Persist in the months ahead. The more schools you apply to and the longer you continue to apply, the greater the probability of success.
