Frequently
Asked Questions about
Recruitment for International Schools
For what schools does ISS recruit?
ISS recruits for approximately 200 international
American schools worldwide, including community-sponsored,
company-sponsored, and proprietary institutions. In most cases, the
curriculum is U.S.-oriented and English is the language of instruction.
Who attends these schools?
Typically, the students are children of expatriate
families who work in international business, diplomatic and government
service, and other sectors. The enrollment in these schools is
multinational and often includes children from the host country. More
than 270,000 children in grades K-12 attend American and international
schools overseas, excluding U.S. Department of Defense Schools, for
which ISS does not recruit. As a worldwide average, the U.S. student
population in these schools is about 30 percent of the total enrollment.
How large are these schools?
The schools vary tremendously in size. ISS has
recruited staff for schools with enrollments ranging from one to 4,500
students.
What positions are listed with ISS?
Positions on all grade levels K-12 and in both
teaching and administration are recruited through ISS. ISS has served as
a not-for-profit assistance organization since 1955 and is the most well
known and widely-respected organization of its kind among overseas
school personnel.
What percentage of ISS candidates are placed each year through the
Educational Staffing services of ISS?
Approximately 40 percent (almost 700 educators) of
ISS teaching and administrative candidates are placed annually in
international schools worldwide.
What is the range of salaries paid by these schools?
Salaries for staff of overseas schools vary
considerably. Teaching salaries may range from a low of $14,000 to a
high of $84,500 annually. Administrative salaries may range from $24,000
to over $121,000 annually. The cost of living in the host country, the
size of the school, and the isolation of the location are among factors
affecting salaries. Sometimes, salaries are paid in the host country
currency, possibly with a percentage paid in U.S. dollars; sometimes
salaries are paid entirely in U.S. dollars. Some schools offer foreign
service premiums.
Our survey of compensation data from overseas schools indicates that 69
percent offer retirement benefits; 85 percent provide housing or a
housing allowance; and 97 percent offer health insurance. In addition,
many schools offer shipping, storage, and "settling-in"
allowances. Other factors to consider regarding the total value of the
compensation package: Are local taxes to be paid on salary? What is the
cost of living in the host country relative to the United States? How
much can you expect to save on an annual basis?
What is the length of time for an overseas contract?
Most schools (87 percent) offer a two year contract,
although some contracts are for one year only. Contracts can be renewed
when both the school and employee are in agreement.
Are U.S. Schools willing to grant a two year leave of absence
for these posts?
Many ISS candidates have successfully negotiated two
year leaves of absence from their U.S. school districts in order to
secure positions at overseas schools. In most cases, their
U.S. retirement plans remain in effect although contributions are not
incurred during this period.
Should ISS Educational Staffing services be used to find a
one-year experience overseas?
No. Even though some contracts in overseas schools
are for one year, the expectation on the part of the recruiting school
is that the contract will be renewed for a second year if conditions are
acceptable to both the teacher and the school. ISS discourages
registration from applicants who are only interested in a one-year
experience overseas.
Is transportation paid to and from the school?
Yes, the school initially pays for transportation one
way with return transport provided at the completion of the one or
two-year contract.
How competitive is the process of finding a position overseas?
Each year ISS maintains an active candidate bank of
approximately 1,700 candidates who are pursuing an overseas position.
Competition for a position varies according to the number of candidates
qualified in a particular field. ISS is a not-for-profit organization,
not a commercial placement agency, and does not guarantee placement for
candidates; however ISS accepts as candidates only those individuals
whom we believe have a reasonable potential for placement.
What factors make a candidate more competitive for overseas
placement?
One or more of the following variables are major
factors in a candidate's success for overseas placement: 1) willingness
to consider employment in two or more large geographic regions (e.g.
continents); 2) expertise in more than one teaching or administrative
area (or grade level); 3) previous overseas living and/or working
experience; 4) evidence of motivation toward development of a
multi-cultural or global perspective in one's personal and professional
life; 5) an advanced degree; 6) outstanding references; 7) talents
and/or skills in extracurricular activities. These factors are not
ranked in importance but all are considered by recruiting school
administrators.
Is it important to have current certification in a teaching or
administrative field for work in overseas schools?
Approximately 81 percent of the schools which recruit
through ISS require certification for one or both of the following
reasons: 1) the school is accredited by one of the U.S. accrediting
organizations such as Middle States Association of Schools and Colleges;
and/or 2) work permit requirements of the host country.
Why are administrative positions overseas the most difficult to
obtain?
The number of experienced and qualified
administrative candidates is greater than the number of administrative
openings each year. Also, previous overseas experience as a teacher or
administrator is typically a factor in the selection process for
administrative positions.
When and where do recruitment trips by overseas administrators
take place?
Most of the recruiting trips by overseas
administrators occur in January/February/March, and recruitment for
unanticipated vacancies takes place in the early summer. To facilitate
the recruiting process for international schools, ISS sponsors four
International Recruitment Centers (IRCs) in the U.S. each year.
Registering for the ISS IRCs:
Please note:
Establishing or reactivating a file with ISS does
not register you for an IRC - you must complete and return a
separate registration form and fee for the IRC you choose to attend.
IRC forms will be sent to you upon review and approval of your file by
Educational Staffing.
Important note: In order to register for one of these recruitment events, candidates must first establish an active file with ISS. ISS candidates who attend one of the IRCs will have the opportunity to schedule interviews with administrators whose schools list vacancies in their teaching or administrative fields.
Is it important to attend an ISS International Recruitment Center
(IRC)?
Our experience indicates that candidates who attend
one of our IRCs have a much greater chance of being placed. In fact, IRC
interviewing accounts for about 82 percent of the approximately 700
placements made annually by ISS. The IRC format condenses the
recruitment period into two or three days in one location, thus
providing an efficient and cost-effective means of interviewing with
overseas school heads.
Note: We do not recommend attending an IRC if you are
seeking a position as a chief school officer. Those positions are very
infrequently recruited through an IRC. Interviewing for other
administrative positions, such as principal and assistant principal
positions, is conducted at the IRCs, primarily during the first winter
IRC.
How will ISS notify me of an overseas position for which I
qualify?
Positions recruited through ISS are listed in a
secure location at our website for active ISS candidate review.
This includes those positions listed for recruitment at any of our four
annual IRCs as well as those listed for recruitment outside the IRCs.
The professional files of candidates registered for an IRC are provided
to recruiting schools in a database one month before each conference
they are attending. When a position is listed outside of the IRCs
(primarily between March and August) the active pool of candidates is
screened for those who meet the school selection criteria. ISS
then notifies those candidates of the position openings via email to
determine if the candidate has interest in the position.
Is it necessary for me to notify ISS of my interest or disinterest
in positions?
Yes. Once you receive notification of a
position opening for which you qualify, it is necessary to respond to us
and indicate whether or not you wish to have your papers forwarded to
the school for review. School heads then contact candidates in
whom they have interest.
What documents are contained in the ISS dossier forwarded to a
recruiting school?
The ISS dossier, which is sent to recruiting schools,
consists of a standard format resume, based upon the data provided in
your application forms, as well as narrative essays and confidential
supervisory references covering up to the last seven years of full-time
experience in education.
How does the school make a decision once my dossier has been sent?
If a recruiting administrator is interested in your
candidacy after reviewing your dossier, you can anticipate that they may
require a personal interview. Candidates are urged to make every
reasonable attempt to meet with a recruiting administrator as hiring
decisions are strongly influenced by the interview. This interview also
gives the candidate an opportunity to acquire information about the
school, community, and living conditions needed to make a well-informed
decision if a contract is offered.
What happens to my ISS file if I accept employment overseas or if
I am no longer actively looking for a position in an overseas school?
A candidate's file is placed in "deactive" status when the candidate accepts a position or is no longer seeking a position overseas. Twice each year, ISS requires active candidates to reaffirm their continuing interest in, and availability for, overseas positions. Each spring, candidates receive an "Availability Form" for this purpose. Each fall, active candidates are required to update their professional files to include their most recent employment experience and contact information as well as to reaffirm their interest in overseas employment. The annual file updating fee is US $115. Those who do not complete the update process by the deadline indicated are assumed to be no longer interested, and their files are deactivated. To reactivate, the candidate should inform ISS well in advance so that the necessary file changes can be accomplished before the busy recruiting period begins in December. Files may be destroyed after nine years if not kept current.
What is the reactivation process?
In order to activate your file, you must complete the reactivation process and remit a US $185 reactivation fee. Updated references must be requested from current supervisors and submitted directly by the referees to ISS.
Does ISS charge a placement fee?
No placement fees are charged to candidates placed
through the work of ISS.
International Schools Services is an equal opportunity M/F affirmative action organization. For further information, contact: edustaffing@iss.edu, phone 609-452-0990, fax 609-452-2690.
International
Schools Services
15 Roszel Road, P.O. Box 5910
Princeton, NJ 08543 U.S.A.
Phone: 609-452-0990
Fax: 609-452-2690
E-mail: edustaffing@iss.edu
Administrative vacancies overseas
Qualifications for establishing a Professional File with ISS