Getting Ahead of the International Job Search: Marketing Your Magic

By Pauline O’Brien, ISS Director of Global Recruitment, Strategy and Leadership & Beth Pfannl, ISS Senior Leadership Search Executive

As the school year winds down, many educators are planning the next step in their international teaching career.  This could be the perfect time for you to prepare, polish, and elevate your candidacy files too. Then, after the school break as schools are starting their recruitment efforts for 2023-24 school year, you will be ahead of the game, with up-to-date documentation, a powerful presentation of yourself and your skills, and a clear vision of what is important to you in your school search. 

To help you get ready, we have collected tips from our experience supporting candidates in their international job searches. 

Elevating Your CV with the STAR Method 

Consider using the STAR method (“Situation, Task, Action, Results”) to succinctly and powerful describe your experience and background in application documents.  

Here are three CV samples rewritten and elevated by approaching them with the STAR method: 

Before: “Co-facilitated and collaboratively created the School’s Assessment Handbook .” 

After: “Co-Facilitated and collaboratively created the School’s Assessment Handbook, which resulted in a common understanding of the purpose of assessment; the notion that assessment is an integral part of lesson design; that feedback from students and teachers on learning outcomes is to be used to inform next steps of the learning process; and that good assessment requires a variety of measures.” 

Before: “Facilitated distance learning for elementary students due to the Covid-19 pandemic.” 

After: “Facilitated distance learning for elementary students due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Continuously gathered feedback from parents, students, and teachers to monitor and adjust the quality of the program. This resulted in students being challenged but not overwhelmed. ”  

Before: “Led a Literacy Initiative focused on Balanced Literacy in collaboration with our curriculum specialist and outside consultants from Columbia Teachers College. Received training by Teachers College consultants in the Reading and Writing Units of Study and the TC assessment tools. ”  

After: “Led a Literacy Initiative focused on Balanced Literacy in collaboration with our curriculum specialist and outside consultants from Columbia Teachers College. Received training by Teachers College consultants in the Reading and Writing Units of Study and the TC assessment tools. This resulted in higher standardized test scores for students in Reading and Writing. We received the Washington State School of Excellence Award four years running.” 

Writing Your Brand

When writing your personal statements or CV overviews, be true to you! Don’t shy away from sharing the passions and experiences that motivate your teaching practice.  

As inspiration, here are a few samples of authentic, powerful educator statements. 

“A veteran educator with extensive experience in teaching children of all ages, as well as leadership and administration experience. Varied experience working with and training adults in teacher training programs, professional development workshops, curriculum development, college-level courses, and adult English literacy programs. Strong desire to share passion for languages and different cultures. Personal interest in expanding knowledge of other cultures. Vast international travel and living experience, with a global outlook as an educator.” 

“Passionate instructional leader who is committed to joyfully inspiring and motivating learners to be the best versions of themselves. Knowledgeable of current trends and research in curriculum and instruction and has implemented best practices both in US and international education systems to achieve results. Systems thinking leader with strong organizational skills. Fosters warm, caring relationships with people of diverse backgrounds through dignity, belonging, tolerance, and respect”. 

Researching School and Opportunities

As you research schools and international opportunities, here is a high-level guide of factors to consider. Weigh how these facets may align with your interests and needs as an educator and person:  

• School’s Mission and Vision  
• Student/Faculty Demographics  
• Governance Model  
• Accreditation  
• Child Protection Safeguarding Policies  
• Policies on DEIJ (Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Justice)  
• Curriculum  
• City, Country  
• Job Description 

Creating Application Letters

When drafting letters for specific schools and job openings, ensure that you: 

• Address the requirements highlighted in the school’s job announcement  
• Use the school’s language  
• Provide examples of why you meet the criteria  
• Show how your brand/purpose aligns with the institution you are applying to  
• Offer factual examples of your work  
• Share feedback from your past appraisals/assessments 

Preparing For Interviews

Take time to prepare your material, practice delivery, and plan what you hope to gain from interviews as well.  

• Focusing your delivery 
• Bring your CV to life with examples and highlight your skills factually using the STAR method 
• Hone in on the specific vacancy needs  
• Give competent, skill-based information to reflect your experience  
• Practice interview questions  
• How have you responded to the global pandemic? How have you adapted?  
• How do you respond to the different needs and abilities of individual students in an online setting?  
• Can you give an example of how you have made your learning environments safe for children and/or young persons?  
• How have you promoted DEIJ through your work experience? 
• How would you promote international mindedness and cultural understanding?  
• Have you ever been involved with the accreditation process? What role did you have? 
• During your career as an educator and/or leader, have you ever been the subject of a formal or informal complaint about racist or prejudiced behavior?  
• Have you ever been the subject of a formal or informal complaint regarding inappropriate behavior around children?  

Information to seek out in your interview 

• Ask for information about the school that you could not find in the position announcement or on the school’s website  
• What does the interviewer/s value most about the school and the community ? 
• How is the community kept safe?  
• Information on induction and ongoing training opportunities  
• Ask about the possibility to speak directly to a teacher currently at the school 

Every interview will offer an opportunity to better yourself for the next one – take advantage of this! Interview as much as possible (but only for positions that you truly interested in). 

Looking Forward

We hope that these tips help guide your recruitment journey preparation. Our team looks forward to another season  of supporting the international education community!