This January 17-19, the Search Associates (SEARCH) London January Fair welcomed 430 candidates and representatives from 138 schools in Europe, the Middle East, South Asia, Southeast Asia, East Asia, Africa, and the Americas—including the U.S. Specializing in vacancies in schools offering International Baccalaureate (IB) and British curricula, the London fair had 1,100 international teaching positions on offer. Senior Associate and fair host Gez Hayden anticipates a placement rate of 40–50% of attending candidates. Leslie from Brazil and Mark from Latvia respectively shared their experiences:
I had sent so many applications out before the fair with basically zero response. At the fair, I arranged nine interviews, received three offers and now have an exciting new job!
This was my first job fair - I came in with no expectations [but a] willingness to get to know people and put my name out there. In the end, my schedule was full [of] interviews, and I walked away with two offers, one of which I accepted. Attending this fair literally changed my life.
The conveniently located Millennium Gloucester Hotel and Conference Centre was the hub for this major event. Located in Kensington, and accessible by a single Tube ride from Heathrow airport, the hotel is very suitable for an event of this scale. Hotel support staff worked efficiently to transfigure conference and function rooms for different purposes, such as plenary meetings, school presentations, and interview booth locations. Candidate Pieter from Netherlands wrote,
Excellent fair, I would absolutely attend again. Organisation was top notch and the set up with the interviews is fantastic.
SEARCH is always finding ways to make the job fair experience as comfortable as possible. Prior to London January, Gez offered a live online orientation and Q&A sessions for candidates and recruiters. Recordings were available for delegates unable to attend. A team of experts joined him at the event to advise candidates: Senior Associates Diana Kerry, Peter Smyth, Dominic Currer, and Harry and Margaret Deelman, UK Office Executive Assistant Rebecca Steadman, and former Head of School Peter Round. Not only were these candidate advisors there to help their assigned candidates on choices emerging for them but also a full Search Associates administrative and support team was present to assist candidates and recruiters with practical guidance and answers to queries. Candidate Audrey from Lithuania had this to say:
“This SEARCH Fair was well organized and timed. The advanced communication was appreciated; the venue was appropriately suited to accommodate the various fair aspects (e.g., school presentations, sign ups, interviews, working spaces, etc.) But what really stood out in a positive sense was the collegial warmth and supportive atmosphere from everyone at the fair: organizers, school representatives, support staff, and fellow teachers. Thank you, Gez, SEARCH and attendees for a great experience.
SEARCH also likes to deepen the international job fair experience with workshops and presentations beneficial to international educators. Senior Consultant Jeremy Lewis offered workshops for school leaders and aspiring school leaders seeking to further their careers as well as a session on international school governance. Often candidates like Jenny from China describe a SEARCH fair as a tremendous learning opportunity, in addition to being a life changer:
I treat the whole event as a chance to find out about new schools through presentations and practice my interview technique as well as meeting people from other schools who can give me honest feedback. At this fair I had five interviews, four [that] followed up with offers of a second interview and two [who] offered me a job…Thank you for the opportunity to attend this fair!
Other candidates, like Jason from the UK, are convinced that face-to-face is the only way!
Just wanted to say a huge thanks to you…I had all but given up hope of working abroad, constantly applying and being rejected. The fair changed all that. Suddenly I was in inundated with offers. Proving that sometimes you just need to meet face to face. I am convinced that some of the schools wanted to hire me, the person, as opposed to me the PE teacher.
Don’t miss out on a chance to attend one of Search Associates’ many different annual job fairs held around the world.
