Candidates

Before Applying

Please be aware that:

• The competition for overseas positions can be very keen (especially for administrative candidates) depending upon such variables as the time of year, the location and reputation of the school, the flexibility of the candidate, the strength of the candidate’s file, etc.
• To qualify as a Search Associates regular teaching candidate, you should ideally have a minimum of two years of recent, full-time teaching experience in a recognized school program. However, demand is now high for teachers in many fields. Teachers with less than two years experience who can demonstrate strong potential, such as earning a credential or other recognized teaching qualification for primary or secondary schools, are positively encouraged to apply. To qualify as a Search Associates administrative candidate, you must have a minimum of two years experience in an educational leadership position appropriate to your field of application.
• To qualify as an intern candidate, the candidate must be at least a college or university senior with a very strong academic record. (In U.S. terms, a Grade Point Average of 3.5 or above is preferred.)
• FLEXIBILITY is very important. Search Associates will usually accept only those candidates willing to consider several countries or regions of the world.
• Many international schools will give hiring preference to single teachers without dependents or to teaching couples (both qualified teachers) with no more than two accompanying children. (This is often because of housing or financial constraints). However, over half the schools registered with Search Associates will definitely consider teachers with non-teaching partners.
• Initial contracts are ordinarily for two years and are renewable. (Contracts for interns are for one year.) Round-trip transportation and other benefits are provided. Salaries and benefits are generally competitive but vary widely from school to school.
• For intern candidates -- There are no placement or mandatory registration fees for interns. There is, however, a modest and optional charge of $100.00 for attendance at one of our international recruitment fairs (job forums). This charge, which covers a three year period, will also give unlimited access to the Search Associates database containing information about some 500 international schools. There are no mandatory or optional charges of any kind for interns interested only in positions in Canada or the United States.
• For non-intern candidates in international placement -- If a candidate is placed successfully through Search Associates, no placement fee is payable by the candidate – the placement fee is paid in full by the recruiting school. Most branches of Search Associates do, however, charge a modest fee for registration. Please note also that for most branches of Search Associates the non-refundable candidate registration fee is US$200 for a three year period, or until the candidate is placed in an international school (whether through Search Associates or otherwise), whichever comes first. The US$200 fee includes the cost of participation at one Search Associates recruitment fair. As has always been the case, there is an additional fee of US$50 for registration at each subsequent fair should it be necessary to attend one. For legal reasons, slightly different arrangements apply to candidates applying for registration with the British branch of Search Associates – for details please see www.search-associates.co.uk. Note that fees quoted above are applicable for Associates who use US$ as the currency of choice. Registration fees may be slightly different for candidates who register with Bob Barlas, David Cope, Harry Deelman, Rob Graham, and Ray Sparks, as outlined in the appropriate sections of this website.
• For non-intern candidates interested only in U.S. or Canadian independent schools -- There are no fees or charges of any kind for these candidates.
• When a candidate accepts a position and is thus no longer available, his or her application and online references will be removed from our database and placed into our electronic archives for future use. Whenever he or she wishes to reactivate his or her candidacy to find another position, the three year registration cycle begins again with the submission of an updated online application and, where appropriate, the payment of a new registration fee.
• Please remember that acceptance for registration with Search Associates, or for a place at any Search Associates Recruitment Fair, is BY INVITATION ONLY.
• These are the basic requirements. If you feel you meet them, please go ahead with your application for registration. Once you have submitted your application to Search Associates, we will carefully review all of the information. If we believe you are a competitive candidate for international school placement with us, we will invite you to register with Search Associates.