(TRAVELWIRES): : "We never realised the possibilities that were out there to develop our careers as well as to travel and see different countries and cultures - to live them rather than just pass through them."
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:: Teaching internationally might not be an obvious career move, but for a growing number of teachers it is proving to be a rewarding one. The international school market is growing in every continent, and so are the number of opportunities available for skilled teachers. Teaching internationally allows you to work with some of the most respected schools, in the most exotic and interesting countries in the world, so there really has never been a better time to make the move.
Four years ago, Gerry Young was a science teacher in Lanarkshire, Scotland and not so happy. "The rain was battering against the roof of my lab and the wind was rattling the windows," he said. "It's no secret that Scotland isn't a nice place to be just now if you're trying to find a [teaching] job."
It was enough to inspire Gerry and his wife Jane to look further afield and as a result, they were introduced to Teachers International Consultancy (TIC). TIC is one of the leading organisations for recruitment of teachers for international schools. With TIC's help, Gerry discovered the extensive opportunities available to qualified, skilled, English-speaking teachers and school leaders in international schools.
"We never realised the possibilities that were out there to develop our careers as well as to travel and see different countries and cultures - to live them rather than just pass through them," he says.
Gerry and Jane have since spent three years teaching at an international school in Mauritius; "Where we worked with a staff body pulled from lots of wind-swept and interesting corners of the globe," he says. "The lifestyle was completely different. We spent most of our free time outdoors, in the sunshine, on beaches and there are huge benefits to be gained from a rich career spent teaching and living overseas...in a word, adventure!"
This summer, Gerry and Jane have relocated as a teaching couple to Harrow International School in Bangkok. "We moved from a sleepy little school of 260 pupils to one of the biggest names in international education with almost 1200 pupils, and traded mellow Mauritius for bustling Bangkok - a different corner of the world and a whole new adventure," says Gerry.
With over 6,000 English-medium international schools to choose from, making their move could have been quite a daunting prospect for the Youngs. "What is often a traumatic experience was transformed into one where excitement and anticipation were our main emotional states," explains Gerry who says the recruitment approach that Harrow International took in conjunction with TIC was supportive, informative and reassuring.
Andrew Wigford is the Director of Teachers International Consultancy, which is the sole recruiter for Harrow International Schools. He says; "The number of international schools is growing at a phenomenal pace. Finding the right school to match a teacher's specific skills and experiences, that supports their career growth, is a reputable establishment, and offers them the lifestyle and location they choose can be a challenging matching-up process."
The Teachers International Consultancy team are experts in international education, with over 25 years experience working as teachers, headteachers and recruitment consultants. TIC works with many respected schools throughout the world and places hundreds of teachers each year, providing a personal and reliable service to both recruiters and teachers. Andrew Wigford explains how international recruiting agencies like TIC take the stress out of job hunting and applying: "Agencies that specialise in the international schools market should be able to help you through the whole process," he says, "right from preparing your CV appropriately, through to contract negotiations. It's important to remember that reputable agencies do not charge candidates for this service because there is such a demand for skilled, experienced teachers."
If you would like to find out more about the opportunities available for working in international schools, Teachers International Consultancy regularly hosts free informational webinars and seminars that provide expert advice on every aspect of teaching internationally or visit www.ticrecruitment.com
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