International School Teaching, Part 2: Finding a Job Abroad

How to Find International School Teaching Jobs

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International School Teaching is a unique experience that I highly recommend to any teacher who has lived the public school dream in the United States. I’m not saying do it forever, but consider a two-year stint to experience living in another culture and exploring another part of the world. 

Even before embarking on this cycle of international assignments, I had already traveled extensively, dating back to my college and high school years, so the concept of living overseas wasn’t as foreign to me as it is for many. Then again, my preconceived notions about what certain places would have and how they matched up to life in an affluent part of New Hampshire are another story entirely.

Still, I’ll be the first to say that each stint teaching overseas has given me a greater perspective on life outside of the bubble, and I think it not only improves my classroom teaching but also allows me to share with my students that they are part of a global community. We can’t lose sight of that in 2025, not with the internet and social media. We can’t shut ourselves off from everywhere else, even if people want to do just that. 

To that end, we are here for round two. You’ve decided you have the experience, the credentials, the education, and the motivation to live overseas. The big question is how to find a suitable position. 

Note that I wrote 'suitable,' not just a position. That’s the key to all of this. You can find any job with a cursory search, but what is the best fit for you? Here is a list of websites I’ve used and would recommend when doing your search.

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Where to Start Your Search

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Teacher Horizons - I discovered them this past year, as my current employer utilizes them, and many schools in Morocco do as well. What I like about the website is its search database, particularly the ability to search by school type. If you want to keep it broad, there are over 4100 schools to research. Focus on the kind of curriculum you want, such as the American curriculum. That will narrow down your list to a thrifty 700+ schools. Alternatively, you can open the door with your QTS and explore the abundance of British curriculum programs available on that site. 

Suppose you actually create a profile and upload your CV. In that case, you can gain access to the benefits, including salary information, the overall package, and perks such as a free round-trip flight, housing allowance, and even retirement contributions. This site is thorough and easy to navigate. What I appreciated most was the section on frequently asked questions, where current or former staff members shared their insights into life at their schools. Not all schools have these sections, but those that do give you a nice look under the proverbial hood.

If you have no idea where to start or what’s available, I would say this is a good option, especially since it’s free. Then again, I enjoy conducting research without incurring any costs.

Speaking of free, if you are doing this search for the first time, you don’t have to pay to find a job. Let’s be clear on this because I feel like, through word of mouth, the “in” thing is to immediately jump on the Search Associates, Schrole, ISS bandwagon, which you do not need to do, to find a position. You can and are welcome to, but you will incur a fee to access their listings through their services. Frankly, if this is your first rodeo, there are plenty of free alternatives with ample schools to choose from and research. My motto is this: if I have to pay to do this, when I can contact the school directly, that’s a waste of money. 

A better alternative, especially for American educators, is to review the State Department's listing of Overseas Schools. That’s how I started my research in 2008. I visited the website and clicked through each school associated with the U.S. Department of State. I figured that if the US Government were contributing to these schools through tuition payments for the employees of embassies or consulates stationed overseas, then those schools would be acceptable to me. 
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Let’s be honest, would it hurt to do an initial search to see what those schools are and actually click on their websites? Not at all. You will find that many of these schools post openings, and you can contact them directly through their listings. Perhaps it’s old-school, but I prefer the direct approach for a couple of reasons. This shows initiative, and it also sets you apart. These schools that work with various hiring services receive a large number of potential interviewees, but it’s also a shared pool. By contacting the school directly, you may receive a valuable email that could lead to a job, not just this hiring season, but also in the following one. What do you know, they just found out there’s an opening in June, and you are now on the list to be contacted. 

Again, I’m in favor of researching schools and contacting them directly. You don’t have to do it, but it doesn’t hurt your chances.

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Recruitment Fairs and Services

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If you want to use a service and are based in the United States, a valuable experience would be to check out the University of Northern Iowa Overseas Teaching Fair. This year marks their 50th anniversary of hosting a hiring fair, so they know what they are doing. If memory serves, they are the oldest fair in the world for international teaching positions. I recall hearing about them in 2002, when a colleague of mine was seeking a teaching job for the upcoming school year. He attended the fair, had several interviews, and then accepted a position, which he held for four or five years in Central America before transitioning to another post in Central Europe. It works.
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I have used UNI twice and have secured positions directly through them or as a result of their connections. What’s nice is that if you register early, it’s free. Scratch that, on their website, after October 1, there is a $25 charge. Then again, that’s still reasonable because it provides access to schools in their database that will be attending their fair in early December. 

The way it works is that positions will be posted from the time some schools sign up, up to and after the fair. You can express interest in the positions and be considered for those schools, or you can contact them directly using the provided contact information. It’s a lovely service, one with enough information to give any novice to international school teaching peace of mind. 

My favorite part of the entire experience is that you don’t have to attend the fair to use their services and to get the ball rolling. I interviewed for multiple positions in October and November, the last time I used their service. Newsflash: at the time, their fair wasn’t even until the first week of February. (This year, it’s the first week of December).

If I were recommending any other services to newbies that I have used and like, it would be Carney Sandoe & Associates, based in Boston. I have attended their fairs in the past for boarding school positions in the United States, but they also list international schools. That might be worth checking out, especially since they will assign a person to work with you on the schools you are interested in applying to, the subjects, and possible destinations. When I did it there was no upfront cost, which was a plus. 

TIE Online  - The International Educator is also a good website to visit and sign up for. I have used them in the past for research and to gain insight into various job postings. There is a charge, but you might find it worthwhile. I would put Teacher Horizons above this, but it all depends on how involved you want this search to be.

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Final Thoughts and Next Steps

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Finally, I would suggest that if you are interested in other people’s questions about international school teaching positions, across the spectrum, take a look at the message board on the International Schools Review. Aside from hours of entertainment, you can get a fascinating picture of what to expect, look for, and the dos and don’ts of the entire international teaching realm. I do caution you that if you subscribe to the school reviews, some of those should be taken for what they are: a forum for disgruntled employees, schools trying to offset those nasty comments, and people who actually had decent experiences. Still, I enjoyed reading them all, bad and good.

That’s about all I can share on getting started for your job search. Do your research, get a list of people who will recommend you with current contact information, and apply early and often. Use a service if you think it will help, or contact the schools directly. Either way, be prepared for a lengthy process, depending on your major, experience, and career goals. If you are a single history or English major, it might be a long road. Good luck!
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In the following two blogs of this four-part series, we will focus on what happens after you get the job and what life is like at your first posting. If you can’t wait for that and want to see what I experienced firsthand in Italy, check out Brindisi and Me. That was a real awakening for me.