How to start your international teaching career

Top tips for aspiring international teachers

There are now 7,500 international schools around the world. These schools teach using English as the language of learning. They are located all over the world, often in non-English-speaking countries.

Teaching in an international school allows you to develop professionally in an exciting environment. International schools useglobally respected curricula such as the National Curriculum of England & Wales and the International Baccalaureate and many have fantastic facilities. It is also an opportunity to travel the world while saving money. If you think teaching in an international school is right for you, we advise you take the following steps now:

Complete your NQT (Newly Qualified Teacher) year in your home country.

There are now a few opportunities to complete your NQT in a number of British International Schools but the opportunities are limited.

Get one or two years of teaching experience in your home country.

This will put you in the best position for your international job opportunities – many reputable international schools require this.

Start planning early.

Explore the opportunities in international schools about 12-18 months before you want to make your move.

Try to be open-minded about your location choice.

If you set your heart on working in Vienna, for example, your chances will be very limited indeed. Think broader - think about your preferred region of the world.

Register today with a reputable recruitment organisation.

This should be a completely free service for you. TIC does not charge teachers anything.

Select an organisation that knows the international schools market well.

TIC specialises in international school recruitment only. This means that the entire team are experts in international schools - who know the schools and school leaders, who know the visa requirements and logistics, who understand the skills and expectations required, who can guide you on all the opportunities, and prepare you well for challenges that you may face along the way.

When job-hunting, register early in the school year.

Some of the best international schools start their recruitment process in December. The sooner you are registered, the better the options and the more chance you will have of finding a great job.