Top 10 FAQs by Teachers
This page provides answers to the top ten frequently asked questions that we believe to be the most important for teachers seeking employment in an international school setting.
How does the job application process work?
Step 1
Teachers register online. This involves providing us with your CV and other personal information. From this point on, you will have access to and be able to apply for jobs on our website.
Step 2
Once a position has been applied for, and having met all of the necessary requirements, one of our consultants will get in touch with you to find out a little bit more about you.
Step 3
Our consultant will ask for other documentation in order to make an application. These will include, a copy of your passport, university degree, teaching qualification (PGCE, BEd), QTS and DBS check.
Step 4
Upon being fully vetted, our consultant will inform you of school positions currently available through FlyTeachers. Should you be interested in a position, we will contact the school directly for you with the sole aim of setting up an interview.
Step 5
We will support you in two possible ways depending on the outcome of the interview:
  1. Following a successful interview, we will support you up until the point you relocate to the country where you will inevitably teach.
  2. Following an unsuccessful interview, we will discuss other potential positions with you and aim to set up another interview with a different school as soon as possible.
Should you require this information again, you can find a shortened version on our ‘Services’ page. Click the link to view this page https://flyteachers.com/0_main01/service/ 
How does the interview process work?
While interviewing in your home country usually involves attending the school, having a face-to-face interview, a tour and a teaching demonstration, most recruitment for International schools is carried out using the telecommunications application, Skype. Although, this is solely dependent on the school and location of the teacher. Some schools will want to host an in-person interview. Quite often, such events take place at job fairs in major cities, such as London, Manchester, Dubai, Beijing, etc. This is often also true if the teacher is located in the local vicinity or even the same country. On occasion, Candidates for certain positions (senior leadership) will be flown abroad to interview with the school. We will arrange the schedule of the interview between the school and the teacher by confirming the date, time and location.
For tips on how to conduct an interview, please view our ‘Interview Advice’ page. Click the link to view this page.
What will be the cost of living in so and so country?
The cost of living will be dependent on the country you will be living and working in. As such, we strongly advise all candidates to carry out their own research. A useful website to visit in relation to this question is www.numbeo.com. On this website, you can simply enter the city you plan on living in and the country that it is located. From this, you will be able to view a range of information, from monthly utility bills to the cost of a litre of milk.
I heard International schools prefer teachers who are single and have no dependants, is this true?
Not true! We get this a lot. Although it depends on the school and location, most schools are more than happy to hire teachers, who are married or in a relationship, especially if they both happen to be qualified teachers – why settle for one when you can settle for two? What about dependants? Also not true! This is not EFL teaching where many of the candidates are fresh out of university, and thus, much younger. Schools that want experienced teachers, recognise that with experience comes age and with age comes dependents. Therefore, schools usually have accommodation in place for families from previous teachers and their families. Additionally, we are talking about International schools. Focus on the ‘International’. What better way of recognition as an International school than by having a range of International students, i.e. the dependent children of the teacher(s). Furthermore, most schools will provide either free or discounted schooling for up to two (2) dependents. Although, many offer it completely free of charge and even guarantee places for your children.
What are the minimum requirements that I must meet in order to teach abroad?
The minimum requirements depend on the specific requirements of each individual school and country regulations governing them. Fully accredited international schools require teachers to possess a university degree, a formal teaching qualification, such as, a B.Ed., M.Ed., PGCE, PGdip or QTS (TESOL and TEFL certificates qualify teachers for ESL positions only). Additionally, schools usually look for teachers with a minimum of two (2) years of full-time teaching experience from either their home country or an International school or both. Although, certain schools ask for a minimum of five (5) years of teaching experience.
How do I know if the school is accredited?
Simple! There are six (6) accreditation bodies for International schools. Have a search for your school from the following list:
  • Council of International Schools (CIS)
  • Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC)
  • ASIC School Accreditation
  • The Council of British International Schools (COBIS)
  • International School Quality Mark Accreditation
  • New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC)
What sort of salary package should I expect?
This is where attention to detail comes into play. Remember that earlier question? What was it? Oh yeah, that was it, “What will be the cost of living in so and so country?” Well, that just happens to be a terrific question, especially when considering it in relation to expected salary package. To begin with, salaries vary greatly, along with the benefits that accommodate them. Although, for the most part, salaries earned through working at international schools can be highly profitable. This is particularly true when you consider the salary package in relation to the living cost. Remember that website name? That’s right! www.numbeo.com. Make sure you check it out! Let’s have a little thought experiment shall we. Say Teacher A earns an annual salary of £50,000, while Teacher B earns £20,000. Who is getting the better deal? Teacher A, right! Not too fast. Teacher A is not provided housing by his school, nor a housing stipend, in a city where the average rent is £2,000 a month. Whereas Teacher B is provided with free accommodation. Additionally, the cost of utility bills and household expenses comes to around £1,400 a month for Teacher A. Whereas Teacher B spends a total of £750 a month. Over the course of the year, who is more profitable, Teacher A or Teacher B? Teacher A, right? Wrong! It is Teacher B. In fact, after you subtract all of Teacher B’s expenditures, she has a surplus of £11,000. Whereas Teacher A’s surplus is £9,200. So much for receiving a salary of £50,000. Now, do not worry, you will not be paid as little as £20,000 a year, however, it is something to be considered when thinking about salary. In fact, it’s crucial, because so many teachers look for the most lucrative salary package, when the wise thing to do is to compare salary package with the living expense of the country to determine total annual savings. You are a qualified teacher; please think logically and not irrationally.
When do International schools recruit teachers and how can I stay informed of openings?
“I thought I missed the hiring deadline!” we often hear. To put it simply, schools look for teachers all year-round. Although, and obvious to most, certain times of the year are busier than others. Why is this? Well, teachers are under contractual obligation to inform their school of their imminent departure, with the final deadline often coming in May. Therefore, and as an example, schools looking to hire a teacher for the new academic year in September 2021 may hire a teacher as early as October 2020, if they know one of their teachers will be leaving at the end of the academic year. However, they may be informed in May and still be looking for a replacement teacher as late as July or August 2021. It all depends on when they are informed by their teachers. Thus, some schools find out early and look to fill their positions in October, but the majority of schools start recruiting in January, however, it is getting earlier each year. Schools will recruit from October all the way up to June, and there will even be last minute positions advertised in July and August. In order to stay informed of all openings, we recommend staying up-to-date with our job postings by checking the FlyTeachers job board on a frequent basis, as we will be posting jobs all year round.
Will the school provide accommodation?
The majority of schools provide free accommodation or a housing stipend. The type of accommodation is usually dependent on the teacher’s marital status and number of dependents. Accommodation provided by a school is usually to a good standard.
Will the school pay for my flights?
While it is not a certainty, the majority of International schools will provide flights at no expense to the teacher. However, we strongly recommend that you read your contract carefully to see what benefits the school provides. Additionally, many benefits will have terms and conditions attached. Please read them carefully.