Why Relationships Matter When Looking for Your Next International Teaching Job
If you’re looking searching for your first, or next, international teaching job, you’ll no doubt be spending lots of time on recruitment sites, contacting teaching agencies, updating your CV and preparing applications. But there’s another part of the process worth considering, even if it doesn’t come naturally to you – maximising your professional relationships.
International education is a very small world. Teachers move between schools and countries, school leaders build networks across regions, and colleagues who worked together years ago often find themselves working together again.
If you’re already an international teacher, you’ve no doubt seen this happen numerous times. That’s why understanding how relationships can shape professional opportunities can help you to approach your next job search more strategically.
Relationships are one of the realities of international teaching that are easy to overlook when you’re focused on getting the right qualifications and experience. Like many industries, the reality is that getting an international teaching job isn’t always just about being the strongest candidate. Being known, being remembered and having people who can vouch for your work are also important.
This doesn’t mean you need to become a relentless networker or pretend to be someone you’re not (let’s face it, not everyone is comfortable cultivating work relationships). But it’s definitely worth recognising how the system works and making an effort to build and maintain professional relationships.
International Education is a Small World
When you move between international schools, you may start to see familiar names and faces appearing in different places. For example, senior leaders might move on to new positions and bring their experience, preferences and professional relationships with them.
Sometimes, people who worked well together in one school end up working together again elsewhere. A school leader who knows a teacher’s strengths is more likely to be open to working with them again if a role opens in their new school. And a colleague who has seen how you handle a challenging class or contribute to a department can offer a perspective a HR team won’t get from your CV.
These connections can be especially valuable when schools are looking for people they can trust to do the job well. Recruitment involves assessing qualifications, experience and suitability, but it also involves making decisions about people. Knowing someone’s work first-hand can make that decision feel more straightforward.
Not every appointment happens through personal connections, of course, and international schools still recruit through formal channels. But it would be unrealistic to ignore the influence that professional familiarity and reputation can have.
Don’t Ignore Networking
For some people, networking comes naturally. But for many teachers, it feels uncomfortable. Some people don’t like talking about themselves, don’t want it to look like they’re using their connections or they’d prefer their work experience speak for itself.
But, to get ahead, you may need to make a conscious effort to build and maintain professional relationships if you want to get your name in front of the right people.
If you’ve already worked internationally, that might mean reconnecting with former colleagues or keeping in touch with school leaders you’ve worked with. If you’re hoping to enter international education, it might mean speaking to teachers who have made the move, joining relevant professional communities or asking people in your existing network whether they know anyone working overseas.
Start with Existing Relationships
If you’ve taught in your home country, think about former colleagues, HoDs and school leaders who know your work. While these contacts may not work in international schools, they could know someone who does and can help you identify useful professional contacts.
If you’re already working internationally, you can take the same approach with colleagues from previous schools and countries. A simple email or LinkedIn message to an ex-colleague can be enough to start a conversation, especially if there’s a role open at their school. And most people are happy to help (and you can potentially return the favour for them in the future).
Build Connections Before You Need Them
If you’re new to international education, you’ll need to be more proactive about building relationships than someone who has spent years in the international education industry.
Start by identifying people and communities that can help you understand the sector. Follow international schools that interest you on social media and reach out with a direct message on LinkedIn to senior leaders, HR or other teachers. A quick message saying you love what they’re doing (be specific to show you’ve researched the school) and asking them what they’re looking for when recruiting teachers might mean they remember your name if and when you apply for a role in the future.
Be Clear About What You’re Looking For
Whether you’re looking for your first international teaching role, hoping to move into leadership, or exploring opportunities in a particular region, it’s important to be clear and specific. That way, your network can recognise relevant opportunities for you – if and when they see them.
If you’re already internationally experienced, let former colleagues know which roles and locations you’re considering. If you’re new to the sector, explain what qualifications you have, which age groups or subjects you’re qualified to teach, and what kind of international school environment interests you.
If you’re comfortable doing so, you can share a post on LinkedIn about your plans to help your wider network understand what you’re looking for.
Make the Most of Your Connections
When you’re exploring a school or region, think about whether someone in your network could offer useful insight. For example, a former colleague working at a prospective school who can help explain what it’s like to work there (in terms of culture, or leadership).
If you’re new to international education, you may not have a contact at the school itself. But you can still ask people with relevant experience for their perspective, and you can gradually build connections in the regions and school communities that interest you.
Start by asking questions rather than assuming people can help you secure an interview.
For example:
- How are you finding the school or region?
- What is the working environment like?
- Is there anything I should know before applying?
These conversations can help you make the right decision for you about whether it’s worthwhile applying.
If someone offers to introduce you to a colleague or put in a good word, take it, even if it feels a little uncomfortable for you. You can also ask for a recommendation if the person knows your work well enough to provide one, but don’t automatically expect it.
Think About Your Professional Reputation
The international teaching community is small enough that the impression you leave at one school is likely to follow you to another! Especially if you progress into senior leadership roles (there are many sites available where teachers can post reviews of schools and leadership – many of which aren’t overly positive!).
Colleagues remember people who are supportive, reliable and good to work with. Former colleagues who trust your judgement are more likely to feel comfortable recommending you when an opportunity comes up.
This doesn’t mean you have to be the most popular teacher in the staffroom or a total people pleaser. But it is a reminder that how you work with people is part of your professional profile, alongside your qualifications, experience and teaching skills.
Make Relationships Part of Your Job Search
If you’re considering your first or next international teaching move, don’t rely exclusively on recruitment websites, agencies or direct applications.
Alongside updating your CV and researching schools, make sure you build in some time to review your professional network.
- Identify useful connections. Make a list of former colleagues, school leaders or teachers working in international education that you’d like to contact with – a quick LinkedIn search or checking out school websites directly is a good place to start.
- Start conversations. Send a personal message, ask a thoughtful question or arrange a catch-up.
- Clarify your plans. Think about the subjects, roles, regions and school types you’re interested in so you can explain your preferences.
- Learn from others. Ask people with relevant experience about prospective schools, recruitment processes and the realities of working internationally.
- Keep building relationships. Stay connected when you can, even when you’re not actively job hunting.
Your Next Job Might Come From Someone You Know
You can’t control every part of the recruitment process, and relationships won’t replace the qualifications and experience you need for a role. But if you do it right – they’re a great resource you can use throughout your career.
If networking doesn’t come naturally, start with the people you know, build new connections where you can and be open to letting others know what you’re looking for.
You might still find your next job through TES or via an agency, but in international education, where teachers move between schools and work together more than once, it pays to make sure the people who know you haven’t forgotten about you. And if you’re new to the industry, start building those connections as soon as you can.
