When Should I Start Applying?

Jobs in international schools are usually available all year round. At pretty much any time of year, you will find schools that are looking for teachers. That said, there is a recruitment cycle that many schools follow, which means that there are times of the year when there are more jobs available than at others.

Recruitment happens throughout the year

International schools typically follow an academic calendar that begins the school year in August and ends in June. This means that the recruitment cycle will begin once schools have established their recruitment needs for the next academic year. Some schools may have details about this as early as September, but most schools start recruiting in earnest in November, with most schools advertising for new teachers by January. By March/April you will start to see a significant decline in the number of available positions being advertised. This does not mean that there will be no jobs available later in the school year, but choice will become more limited.

Many organizations run job fairs that provide opportunities for teachers and schools to meet, either in person or online. The first of these job fairs are typically scheduled in September, and can continue until May.

That is the typical pattern over the academic year, but of course each school will have its own cycle, so if you already have your eye on a particular school, check their website from as early as September to see when they start advertising their upcoming job openings.

Your favourite school may not start recruiting until February, but by checking their website regularly, you will have the best information.

Many schools also find themselves with unexpected vacancies later in the school year, so it is quite common to see schools advertising new vacancies in June, or even after the start of the school year in August or September, so it never hurts to keep checking!