Top Tips to Secure an International School in Bangkok Job Vacancy

The dream of teaching abroad is intense in many teachers, especially those fed-up with large class sizes, little or no government support, limited resources, poor pay, reduced time off and so on in their home countries. More often than not it is at a job fair that you can get recruited to an international school in Bangkok job vacancy. The good news is that for those seeking an overseas opportunity in the Land of Smiles, plenty do exist, the bad news is that they are very competitive. So, you are going to have to put in some work to get one. Is it worth it? We would wholeheartedly say yes!

The joy of teaching at a top international school is that you’ll likely end up in an institution with world-class facilities, an eclectic mix of students, passionate co-workers and on top of that, ample opportunity to explore a new part of the world. We would be remiss if we didn’t mention that the financial incentives are very high too. More often than not an international school hiring ‘package’ will include relocation costs, salary, health insurance, annual flights home, paid leave and living allowance. Here’s a tantalising fact, it is not unheard of for a teaching couple to live very comfortably on one salary and bank the other!

Nowhere is this dream scenario more popular than Bangkok, one of Asia’s most vibrant and dynamic cities. If you’re yearning for a new teachers’ life in Thailand, read on to discover our top tips for securing international school employment.

Ensure you are appropriately qualified to teach at an international school. Typically, a top-tier international school requires all teachers to hold a valid teaching certificate and a master’s degree in their chosen subject area. On top of this, many will ask for five years of full-time teaching experience and a "passion" subject that the teacher can also lead, for example coaching the soccer team of leading a Photoshop class. International school experience is a plus, but not mandatory.

Do your due diligence and discover everything you can about schools that interest you. Go to their website and social media pages and learn as much as you can about them. You can even reach out to current teachers in the kind of position you wish to fill and ask them about working at the school. The more effort you put into knowing a school’s curriculum and ethos, the more you can tailor your skills and personality to fit. Trust us, a little effort will go a long way, and recruiters are looking for this level of drive.

Seek out job fairs via a premier organisation like International School Services. International teaching job fairs are typically held in March (new school year*) and November (second term). Fairs are held in major cities around the world, including Bangkok, New York, London and Singapore. While schools will not know precisely what openings they have for the following school year until closer to the date, it is a good idea to have your file shared and face-to-face meetings locked-in as soon as possible. No premier international school will hire a first-time overseas teacher without conducting a personal interview first, so be prepared to travel to at least one fair.

*Note: Most international schools in Bangkok go off the US school calendar. Term 1 is August – December and Term 2 is January – June.

Be flexible in what you will accept, especially if it is your first time on the hunt. If you go into the process thinking you will only be satisfied with the Senior English Teacher & Team Head position at one of Bangkok’s top three "big" schools, chances are you’ll wind up being disappointed. By all means, target a specific school, but don’t discount other positions. You might end up at a smaller start-up school in the Bangkok suburbs, but that doesn’t mean you won’t have a great time and find it a rewarding experience. Plus get some invaluable overseas experience under your belt.

Contact schools directly in the new year by sending a brief cover letter and a resumé. Do not expect much more than a polite reply and a "see you at the job fair" in response. As we mentioned above, since schools will not know their vacancies yet, they won’t be too enthusiastic about talking to you now. But it is always wise to get your name and information out there as much as possible. Do that and you might just find yourself filling an international school in Bangkok job vacancy quicker than you think. Good luck!

Sanath pollemore is best blogger and writer alll niche.