Relocating to Singapore - Wife/Teaching

[Justin_Br]

I will be relocating for work to Singapore in just over one month. However, my question deals with my wife's ability to work as a teacher. We are Canadian citizens. She has a university degree in English and has her teaching degree. Additionally, she has been working for one year full time as an Ontario teacher. She currently teaches high school grades 9,10, and 11.

First, from what I understand her best shot would be to apply to International Schools?

What time of year do they do their hiring?

Is it beneficial for her employer that everything for her will be covered by my company, ex rent, flights, medical?

What are the better schools to apply to?

Is e-mail the best application method?

Would it be problematic if she was unable to find employment before we left with regards to finding teaching work once she arrived?


All help is much appreciated.

[kaseyma]

Google will bring up quite a list of links for Singapore International Schools, including:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_in ... _Singapore
and
http://www.singaporeexpats.com/guides-f ... ernational, which has a list of schools with links, such as:

Canadian International School - www.cis.edu.sg

Something for you to research.
Act fast.

[sundaymorningstaple]

Or use my links page in my signature or the home page of this site.

[Justin_Br]

Any suggestions on my specific questions?

She has been looking at the schools you have suggested. Any suggestions on the time of year that they tend to do their hiring?

[chingv]

Hi Justin,

Here's another post that might help you out - re: Americans teaching in Singapore. Have you seen this?

http://www.singaporeexpats.com/forum/ftopic46701.html

It talks a bit about relative benefits for expat packages (hiring before arrival) and local packages (if your wife finds a job after she gets here).

And it mentions that most schools should be hiring from February onwards.

[Matney]

As stated start with my answers in
http://www.singaporeexpats.com/forum/ftopic46701.html

Is it beneficial for her employer that everything for her will be covered by my company, ex rent, flights, medical? I can't answer that one as my husband had no benefits. It was a job after being unemployed in his chosen field for over 2 years.

What are the better schools to apply to? Some school are better than others, but you really don't know that until you are actually employed there and see what happens. They will alway show a wonderful in the interview. Start with the system you wife is familiar with: The Canadian School. She'll be able to work at probably any of the International Schools.

Is e-mail the best application method? Yes, start with email. They will then probably arrange a time to speak over the phone with your wife--the interview process. I know quite a few teachers who were hired before seeing the actually school, using only the school's website as their guide.

Do you know where you are living? From experience, you or your wife really don't want to live too far from your work place. I know the island isn't that big, but not having a car and relying on public transport does make a difference.

I hope that has answered some of your questions more thoroughly. Good luck!

[Justin_Br]

Thanks the responses have been great.

I have one quick question. She has identified a few schools that she will be applying to. However, is there a head hunter equivalent for teaching that she could use to help her find a teaching job? Or is there a website that the schools generally use or do they only post on their own websites and you would have to go to each and check their own postings.

Does anyone have any additional suggestions/comments that I should know?

[Matney]

There are websites where Teachers look for jobs, but I'll have to check with friends to find out the links and I'm not sure when they will get back with me. From my experience and through talking with work mates, most get their positions through these websites and by contacting the school directly.

While relief teaching today, I learned that one of the teachers at the school I was at, was sending in her contract to Tanglin today. So they are hiring presently.

[sundaymorningstaple]

Thanks the responses have been great.

I have one quick question. She has identified a few schools that she will be applying to. However, is there a head hunter equivalent for teaching that she could use to help her find a teaching job? Or is there a website that the schools generally use or do they only post on their own websites and you would have to go to each and check their own postings.

Does anyone have any additional suggestions/comments that I should know?

There is a reasonably comprehensive list of the International Schools on my link below. There is also a list on the main site on this forum as well. Either are good places to start.

[maneo]

Does anyone have any additional suggestions/comments that I should know?

Get off the computer so she can use it to update her CV and start applying to all these schools. Time's a-wasting.

[quidsin]

I've got a great idea. Why don't you just ask her to pick up the phone and call these schools. That's how we used to do it before email and internet!

Problem solved...

[Justin_Br]

Haha,


Could anyone suggest any other schools other than the following schools that may fit her profile?

Emaar International School
Insworld School
Chinese International School Singapore (IB World School)
Canadian International School
Overseas Family School (OFS)

Also, no one has mentioned but the local schools, would they be of any interest for her?

[kaseyma]

Why are you asking all the questions instead of your wife?

Does she really want to come to SG?

[quidsin]

Tanglin
Chatsworth
Eton house

[Matney]

Justin, I just PM you, but you may not have made enough posts to retrieve it yet. Check out SMS's link is a good source of information, use it!