Questions We Ask Our Candidates

When you first connect with a recruitment consultant or complete our online application form, it can feel a little like stepping into a game of twenty questions. But for us, every question has a purpose of finding you an international teaching role that truly fits. 

Let’s take a closer look at what we ask, and, more importantly, why we ask it.

Current location: 

Are you currently based in the country/city you want your new role to be in, or are you on the complete opposite side of the planet? This helps us to understand the logistical side of things, and is especially important for ASAP start roles, where a school might be looking for a candidate already based in the same city!

Cities to consider:

Where do you want to go for your new job? Are you looking for something in the same city, open to anywhere (exciting!) or flexible depending on the opportunity. It’s always best to have a few options in mind to give yourself even more possibilities.

Overseas countries to consider: 

Having started out in China, many of our schools are based here too. But, just like our teachers, we are always growing and developing! Overseas countries are any country outside of China. We also work with schools in Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam, The Middle East, Mexico, and more are coming!

Starting date: 

It’s essential to know when you will be available to start, and if this date is potentially flexible. You will likely also be asked about your current contract’s notice period, especially if you are leaving the contract early. This is to keep everyone informed and on the same page.

Years of Teaching experience:

It’s a pretty straightforward one. Just make sure your answer matches what’s on your CV, as this is something schools will check.

Curriculum experience: 

Always highlight your curriculum experience, particularly if you’ve taught international curriculums such as IB, IGCSE, Cambridge, International Primary Curriculum, etc. 

Preferred age group: 

Once again, this will help us narrow down what you’re looking for. Some candidates will already have experience with a specific age group, and this is where they want to continue teaching. Others may be looking for a bit of a change, such as moving from Kindergarten to early primary. 

Preferred school type: 

Are you looking for a private kindergarten, a K-12 school, a training centre, a bilingual school, or an international school?

Current salary: 

Understanding your current salary and benefits package will help us find you the right kind of package in your new role.

Expected salary (before tax and including housing):

Are you looking for a salary jump, something similar, or is your salary negotiable based on location and where you will be living and working? If you’re not too sure, it’s best to give a range of what kind of salary you’re looking for. Word of warning, although we’d love to get you a huge salary increase, very high salary expectations can actually put some schools off of candidates! You can always ask us for more information on salary expectations, or add ‘negotiable’ to your range.

Documents situation: 

Very important! If you’re currently on a China work visa, this part isn’t too complicated. But if you are outside of China, or are considering moving countries, it’s important for us to know what stage of the process your documentation is at. These things can take a long time.

Dependant situation:

Are you accompanied by a spouse (are they also a teacher?) or children? In this case, will your spouse also need a job at the same school, or are you okay with different schools in the same area? How old are your children, and will they need tuition benefits? Will bilingual schools be suitable for them? Depending on your needs, this will change which schools we can send your application to.

Don’t forget, if you have pets in tow, we can help out with pet relocation services!

Finishing contract: 

Are you completing your contract, or leaving early? Leaving after contract completion is very simple and straightforward, but if you have left early it can be a tiny bit more complicated and will mean you have to abide by the notice period stated in your contract.

Reasons to leave current job:

This question is essential for us to really understand the motivations behind moving on from your current role. Are you looking for a higher salary, a career step up, a different kind of school, a new challenge? This answer will completely depend on you and your teaching journey!

The more we know about you as a candidate, the better job we can do to find you a role that truly fits! Skills, experience, and qualifications are the essential requirements for any job, but they’re only the starting point. A strong candidate profile goes beyond the basics, reflecting your current situation, personal motivations, and long-term goals. The more detail you share, the more tailored and meaningful our support can be in matching you with the right opportunities.