INTERNATIONAL SCHOOLS RECRUITMENT SEASON IS HERE; EXCITED FOR ‘WHERE WE MIGHT END UP’ – REFLECT ON YOUR VALUES AS YOU CONSIDER THE NEXT POST!

With many teachers and administrators about to embark on the annual recruitment season in various cities in the world, it is understandable this is met by both recruiters and candidates with some anxiety, at the same time as excitement and energy. Our thoughts scream out to us with lots of self-talk as to ‘where we might end up’; ‘Lets nail that location’… or ‘Lets nail that job’. This needs some reflecting.

I propose this important question for candidates to reflect on and think about before joining those lines in hotel function rooms in the next few weeks all over the world for interview sign-ups with schools.

WHY do you want thAT post. This often generates discussion when I ask colleagues, or when coaching international teaching clients on recruitment. WHY!

Most of the time the response instantly goes along the lines of “this place is awesome, “a great school”, “many beaches” or “it will give us a fantastic lifestyle”, “It will be great for my CV”. Or for aspiring leaders their goal often is to tell themselves “I’ve made it”, “I’ve got that leadership post, the name-plate, …the ‘shiny trophy”. Fantastic, that is great, from all the work you’ve done, you have been offered this leadership post.

NOW- all that aside, WHY do you want this post specifically? What is it within this portfolio that you like specifically, … In my celebrations with them I am asking “does this post (teaching or leadership) resonate with your values?” Do you know what you value in a post, how is this ‘new job’ reflective of your values.

Values? – yes your values in teaching, your values in the optimum position – what do you look for personally to make a home in your new school, new community, new position.

Values examples Focus: If a value in your new position is to make sure it enables you to focus on your teaching and learning, your class, then ask questions of the recruiter and/or other people that work there so that you know what to expect. As you value this element highly you want to be confident that you will be able to live that value in the new role so you will enjoy your post.

Don’t be afraid to ask questions like: How much of my time will be spent in meetings; or is the school undergoing an accreditation process? How much documentation can I expect to be doing, generally, as a teacher in your school? The resulting conversation around this question means a lot to you- you value it, in what you are looking for in a new post. This is important to know because if you’re going into a new position and you want to focus on your students, your teaching and your classes; if that’s what you’re looking for your next post then you need to ask how much of this other work are you going to be expected to do because it’s a reflection of what you value in a position for your fulfillment and happiness in a post.

Another example maybe that for you to embrace a position there needs to be, for you, a certain degree of autonomy to create and explore ideas. If you value autonomy as something that is attractive to you in your role; again, be confident and ask the recruiter how much autonomy you should expect to have as you consider this new role.

It is important that you’re comfortable in what you’re doing and you don’t get overshadowed by the location or the package, as attractive as that can be, but what are you doing in your role. Will it reflect your values?

A real example: I was working with a colleague, coaching him with his leadership aspirations. He is a passionate, incredible teacher and leader. He had achieved the leadership role he had sacrificed family and time for by studying multiple Masters degrees in School Leadership, worked his way through various middle management and assistant principal positions across the world of international schools with admirable references. ‘Ring any bells?’ - Sounds all good doesn’t it? Read on…

After some years of him working as a Senior School Principal he contacted me again and wasn’t happy asking me for help. Again, we looked at the WHY and his values (that we had determined previously).

What we determined together was that he valued and enjoyed working with all ages of students across the whole school. He was unhappy as he hadn’t embraced the fact that as a Divisional Principal (secondary school), the nature of the role did not enable him to have all the time he wanted to be able to mix and enjoy leading and working with students of all ages across the school. He said to me that the position itself, as I say “the sparkly shiny trophy, or title” had been the all-powerful game changer for him – reflective of his ‘entitlement’ – he felt at some level, as reward or final step – but he wasn’t happy.

HIS ROLE WAS NOT REFLECTIVE OF HIS VALUES, despite the significance it brought him as Principal and the opportunity to lead a lead a team and school – all of which he wanted and he performed in the role very well and had great success.

HE TOOK THE RISK based on his values. From our discussions and working together again this passionate teacher/leader, ‘took the risk’, like many of you and went recruiting. This could have been very hard for him. Given his background, for him to take a risk by resigning his Principalship to look for another post generally could be considered a huge mistake. The difference was this time he was not searching for location, the shiny trophy, or just the awesome package or beach lifestyle for example. He was confident in his own skin to know FIRSTLY what kind of post he wanted, reflective of his values – then looking for those posts within the locations, package and so on.

PLEASE GET THE WHY CLEAR FIRST !!

Live a rich life in International Schools. We do and have done for over 20 years, but get clear on your why, embrace what you value. Oh yes, by the way my friend got offered multiple posts in whole school leadership positions such as Activities Director and in Admissions. Yes, in the end he didn’t have to forfeit all that leadership training as these were positions that enabled him to lead, manage, teach and partner with students and families across the whole school community. A big value to him and his happiness in his career.

When You determine the WHY the HOW will appear. Good luck everybody with your search!

Contact: [email protected]

As a Global Thought Leader, Education Leadership Coach and International Keynote Speaker, Craig has elevated teachers, administrators and students to embrace change, unleash their potential and achieve their ultimate breakthrough performance. Craig is passionate about helping individuals and organisations clarify their goals and plan to win through peak performance, self-discovery and clear identification of their strengths; to play a bigger game by authentically tapping into their own unique genius.

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