Moving abroad was not a decision we both took lightly. We initially started looking for jobs in the UAE and as far away as Kurdistan. It was important that we looked at locations that fulfilled everything we wanted out of life beyond teaching such as travel, hobbies and cost of living. We used TES jobs as our main source for finding legitimate vacancies and then researched the school as much as we could from our flat in Sheffield.

Then, one rainy Sunday evening I came across a post about a school in the Seychelles. Adam found an article written for TES by a current teacher singing the school’s and island’s praises. We went further down the rabbit hole … Was there any climbing? A skydiving scene? Any dangerous animals? What about the cost of living (something most people in the UK worry about) and was housing included? How do we even get there was a serious question and how easy is it to get back if there’s a problem at home?

Many questions and googling later we decided on balance it was a good fit so we updated our respective TES CVs and hit send thinking nothing would come of it. Well, look at us now!

Top tips for finding a job abroad:

1. Keep an up to date CV – yes all those twilight courses need adding on there. The international market is VERY competitive and you must stand out.
2. Use a CV template like TES CVs. This makes it really easy to apply for multiple jobs efficiently.
3. Set up job alerts on TES for the kind of jobs you are looking for.
4. Don’t be put off by not getting any replies. It is not customary for schools to tell you if you have not been successful at the CV collecting phase.
5. Do your research on the where – is the place you are considering the right fit for you lifestyle? Make a list of what you enjoy and value and check whether that is attainable in that country.
6. More research – have a proper look at the school’s website. Do the school’s values match yours? Tailor your CV to the school and the local community.
7. Ensure you check the local customs and laws – some countries do not allow unmarried couples to live together for example. If you’re moving as a couple, check what rights you will have first.
8. Make sure you have considered what life will be like far away from family and friends – having a supportive network is very important and keeping in contact is a must.
9. Are you ready to sell or give away most of your possessions? Schools typically don’t pay for much luggage or shipping. Some schools (such as ours) are more generous but we still had to sell all furniture, loads of clothes and store sentimental items in a family members loft!

Ultimately, it can be a lot of hard work to find jobs and sort out a good application, and this is before any interviews! However, trading in a rainy Sheffield balcony for a house on a tropical island has made it all worthwhile.