Writing a CV can be daunting if you’ve never done it before or if it’s been a few years since you have applied for a job. International school receive hundreds of CVs for every advert so you need to stand out from the crowd to get that perfect role. Here are my top tips as a British teacher who applied for international jobs:

1. Make a chronological list of all the places you have worked in. Include the month and year you started and ended you contract, a brief (no more than a sentence) description of what that role entailed, and the reason you left that role.
2. Make a list of every course you have done in your career with the year it was completed. Yes, the late night twilight staff training also count, as well as online courses such as those through Educare for example. This is noticed – Adam’s CPD list was recognised as a massive positive in our interviews for our current role abroad.
3. Ensure your contact details are correct – don’t lose out on a dream job because one letter was missing from an email address!
4. Many schools want a CV on a page listing the above. It’s always good to add a short paragraph detailing why you want the job and how you would suit the role.
5. Google CV builders and use the templates to make this quicker and more professional looking.
6. Lots of international schools do applications through TES, which will build a CV for you. It’s worth spending time updating your TES CV in advance of finding a role, to keep it fresh and full of relevant information so that you’re ready to apply as soon as that dream job appears.

The personal statement or letter

This usually strikes fear into the heart of many an applicant and is the reason many people don’t apply. Don’t be put off … Just try these simple rules:

1. Make a list of everything you are good at and proud of in your career.
2. Tailor that list the schools advert and ethos – some school website and social media research is useful here! Schools want to know you have the skill set they need, and that you have matching visions and a matching ethos to show that you’ll be a good fit.
3. Keep your explanation of your fabulous skills and achievements succinct.
4. Make sure you detail you abilities to work with and without a team. You need to be flexible when working internationally and be able to take on any role.
5. Play to your strengths and briefly mention areas of your professional development you would like to continue working on – for example, continuing a masters online, doing additional course etc.
6. The second to last paragraph should be about your wider interests and hobbies. This is opportunity to mention something bit niche that makes you stand out from the crowd. Adam talked about taking up skydiving (teamwork and resilience!) while I wrote about building a climbing wall in lockdown 1 (ambition and determination!). Both of these things left a memorable impression and were brought up at interview so were probably a factor in us being invited to the interview rounds.
7. The last paragraph should be a brief conclusion – make sure you name drop the school so they know you are deliberately applying to their school and not sending out mass applications.
8. Spelling and grammar check!
9. Ideally a personal statement is no longer than 2 sides of A4 unless the application pack specifies differently.
10. Make sure you can back up your claims. International schools will spend a small fortune interviewing and then bringing new staff to their country. They will be certain that what is in you statement is true.
11. Spelling and grammar check again! I can’t stress how important this is to look professional.

In conclusion, don’t be put off by the application process. Complete the sections of the CV and personal statement in chunks. Trying to do it all at once can be overwhelming. Adam and I don’t regret the hours we spent on this as we now live in paradise because of it!