When we applied for the Seychelles teaching jobs, there was only one vacant post for a French teacher for Adam. I sent my CV just because you never know how staffing may change – and change things did!

To get the ball rolling with the interview process, Adam had a 15min chat on a WhatsApp video call with the school’s other French teacher to really get to know each other. This 15min turned into an hour as they got on like a house on fire and we were nearly late for our day job at the time! The interview was held at 6am UK time which was 9am Seychelles time. Get used to some early interviews if you looking for international jobs!

Adam smashed his first interview so was invited down to formal interviews in a rented office in London. This is where things get really interesting. I was also asked to attend a formal interview as there was a chance they’d need an additional teacher or TA. The interview was in many ways much like a UK teaching interview where you discuss your strengths, areas for development, your career to date and who you are as a person. There was then a lot of discussion around whether we were the right fit for the island. A huge amount of a time, effort and money goes into recruitment so it’s important they get the right staff who will be staying long term. We discussed how we’d cope with a lack of take aways, cinemas, shops etc. Did we have hobbies that we could still enjoy without access to internet or facilities? We were specifically asked about our board game preferences! How do you cope with isolation from family, limited food choices and frustration when it comes to intermittent internet service! For us, these things were very manageable. On reflection, the lockdowns probably made us far more resilient and creative in the face of isolation and limited resources and meant that, since arriving here, we’ve thrived.

Naturally, the interviewer had many people to interview so we did our best and went on our way. We heard nothing until a week and a half later when we happened to be in Greenland in one of the coldest winters they’d had in 60 years. Just as I was putting on my 6th layer of trousers, the phone rang. We debated whether to answer as the -57 degree snow and ice beckoned and I didn’t want to take layers off! However, we took the call and 6700 miles away with a 90 degree temperature difference was the interviewer offering Adam a teaching job and myself a TA position. It was the most incredible call we’ve ever taken!

Fast forward a few months with a whirl wind of packing instructions, medicals and organising, I became the Year 6 teacher and later the KS3/4 Art teacher, and Adam is now teaching Business Studies, iGCSE History, and, of course, French! Things can change rapidly in small schools so I’m glad I sent in my CV even when there was no position.

It turned out that lots of teaching couples had applied and accepted jobs. It makes sense to move as a couple as you are taking your support network with you and school only needs to provide one set of housing. Everyone benefits!

Top tips for interviews:

1. Be yourself. Be honest. If you get the job, you won’t be able to hide the fact you said you could do something but clearly can’t!
2. Make sure you have researched the lifestyle in the location you are looking for in detail. Have you checked out the shops, takeaways, transport needs, weather, wildlife, local customs etc? This will come up at interview. We spent the afternoon before the interview tracking down a Lonely Planet Seychelles guide in London to brush up on our local knowledge!
3. Final phase interviews are typically held in London. Get a hotel and find the office where the interview will be held the night before to avoid last minute traffic stress.
4. Be prepared to talk about your personal life! Normally schools wouldn’t care what your hobbies are, your likes and dislikes but they can impact on how well you’ll settle into island life, or life abroad in general! Lucky I can talk about climbing, painting and lego all day!
5. Dress smart – just because the school is on a tropical island doesn’t mean we’re not professional at all times!
6. Be professional – this is still a full time teaching job the same as the UK to roughly the same curriculum. Be ready to convince your interviewer that you are not just there for an extended holiday!
7. Bring your big energy – International schools need to know you are going to have a can-do attitude in the face of challenges. No one needs someone who constantly whinges on their team.

(Yes, I did ship a crate of lego to the island…more on that another day!)

This was one of the most positive interview experiences I have ever had. We both desperately wanted the roles so we really did everything possible to make sure it happened. We brought all our enthusiasm and big energy to the interview and it’s not faded ever since!