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Hong Kong

January 19 - 21, 2024

HONG KONG
CHINESE INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL

Fair Organizer: Xiaohang Sumner

1. WELCOME

Started over ten years ago, the Hong Kong Fair has expanded in line with the tremendous growth of international education in Asia and has established itself as one of the major and successful mid-size fair options offered by Search Associates. The fair was run as an online fair due to COVID in both 2022 and 2023 with over 70 schools and 300 high-quality candidates attending in each year. Many interviews were scheduled, job offers made and accepted. In January 2024, we will return to holding the fair in-person.

The Hong Kong Fair is held right at the peak of the recruiting season. The fair is attended by schools mostly from the Greater China region, but also from the rest of Asia. The fair brings together candidates from a wide diversity of nationalities, whilst 20% of the candidates are ethnically Chinese. Please see “Schools” and “Candidates Profile” for more information.

Attending the Hong Kong Fair offers both candidates and school recruiters the opportunity to schedule interviews with each other to determine if a good "fit" exits. In addition, our fairs offer an excellent opportunity to network with other international teaching candidates (as well as recruiters) and get a good sense of the joys and challenges of working in international education. 

2. PERSONAL ATTENTION

Among the peak-season January fairs, the Hong Kong Fair is mid-size, selective but still with many schools, so the candidate-to-school is roughly the same as at the other fairs. Attending the more focused Hong Kong Fair will enable both schools and candidates to have more time for and attention to each other, allowing for better understanding and “fit”. The better “fit” between school and candidate, the higher chance of success not only at the fair, but more importantly, after arrival at the school.

3. DATES

The timing of the Hong Kong Fair is quite advantageous, as it is neither too early nor too late in the international recruiting cycle. School recruiters will be able to interview a large pool of excellent candidates and candidates will have access to a large number of positions.

The fair is held over a 2-day period which will consist of school presentations, informative workshops, interview sign-up sessions and most importantly, job interviews with top recruiters!

  • Recruiters: Arrive in Hong Kong by Friday afternoon, January 19. Mandatory to register at the Fair Hotel during 5-6:30 pm on Friday. Leave the Fair Venue after 3 pm and before 4 pm on Sunday, January 21.
  • Candidates: Arrive in Hong Kong by Friday evening, January 19 or very early morning on Saturday. Mandatory to register at the Fair Venue during 8-9 am on Saturday. Leave the Fair Venue after 3 pm and before 4 pm on Sunday, January 21.

4. LOCATIONS

The Fair Venue, the campus of Chinese International School, is where most of the fair events will take place.

The Fair Hotels are hotels close to the Fair Venue with which we have arranged special discount rates for registered participants.

  • Recruiters are recommended to stay at the Crowne Plaza. Recruiter registration and reception will take place at the Crowne Plaza on Friday, Jan. 19.
  • Candidates have the option to stay at the Holiday Inn Express.
  • Shuttle bus service will be provided to the Fair Venue for guests staying at the Fair Hotels.
  • For registered participants, please click “Fair Venue and Fair Hotels” for booking information.

5. INVITATION

The fair opens its books for school and candidate registrations in mid-August.  As we were full last year and expect the same next year, we ask schools and candidates to register as early as possible to reserve a place. 

Recruiters:

  • Please go to your school's Dashboard and accept your invitation. If you do not have an invitation yet, please request an invitation from your school’s Dashboard.

Teaching and Leadership Candidates

  • If you are already registered with the Hong Kong office, please request an invitation from your Dashboard.
  • If you are not yet registered with Search, please contact us for information on joining Search Associates and attending the Hong Kong Fair.
  • If you are registered with another Senior Associate, please contact him/her to request an invitation to the Hong Kong Fair. 

6. MORE INFO

Xiaohang Sumner and Hong Kong Fair Team

 

 

Country School
China Alcanta International College, Guangzhou
China Avenues Shenzhen
China BASIS Bilingual Kindergarten Nanshan
China BASIS Bilingual School Guangming
China BASIS Bilingual School Shenzhen
China BASIS International & Bilingual School Wuhan
China BASIS International and Bilingual School Chengdu
China BASIS International School Guangzhou
China BASIS International School Hangzhou
China BASIS International School Nanjing
China BASIS International School Park Lane Harbour
China BASIS International School Shenzhen
China Beijing Futurecity Academy
China Beijing Haidian Kaiwen Academy
China Beijing National Day School
China Beijing No.80 High School
China Benenden Bilingual School Guangzhou
China BIBS Chengdu Campus
China BIBS Haidian Academy
China BIBS, Upper East Side Campus
China Canadian International School of Guangzhou
China China World Academy
China Green Oasis School
China Harrow International School Qianhai Shenzhen
China HD Shanghai Bilingual School
China International School of Dongguan
China ISA Liwan International School
China Keystone Academy
China Lady Eleanor Holles International School Foshan
China Malvern College Qingdao
China Nansha College Preparatory Academy
China Shanghai Singapore International School
China Shanghai United International School, Gubei Campus
China Shekou International School
China Shen Wai International School
China Shenzhen College of International Education
China Shenzhen Foreign Languages GBA Academy
China Shenzhen Oasis International School
China Shenzhen Vanke Meisha Academy
China Sias International School of Zhengdong New District, Zhengzhou
China Suzhou Singapore International School
China Tsinglan School
China ULink College Guangzhou
China/Hong Kong Canadian International School of Hong Kong
China/Hong Kong Chinese International School
China/Hong Kong Christian Alliance International School
China/Hong Kong Hong Kong Academy
China/Hong Kong International Christian School
China/Hong Kong Stamford American School Hong Kong
China/Hong Kong The Independent Schools Foundation Academy
China/Hong Kong Victoria Educational Organisation
China/Hong Kong Victoria Shanghai Academy
Indonesia ACG School Jakarta
Indonesia Sekolah Pelita Harapan Kemang Village
Korea Dwight Seoul
Korea Yongsan International School of Seoul
Saudi Arabia NEOM Community School
Singapore Dover Court International School
Singapore International Community School (Singapore)
Taiwan I-Shou International School, Kaohsiung
Thailand KIS International School Reignwood Park
Vietnam Dwight School Hanoi
All times in Hong Kong Time Zone.

Saturday 1/20

8:15 - 8:45am
Candidates: Registration
Compulsory: Arrive at Fair Venue, show own fair ticket to enter, pick up name badge, fair package and school brochures
Chinese International School, Hong Kong
9:00 - 9:30am
Candidates: Orientation
Compulsory for Candidates
Auditorium, Chinese International School, Hong Kong
9:30 - 11:00am
School Presentations
Chinese International School, Hong Kong
  • Presentations (including Q&A) should take less than 25 minutes, leaving time for the following school to set up and for candidates to switch rooms. Recruiters are asked to be mindful of the schedule and finish on time. 
  • Please bring your own Apple computers to connect to the school's Apple TV projectors.

 

11:00am - 12:30pm
Interview Sign-Up
Candidates sign up for interviews with schools and schools enter interviews into Fair Schedule
Upper Secondary Gym, Chinese International School, Hong Kong
  • Doors open for Candidates at 11:00 AM
  • Interview Rooms as assigned by SEARCH to each school are on the Fair Portal.
  • Schools: Once an interview is arranged, please enter the interview with the candidate linked straight into the Fair Portal Schedule so that the school and the candidate have the same information about time and place to avoid missed interviews.
  • Candidates: Please check your own Fair Schedule on the Portal at the end of the Interview Sign-Up to see your personal schedule of interviews. If there is a problem, please approach the school before you the Gym.
12:00 - 1:30pm
Lunch
Cafeteria, Chinese International School, Hong Kong
1:00 - 5:00pm
Candidates: Interviews
Interview Rooms Assigned by SEARCH
  • We have an obligation to those candidates who have spent time and money going through our screening process and who have met our standards.  Please wear your name tag to an interview - Recruiters have been asked not to interview anyone who is not wearing a name tag.
  • Schools should complete background and reference checks and verify that the candidate can meet visa requirements before making an offer. Candidates should upload your degree certificates and police background checks (if any) onto your Search profile. You should also request two of your referees to kindly be on standby this weekend to receive reference check calls from fair recruiters considering making you an offer.
  • Recruiters should give candidates adequate time (min. 24 hours) to consider employment offers. 
  • Verbal Agreements are Binding. Search Associates regards a verbal agreement between a Recruiter and a Candidate as binding. Please ask for a sample contract or a detailed list of terms of the employment offer; and you should obtain a written agreement or letter of intent to promptly follow a verbal agreement. Please read your Candidate Agreement and Contractual Obligation Agreement with Search Associates for more details or speak to a Senior Associate if you have any questions about this matter.
1:30 - 4:30pm
School Presentations
Chinese International School, Hong Kong
4:30 - 5:00pm
Workshop: Does Your Health Insurance Offer Complete Coverage?
For both schools and teachers
525

In-depth introduction to health insurance coverage for expatriate and local Chinese teachers in China.

Offered by Zikai Liu, Managing Partner of Oriental Benefit Group.

Zikan is an insurance expert with 10 years of international health insurance and employee benefit experience, having served over 100 schools across 7 Asian countries.

5:00 - 6:30pm
Reception for Candidates and Recruiters
510

Sunday 1/21

8:30am - 4:00pm
Interviews
Interview Rooms Assigned by SEARCH
4:00pm
Candidates: Check-Out
Before you leave the fair, please click here

Before you leave the fair, please

  1. email the Fair Organizer and your own Senior Associate of any offer received and accepted so that we will follow up with the school -- Candidates who have accepted an offer MUST de-activate their account immediately;
  2. return your name badge and other recyclable contents of your Package for re-use and re-cycle;
  3. check yourself out on the Fair Portal;
  4. complete the online survey to help us improve our job fairs – thank you.

Thank you and we look forward to seeing you again!

All times in Hong Kong Time Zone.

Friday 1/19

5:00 - 6:30pm
Schools: Registration
Compulsory: Pick up your name badge, fair package, and write your school's vacancy poster.
Crowne Plaza Hong Kong Causeway Bay
6:30 - 8:00pm
Schools: Reception for Recruiters and Their Partners
Crowne Plaza Hong Kong Causeway Bay

Saturday 1/20

7:45 - 8:15am
Schools: Arrive at Fair Venue
Show name badge to enter, set up brochures in Candidate Registration area
Chinese International School, Hong Kong

If you booked a shuttle bus seat, please click here for the Shuttle Bus Schedule (link to be live on Thursday).
Recruiters must wear a name badge to get on the bus or enter the CIS gate.
Upon arrival, please go straight to the Cafeteria to set up your marketing table with tablecloth and brochures for candidates to pick up during their Registration (08:15-08:45).
Then please proceed to the Auditorium for the Recruiter Orientation.


8:15 - 8:45am
Schools: Orientation
Compulsory for Recruiters
Auditorium, Chinese International School, Hong Kong
Important information session about fair logistics, procedures and protocols. 
8:15 - 8:45am
Candidates: Registration
Compulsory: Arrive at Fair Venue, show own fair ticket to enter, pick up name badge, fair package and school brochures
Chinese International School, Hong Kong
8:45 - 9:45am
Schools: Getting Ready I
Set up own presentation room and interview room
Chinese International School, Hong Kong
  • You can set up your school presentation and interview rooms during this time. 
  • NOTE: CIS has asked recruiters not to re-arrange furniture in the classrooms since classes occur early on Monday.
  • You may use the Message function on the Fair Portal to leave messages for Candidates to invite them to come to you at the Interview Sign-Up. 
  • Please remove your marketing materials from the Cafeteria from 08:45. You can leave the brochures in the Candidate Lounge or outside your Interview Room.
  • Please do not enter the Gym until 10:00. We will be putting the vacancies posters up for you in the Gym until 10:00.

9:30 - 11:00am
School Presentations
Chinese International School, Hong Kong
  • Presentations (including Q&A) should take less than 25 minutes, leaving time for the following school to set up and for candidates to switch rooms. Recruiters are asked to be mindful of the schedule and finish on time. 
  • Please bring your own Apple computers to connect to the school's Apple TV projectors.

 

10:00 - 11:00am
Schools: Getting Ready II
Set up own desk area for Interview Sign-Up
Upper Secondary Gym, Chinese International School, Hong Kong
Gym doors open for Schools to set up your own desk area at 10:00 AM
11:00am - 12:30pm
Interview Sign-Up
Candidates sign up for interviews with schools and schools enter interviews into Fair Schedule
Upper Secondary Gym, Chinese International School, Hong Kong
  • Doors open for Candidates at 11:00 AM
  • Interview Rooms as assigned by SEARCH to each school are on the Fair Portal.
  • Schools: Once an interview is arranged, please enter the interview with the candidate linked straight into the Fair Portal Schedule so that the school and the candidate have the same information about time and place to avoid missed interviews.
  • Candidates: Please check your own Fair Schedule on the Portal at the end of the Interview Sign-Up to see your personal schedule of interviews. If there is a problem, please approach the school before you the Gym.
12:00 - 1:30pm
Lunch
Cafeteria, Chinese International School, Hong Kong
1:00 - 5:00pm
Schools: Interviews
Interview Rooms Assigned by SEARCH
  • We have an obligation to those candidates who have spent time and money going through our screening process and who have met our standards.  Please do not interview anyone who is not wearing a name tag.
  • Schools should complete background and reference checks and verify that the candidate can meet visa requirements before making an offer. We have asked all candidates to upload their degree certificates and police background checks (if they have any) onto their Search profile. They have also been asked to kindly request two of their referees to be on standby this weekend to receive reference check calls from you.
  • Recruiters should give candidates adequate time (min. 24 hours) to consider employment offers. 
  • Verbal Agreements are Binding. Search Associates regards a verbal agreement between a Recruiter and a Candidate as binding. Please share a sample contract or a detailed list of terms of the employment offer; and you should provide a written agreement or letter of intent to promptly follow a verbal agreement. Please read your School Agreement with Search Associates for more details or speak to a Senior Associate if you have any questions about this matter.

1:30 - 4:30pm
School Presentations
Chinese International School, Hong Kong
4:30 - 5:00pm
Workshop: Does Your Health Insurance Offer Complete Coverage?
For both schools and teachers
525

In-depth introduction to health insurance coverage for expatriate and local Chinese teachers in China.

Offered by Zikai Liu, Managing Partner of Oriental Benefit Group.

Zikan is an insurance expert with 10 years of international health insurance and employee benefit experience, having served over 100 schools across 7 Asian countries.

5:00 - 6:30pm
Reception for Candidates and Recruiters
510

Sunday 1/21

8:30am - 4:00pm
Interviews
Interview Rooms Assigned by SEARCH
11:30am - 1:30pm
Schools: Lunch (Sandwich Bar - For Recruiters Only)
Chinese International School, Hong Kong
4:00pm
Schools: Check-Out
Before you leave the fair, please click here

Before you leave the fair, please

  1. email the Fair Organizer of any offer extended and/or accepted so that we will follow up with the candidate - Candidates who have accepted an offer must de-activate their account immediately;
  2. return your name badge and other recyclable contents of your Package for re-use and re-cycle;
  3. check yourself out on the Fair Portal;
  4. complete the online survey to help us improve our job fairs – thank you.

Thank you and we look forward to seeing you again!

All times in Hong Kong Time Zone.

Saturday 1/20

9:30 - 10:00am
School Presentation: American International School of Guangzhou - China
422
9:30 - 10:00am
School Presentation: Tsinglan School - China
423
9:30 - 10:00am
School Presentation: Shenzhen Foreign Languages GBA Academy - China
424
9:30 - 10:00am
School Presentation: Chinese International School - China/Hong Kong
521
9:30 - 10:00am
School Presentation: Green Oasis School - China
+ Shenzhen Oasis International School
522
9:30 - 10:00am
School Presentation: Keystone Academy - China
523
9:30 - 10:00am
School Presentation: Sekolah Pelita Harapan Kemang Village - Indonesia
524
9:30 - 10:00am
School Presentation: ULink College Guangzhou - China
525
10:00 - 10:30am
School Presentation: HD Shanghai Bilingual School - China
422
10:00 - 10:30am
School Presentation: Shen Wai International School - China
423
10:00 - 10:30am
School Presentation: BIBS, Upper East Side Campus - China
BIBS - More than one campus
424
10:00 - 10:30am
School Presentation: Shanghai Singapore International School - China
522
10:00 - 10:30am
School Presentation: Shenzhen College of International Education - China
523
10:00 - 10:30am
School Presentation: Shanghai United International School, Gubei Campus - China
524
10:00 - 10:30am
School Presentation: Lady Eleanor Holles International School Foshan - China
525
10:30 - 11:00am
School Presentation: Christian Alliance International School - China/Hong Kong
422
10:30 - 11:00am
School Presentation: Victoria Educational Organisation - China/Hong Kong
423
10:30 - 11:00am
School Presentation: Stamford American School Hong Kong - China/Hong Kong
424
10:30 - 11:00am
School Presentation: Sias International School of Zhengdong New District, Zhengzhou - China
521
10:30 - 11:00am
School Presentation: Beijing Futurecity Academy - China
522
10:30 - 11:00am
School Presentation: NEOM Community School - Saudi Arabia
523
10:30 - 11:00am
School Presentation: KIS International School Reignwood Park - Thailand
524
10:30 - 11:00am
School Presentation: International School of Dongguan - China
525
1:30 - 2:00pm
School Presentation: Suzhou Singapore International School - China
524
1:30 - 2:00pm
School Presentation: Beijing National Day School - China
525
2:00 - 2:30pm
School Presentation: International Community School (Singapore) - Singapore
524
2:00 - 2:30pm
School Presentation: Avenues Shenzhen - China
525
2:30 - 3:00pm
School Presentation: Hong Kong Academy - China/Hong Kong
524
2:30 - 3:00pm
School Presentation: Malvern College Qingdao - China
525
3:00 - 3:30pm
School Presentation: Harrow International School Qianhai Shenzhen - China
525
3:30 - 4:00pm
School Presentation: Shenzhen Vanke Meisha Academy - China
524
3:30 - 4:00pm
School Presentation: Benenden Bilingual School Guangzhou - China
525
4:00 - 4:30pm
School Presentation: Beijing Haidian Kaiwen Academy - China
524
4:00 - 4:30pm
School Presentation: Dwight School Hanoi - Vietnam
525

Sunday 1/21

9:00 - 9:30am
School Presentation: BASIS Bilingual Kindergarten Nanshan - China
524
9:30 - 10:00am
School Presentation: BASIS Bilingual School Shenzhen - China
525
10:00 - 10:30am
School Presentation: BASIS International School Guangzhou - China
524
10:30 - 11:00am
School Presentation: BASIS International School Shenzhen - China
525
  • The vast majority of candidates attending this fair have international curriculum experience (e.g. IB) with over 50% having more than 10 years international school experience.
  • We are very proud of our diversity track record at the Hong Kong Fair. In January 2022, candidates who are citizens of forty (40) countries are represented at the fair and they are residing in fifty (50) countries all over the world.
  • Typically 25% of all hires made as a result of the fair are from schools based in Hong Kong, the rest are from mainland China, the other parts of Asia and the world.

How to attend the fair:

Attendance at this fair is by invitation only.  Candidates need to have registered with Search Associates, well in advance of the Fair, and then requested an invitation to the fair. Please note that “Checking” interest in the Hong Kong-January Fair on the Search Associate online application does NOT constitute an invitation.  Your place at the Fair is only definite when you have received confirmation on your Search dashboard.

For more information, prospective and Registered Candidates are welcome to join us at one of our free online job search seminars. Click here to sign up.

RECRUITMENT FAIR COMMENTS from candidates

"I attended the Hong Kong Job Fair and took the advice about being open-minded. This led to me speaking to a school that was a really great match in terms of personality and to a location that really fits what I am looking for. Job searching can be a really stressful process but Search Associates made the whole process easy and somewhat enjoyable! So thank you so much!" -- Michael Lattimore (2020)
"As a new teacher, I was very lost with how I could get my foot in the door. The fair was not only a great networking experience, but it was also an opportunity that opened many more doors for me. Especially as a new teacher, this fair helped provide me with contacts, resources, and memorable conversations. A simple conversation can go a long way, and I am very grateful to Search Associates for providing that platform!" — Kelly Chang (2020)
"We are really impressed with the quality of the people and schools attending the Search Associates Job Fair. We had many interviews and all went well. When we got home, we had an offer from a school we really loved and ended up accepting it a couple of days later. Thank you Search Associates for helping us connect to so many great educators in such a short time." — Andrew and Danielle Aversen (2016)
"Joining Search Associates has been one of the best professional decisions I have made and I look forward to being a candidate for years to come. I would like to wholeheartedly thank the entire Search team for their hard work and exceptional platform for international teachers." — Yaiza Morales (2018)
"Search Associates has proven to be an essential tool for upgrading my career." — Luigi Mondino (2017)
">"Thank you to Search Associates for the professional services and assistance with our job search. We are very happy with the opportunity to join Hangzhou International school, and very pleased that they were searching for 'veterans' who could add depth to their expanding school." — Marisa Confait (2017)
"Once again I would like to take the time to thank you for organizing the fair and offering your guidance. I have already signed my contract and just deactivated my account. I hope this will be an exciting experience for me professionally and a good choice for my family. It looks very promising!" — Emilija Simonovska Stojanovski (2017)
"I'd like to thank you for all the work you do in setting up these fair opportunities for us all. I'm glad I decided to come to the fair this weekend. It was fairly laid back and very positive. It was run efficiently and everyone I was in contact with was very professional, from associates to recruiters to candidates. I will surely recommend Search to other teachers and use you all if I'm job hunting again in the future. The hope is that it won't be for a long time! May Thanks." — Nick Staffa (2017)

Did You Know…?

Senior Associate Gary MacPhie is based in Toronto, Canada where he started his teaching career, and then spent 26 years overseas as a teacher, principal and recruiter in Asia, Africa, and the Middle East.