From November 15–17, Search Associates (SEARCH) officially launched its recruitment season with the vibrant Singapore Teaching and Leadership Fair. Led by Senior Associates Gez Hayden and Ray Sparks and graciously hosted by Canadian International School (CIS), the event set an energizing tone for the year ahead.
Along with the SEARCH support team Amelia Hayden, Mary Sparks, and Neil Kilah, CIS Head of School Dr. Alan Weston and his outstanding team—including Executive Assistant Joanna Lim, Sha, Salah, and their dedicated group of event organizers and technical assistants—played an essential role in ensuring a seamless and welcoming experience for all. As Ray shared,
We were well supported in every way possible…Indeed the event was outstanding!
A special highlight was the presence of SEARCH Senior Consultant Eric Sands, whose support for recruiters and inspiration for school leaders added exceptional value. His contribution was so impactful that this added dimension will undoubtedly continue at future fairs. An excited participant wrote:
If you are a first-time leadership candidate, this is the fair for you. Having those face-to-face meetings will help get you on the right foot towards your new position.
Candidates were grateful for the school presentations, one of the cornerstones of SEARCH job fairs. One said,
I love the schools' presentations. It helped me massively in understanding …what they offer and what they were looking for, straight from the Principals and Head teachers themselves. I also appreciate all the advice because it was so helpful and spot on. I took [some advice] and got an unexpected interview!
As the fair drew to a close, positive feedback from both recruiters and candidates poured in—individually and through post-event surveys—capturing the energy, professionalism, and success that defined this dynamic start to the recruitment season.
On our survey, 94% of the attending Heads of Schools rated the fair Excellent to Very Good. Some specific comments:
Dr. Allen Weston, CIS: "This year's Search Singapore Teaching & Leadership was a great success with some excellent candidates and great interchange between fellow heads of school. I really welcome the opportunity to meet fellow heads at these fairs. We made several offers to excellent candidates. My thanks to Ray and Gez for organizing and exceptional experience once again."
Jason Atkins, Brent International School: “As usual, the Search Fair in Singapore was well run with a wide variety of excellent candidates. It's a great place to meet aspiring administrators as well as classroom teachers. If you are a school like ours that works to develop administrators internally, you can look at candidates for both current teaching needs as well as their future leadership potential.”
Heads in Malaysia and Taiwan noted, respectively: “Being able to meet candidates in person was really helpful rather than simply an application and a CV. The opportunity gives so much more depth... It was a really well-organized fair with good candidates for the post we were looking for."
Eighty-eight percent of the attending candidates rated the preparation offered by SEARCH as Excellent to Good and 92% rated the attending schools as Good to Excellent. Here is what some candidates had to say:
Colleen Osbourne: “I had a fantastic experience at the Singapore Recruitment Fair, which was exceptionally well-organized…I was grateful for the opportunity to meet school representatives from around the world, showcasing their facilities and available job positions. Attending school presentations and having face-to-face interviews were invaluable. The online portal also provided an efficient way to stay in regular contact with schools, making the overall experience even more seamless.”
Jennifer Gunter: “I greatly appreciated the…emails that candidates received in advance which set a positive tone for the event, gave suggestions, and eliminated logistical questions. Although I couldn't attend the pre-fair online meeting, I found the recorded session to be valuable as it gave even more information….The pre-meeting for candidates before the interview sign-up was both calming and informative…the sign-up process for interviews was highly efficient; schools displayed clear signage listing their available positions, and the lines for speaking with representatives moved quickly. I was delighted to secure nine interviews which exceeded my expectations... The Search Associates team was also readily available at two information desks providing assistance and answering questions… Ultimately, I am thrilled to share that I secured a role for next year!”
Other candidates noted:
…It opened my eyes to more schools that I would not have originally be interested in…
…10/10 would recommend the Singapore Fair. The smaller, intimate setting allowed for genuine and relaxed face time with recruiters and Heads of School, which completely changed my perspective on finding a job. Between the school presentations and the on-the-ground guidance from Gez and Ray, I felt fully supported and discovered amazing opportunities I would have otherwise missed.
…I was very impressed by the positive impact of an in person fair. I was able to schedule nine interviews which was huge compared to the speed and frequency of interviews I've been able to schedule online.
…The experience was a wonderful one. Attending the fair in person allowed me to connect meaningfully with schools, ask questions directly, and gain insights that I could not have gotten online. It was truly valuable.
…I really enjoyed the in-person interviewing and made me realize that interviews online are not nearly as productive as in-person interviews. It was also a great networking and social event.
Ray and Gez would like to thank the schools, candidates, and CIS for making this event such a success. While the Search Singapore Teaching and Leadership Fair continues to grow, its organizers are dedicated to keeping it both personable and professional.
For more about Search Associates annual job fairs held around the globe, click here.
