March 16-17, Senior Associates and Fair Hosts Peter Smyth and Dominic Currer greeted 33 schools and 130 candidates at the Search Associates London-March Fair. The largest of the late-season job fairs, Search London- March attracts candidates and international schools of all kinds. While especially convenient for teachers based in the UK, Ireland, and other parts of Europe who can reach London within reasonable travelling time, candidates travel each year from North America, the Middle East, Asia, and Africa to attend. With 130 overseas teaching vacancies posted, nearly 200 interviews took place over the short weekend. Peter summed it up:
Great fair, with a wonderful atmosphere at the Hilton Paddington in Central London!...One-fifth of the attending candidates were placed, and we predict that by the end of May, 40% of those who attended will have secured a role.
The London-March fair fills important needs within the international school community. Dominic explained that it works well for candidates who activate later in the school year, and because schools often face last-minute vacancies they had not anticipated, recruiters from some very interesting and exciting places around the world attend Search London-March. Since the fair attracts international schools offering British, American, and International Baccalaureate (IB) curricula, it is suitable for a wide range of teachers, in all subject fields and at all levels. Finally, Search London-March is perfect for those attending an international fair for the first time as its smaller size makes it less daunting. One such candidate said,
I am delighted to have secured my first international job. The careers fair was super from beginning to end.
A head of school wrote in:
… Thank you for a truly amazing Fair. The amount and calibre of candidates was just perfect, and we will most definitely be pencilling this into our recruitment schedule as a definite.
The Hilton Paddington in Central London has been the venue for Search London-March for over a decade, and for good reason. A direct train ride from Heathrow Airport, Hilton Paddington is convenient for candidates and schools traveling from all over the world, including the U.S., Kenya, Egypt, Turkey as well as from all over the UK. SEARCH rests assured that fairs held there will run smoothly. Hotel staff are very helpful and supportive, and Wi-Fi connectivity and air conditioning/heating run seamlessly. In light of the overlap with Ramadan this year, SEARCH and the hotel thoughtfully coordinated a designated prayer room to accommodate our Muslim participants. Additionally, we ensured provisions of dates for those observing the fast, offering a gesture of respect and inclusivity within our event space.
In addition to Peter and Dominic, a team of experts was on hand to mentor and guide candidates throughout the event: Adrienne Currer; Janelle Smyth; Alison and Bill Turner; Senior Consultant Jeremy Lewis, from Consulting Services; and Executive Assistant Rebecca Steadman, from the UK North and Ireland office. On Saturday, Nick McKie of Persyou Coaching arrived to consult with all recruiters and candidates.
Members of the SEARCH team offered invaluable presentations. Jeremy held two sessions, one for aspiring heads and leaders, and one for school boards and human resources. Alison and Bill offered “Top tips for your next international placement, including selling yourself effectively to a recruiter in applications, interviews and informal conversations.” Candidates expressed their gratitude:
The job fair was an amazing experience, and my partner and I are grateful for the opportunity to teach abroad. Everyone we met through Search Associates was incredibly supportive and informative when we had questions about lifestyles and day-to-day operations of different schools.
Thank you so much…for helping us to secure positions at the London fair. We had a really wonderful experience and felt very well supported. We will keep in contact with the very warm and knowledgeable Search Associates team and will definitely use Search again to help find international teaching opportunities in the future.
For more about Search Associates’ 13 distinctive job fairs held around the world, including London-January 2025, click here.
