BBD Recruitment - Employment packages

Part of choosing the right school is determined by the employment package, but what to expect?

In your home country, most teachers start in schools that are government funded and operated. There are rules and regulations designed to bring fairness and predictability to a teacher’s career outlook and progress. There are standard contracts and terms.

The private International school market is different. A few schools will adopt the norms and standards of a specific government or country, but most do not. As an employee, you are looking for work in an environment without standardisation. That is the new normal for you.

When you look at an overseas opportunity, you should look at the employment package and understand what exactly you will be getting.

In the broad sense, the ‘employment package’ means finding out about the school you’re interested in; its owner(s); its size, fee level, curriculum, exams, target community and local competition; any links the school has to a school chain; the country’s regulations affecting teachers; the country’s labour laws; and local customs, habits and expectations relating to teachers.

All of this is important research that you should complete. In the narrower sense, the employment package is:

The basic salary offer – This is the headline figure that most people focus on. It isn’t difficult to find out what other teachers in a country get paid as a basic.

Additional regular payments – Some schools split their salary payment into basic and additional.

Additional benefits (cash) – In different countries, and in different school types, norms vary over added benefits.

Additional benefits (not cash) – Norms vary but a conventional mix of extra benefits for overseas teachers would include:

(a) accommodation

(b) medical insurance

(d) flights

To find out more about employment packages, check out our recent article for some more in depth information.

EMPLOYMENT PACKAGES

THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW

For more information, contact recruitment@bbd.ae