LL07: Considerations for Becoming an International School Counselor or Admission Officer
• Kathleen Schultz, NIST International School, Bangkok Thailand • Elisabeth Marksteiner, Int’l School of Zug & Luzern, Switzerland
Types of Positions • College/University Advisor
• Careers Counselor
• Social/Emotional/Pastoral Counselor
• Comprehensive Counselor
Benefits – Not all jobs are created equally • Housing or a housing allowance • Home leave
• Shipping Allowance • Move In Allowance • Health Insurance/International Health Insurance • Retirement Benefits • Tuition Waiver for Children • Funding for professional development and conferences
What We’d Wished We’d Known • Diversity of student body • Diversity of teaching staff
• For-profit vs. Non-profit • Counselor or Counsellor? • Student’s University Aspirations/Destinations
• Parent expectations
Personal qualities recommended • Open-mindedness: Mindset that fits in to the country of education • Flexibility
• Adaptability • Independent, can-do attitude • Perseverance
• Support of family • Steep learning curve
What is gained? • International/Global Perspective
• Additional languages • Self-discovery and skill development • Independence and open-mindedness
• Friends/Colleagues from around the world • $, €, £, ¢, ¥, ฿ !!
What is lost? • Family
• Friends • Home culture • Difficult re-entry
• Privacy • Dating opportunities
Resources • Search Associates www.searchassociates.com
• International School Services www.iss.edu • International ACAC www.internationalacac.org • Council of International Schools www.cois.org • ISCA www.isca.org • School Websites • College Admissions Counselors Facebook group • International Schools Review www.internationalschoolsreview.com
• Tie Online www.tieonline.com • Joy Jobs www.joyjobs.com
Contacts • Kathleen Schultz,
[email protected] • Eiisabeth Marksteiner,
[email protected]