Working abroad - Get up and go!
Karen Faux
Monday, February 10, 2014
Getting experience overseas can be an exciting and worthwhile opportunity. Jackie Cosh looks at what candidates need to know.
The beginning of a new year is often a time to ring the changes, and for those working in early years this can sometimes mean taking the leap to work abroad.
Opportunities for overseas employment continue to increase, with the cruise ship market alone having grown tenfold over the past few years. Other roles include working in children's camps and ski resorts, hotel creches, as a nanny at a private villa and in English-speaking nurseries.
LIFE ON DECK
Disney Cruise Line is one of the largest employers in the cruise market, with four ships, each holding between 2,500 and 4,500 people. 'Much of the industry is trying to attract the family market, rather than retired holidaymakers,' says Marc Sorrentino, director of the agency Excellent Entertainment, which recruits staff for Disney Cruise Line. 'There could be between 600 and 1,400 children at any one time on board each of our vessels. As a result of this boom, more opportunities have opened up for youth and nursery counsellors.'
On Disney Cruise Line ships, staff work for four-and-a-half months followed by six weeks off. Working in the holiday industry can be seasonal, but some agencies such as the Kings Foundation, which recruits for several overseas clients, find that candidates come back season after season because of the variety of the roles on offer.
In some resorts, the summer season lasts from March to November, while some companies recruit for both the summer and winter season.
Tour operator Scott Dunn runs children's clubs for its guests, as well as employing nannies for its luxury villas, both in the summer and in the ski seasons, in the Mediterranean and as far afield as Mauritius and Thailand.
'We look for candidates to be Level 3 qualified,' says Scott Dunn childcare recruitment and training manager Charlotte Radford. 'Occasionally we get teachers coming to work for us, and we also look for linguists - French and Russian speakers in particular. The type of person we are looking for is seeking a challenge, interested in travel and perhaps climbing the career ladder.
'We have a number of people who have now returned to permanent roles with us back in the UK, which is great.'
YOUR CREDENTIALS
Most overseas employers look for a Level 3 qualification or above, but the amount of experience sought can vary considerably.
Having a second language will often help, but is not usually essential. However, a good standard of spoken and written English is deemed essential.
This is certainly something Monica Shah looks for when recruiting for nursery nurses for the Children First nursery in Zurich, which she founded.
'A lot of our parents don't have English as a first language, so they want their children to have good English, and grammar must be perfect,' she says.
Even for those who have researched the country and company where they hope to work, the consultancy interview is often the place where the realities of living and working away from home are really covered, so that candidates know what they are taking on.
In order to manage location and volume of candidates, the Kings Foundation initially interviews candidates via Skype and advises that this is a good first opportunity for candidates to gather information and ask important questions.
MAKING THE LEAP
If you are successful and secure a position working overseas, the rewards can be significant. Pay varies hugely, but most starting level jobs will offer £100 to £200 a week with free accommodation and some meals. In some circumstances, pay is tax-free if working in international waters.
'It is a great life experience,' says Ceri Duffield at agency In2Action.
'It brings candidates out of themselves and gives them confidence - meeting new people, being part of a new team, working with a huge range of children.'
Some agencies such as Seek Teachers, which places candidates in the Middle and Far East and Asia, are keen to support practitioners with detailed knowledge of local customs and culture, and practical advice relating to areas such as transport.
Early years practitioner Adele Kirkby-Clark, who took up a position in a Beijing setting last year, says, 'I was really impressed with the level of service from Seek Teachers; it provided a lot of useful information about the region and negotiated very efficiently on my behalf.
'Knowing that an agency is acting in your best interests really makes all the difference.'
PLANNING YOUR MOVE
Ask yourself:
- How much money would I need up front to make a move abroad to this country?
- If accommodation is not included, is it possible to find accommodation for up to a third of the monthly salary?
- Is there a pay scale for progression if I stay longer than two years?
- If applying to a nursery, is it a business or a non-profit organisation? If a business, who are the owners?
- Which languages are spoken with the children? Are there any non-English speakers in the same team as the English staff?
Further information
MY WORKING LIFE: TEACHING ASSISTANT IN SWITZERLAND
Kim Charlton is a teaching assistant at the Children First Nursery School and Kindergarten in Zurich, working with pre-school and kindergarten children. Formerly, she spent five years working in nurseries in Hampshire.
She says, 'I came to Switzerland five years ago to work as a nanny. It was such a wonderful experience, so when the job finished I decided to stay. Since then I have worked in Zurich, apart from a year spent in Basel.
'The day starts at about 8am when we welcome the children. At 9am, we start the official day of learning with circle time, before we have snack and some outside time. We have German classes twice a week as well as music classes and dance classes.
'At the moment, I provide support for a family. Three days a week I leave at 1pm and take their little boy home. I have not heard of any other nursery in Zurich doing this, and I know the family are really appreciative of our help. The mother is having problems with her pregnancy and the boy would not be able to come to nursery without our help.
'Later in the day, we have a time for quiet activities such as stories, puzzles or games. We are also allocated times to go and do our paperwork.
'The system here is more free range than in England. For example, we don't need to fill in forms and get parents' permission before taking the children out and we go out a few times a week. Also, four-year-olds will walk to school by themselves - that is nice to see.
'I have worked with people from different areas such as Germany and it is nice to know what they do and incorporate that into what I've been taught in the UK.
'I love Switzerland, and being able to see a multicultural array of people. In the past five years, I have developed my career and built up so much knowledge.'
CV
Qualifications
Discovering Psychology, Open University - 2004
Refresh first aid course -2008
NVQ Level 3 Early Years Care and Education, Poppins Day Nursery, Hampshire
Employment history
2001-2007: Various positions in nurseries in Hampshire
2008-2009: Private nanny for a Zurich family looking after a two-year-old
2009-2011: Teaching assistant with four- to five-year-olds, Early Learning Association, Basel
2011-2013: Teaching assistant and baby room leader at Oerlikon Nursery, Zurich
2013 to present: Teaching assistant, Children First School, Zurich
SWITZERLAND: KEY FACTS
EYPS is the most sought after qualification by nurseries and schools in Switzerland, although not essential.
A Level 3 qualification in childcare is essential, however, as is a good standard of written and spoken English. A written test, such as writing up an observation of a child, may be required as part of the interview.
German language skills are not essential but you would be expected to show a desire to try to learn the language.
Salaries in Zurich are good - a minimum of 3,600 franks (£2,424) per month for someone with two years' experience.
