Writing a cover letter for an international teaching job

It is a very exciting time in international education for all teachers due to an abundance of opportunities in schools for you to explore, compare and research.  Many teachers plan to have an ‘international experience’ during their teaching career for a variety of reasons and there is a current shortage of teachers.

As stated by ISC Research (2023) “there will still be a need for 70,500 more teachers by 2028”.  It is therefore a good time to apply for international roles.  As UNESCO (2024) mentions “Teacher shortages are a global issue, prevalent not only in developing nations but also in high-income regions like Europe and North America”.  Plus, according to COBIS (2022), “International experience continues to play a role in retaining teachers in the profession.  43% of incoming teachers were thinking about leaving the profession before taking up an international job (up from 36% in 2020 and 32% in 2018)”.  This shows there are many jobs available and teachers are attracted to an international experience.

With the many opportunities overseas, Teacher Recruitment International (link in references), provides an excellent list of areas to check (qualifications, experiences, positions, contracts etc.) before applying for roles.

Before you begin your Cover Letter

Planning is key and the exciting work starts now!

The school information on the website, application pack and job advertisement will have key information about the expectations of the role.  Make a note of the philosophy of the school, values and educational direction they follow.  Each school is different and it is key to understand the subtle nuances that can make a huge difference with your application and how you link your experience directly with what they are looking for.  

From the sources above you should have a clear understanding of the following:

• Vision, mission and values of the school
• Introduction from the Headteacher/Principal
• Culture and approach of the school
• School brochures, report and publications available
• Key Responsibilities of the role
• Expectations of the school
• Essential requirements and desirable skills that would compliment these

Structure and key questions

Here are some key questions to go through to ensure that you have everything that you need before writing your cover letter.  The competition may be strong as according to Flair HR (2024) around 52% of employees are considering looking for new opportunities, so you need your application to include all of the important information requested as the field could be very strong.

1. Have you collected school information from the points above? Are any specific values or approaches highlighted/repeated that are essential you show evidence against?
2. Do you have the job advert and key roles at hand before you start your letter?
3. Have you read through the application process, does it require anything specific in the cover letter?
4. Have you checked the recommendations by the employer for the cover letter, is this one or two pages as the guidance below may need to be adjusted?
5. Does it ask you to explain how you meet each individual skill needed or is it a general cover letter?
6. Does the cover letter need to be addressed to one person or a selection committee?
7. Is your CV that you will submit updated and tailored towards the job advert?
8. Is your CV cross checked against the job advert to include and you are able to highlight the relevant experiences?
   

Writing your letter

The letter should be well thought-through, professional and formal in tone. According to sources below from the Daily Mail (2024), between 2% and 15% of applications end up with an interview.  So it is paramount to make every word count during your application.

Be passionate and positive from this point.  Your letter should read through with a sense of excitement and strong interest in joining the team.  This is an opportunity to sell yourself, show that you are both professional and eager to join the team on their journey.

It is always best to start a cover letter and to tailor this to each role, any generic letters show that you have not read through the information and have shown the necessary effort.  Here is a list below that could be used to create a cover letter and includes the fundamental areas that should be present.  Although not an exhaustive list, it represents the key factors and a solid foundation that you should include:

1. A short introduction about yourself (who you are and why you are applying for the role).
2. A paragraph of why you are a good fit for the role (reference your qualifications, experience and skills that meet the essential requirements and those that are desirable, describe your approach and values and how they were formed and how they align with the school).
3. One or two paragraphs on how you and your recent experiences/successes can help the school (include experiences, data points and measurable outcomes that show impact of these skills e.g. percentages of examination results, progress scores, parental engagement, school activities, positive student behaviour, etc.).
4. A short closing sentence to reiterate your interest in the role.
5. Sign off with a polite and professional tone at the bottom and check you have included your contact details either below this or they have them someone else in the application.

Overall, this shows a start, three paragraphs/sections and then an ending.  This can be adjusted if the cover letter is two pages in length.  Simply increase sections 2 and 3 above to address the job criteria needed and add some of the examples below.

Making your letter stand out

What are the extra little pointers that could really make a difference? One or two of these additional tips below could show a further interest and eagerness for the role, making your letter personalised and specific. 

• Students and learning first, include examples of your approach in the past links to what they believe in as a school.  For example, how have you helped develop the whole child with holistic education? Have you been involved in after school activities, student-led projects, school events, environmental initiatives, etc?
• Reference any similar special programs, activities or projects that they run at school to your application and experiences as this shows further care and attention in your application.
• Showcase leadership – highlight anything that you have led in school and the positive impact on the students from this.
• Data-driven examples – if you have any further data examples showing how you have evidence against the criteria of the role, include these.
• Any professional development experiences that align to the approach of the school that you have completed could be included, also if there are any that you are going to complete or have enrolled in, include these to show your commitment to lifelong learning and being a great fit at the school.
• Show a positive attitude and energy towards contributing to the school community and wider community.  How have you been involved with parents, students and staff beyond the classroom?

As a Principal that has hired international teachers over the years, I look for a cover letter that has been written specifically for the job advertised and shows some effort and research into the school and position.  Someone that aligns with the school values and has an excellent attitude with a love for learning.  I like to see a determination and energy present through the letter and a sense of a professional that aspires to join the team.  Clear impact statements with data evidence can be included as they really stand out and show measurable outcomes.

Conclusion: The final check

After you have completed your Cover Letter and updated CV, read through these together against the job specification.  Does your letter include specific points referenced against the job specification that you could potentially expand upon if called for an interview?

• Proofread the cover letter
• Check it against the job specification/responsibilities
• Check it aligns with the school ethos, culture and direction
• A final comparison with your CV so that dates, experiences, data and other areas all match and are consistent

At the end of this process you should feel that you could elaborate on your cover letter with more in depth descriptions and examples that you have mentioned.  Not so much a script but more of an aide-mémoire to help.  This forms a strong position for the interview giving you four or five real examples for a response to possible questions that ask for a scenario for you to share.  Remember, your application should feel passionate,  confident and optimistic about the application.  Good luck with your application!  

References 

• “Job Interview Statistics: First Impressions and Interview Processes”, Flair HR
• “International Teacher Recruitment and Retention”, ISC Research
• “Teacher Supply in British International Schools”, COBIS
• “Things to Consider”, Teacher Recruitment International
• “Recruiters Reveal Biggest Turnoffs”, Daily Mail
• “Global Report: Teachers — What You Need to Know”, UNESCO

Written by Paul Walton

Dr. Paul Walton is an Educational Leader, qualified Leadership Coach, and Writer, focused on developing staff and improving student outcomes. His career has included leadership posts both globally and in the UK, as well as being an advisor for educational IT use in two international regions. He is an experienced Principal, having led 'Outstanding' rated schools.