If you’re a teacher considering an international move, this post is for you. Specifically, if you’re one half of a teaching couple wondering whether it’s realistic for both of you to land positions at the same school — I’m here to tell you it is possible. It just involves a lot of patience, a lot of unanswered emails and occasionally, one of you being asked for an interview while the other one is still in their interview.
Let me explain.
We’ve been job hunting for international teaching positions for a while now — me as a Reception teacher with an EYFS and Key Stage 1 background, my husband as a Computer Science teacher and Head of Technology. Different departments, different skill sets and the added complexity of needing a school that had openings for both of us at the same time. Not impossible but not exactly straightforward either.
Our main platforms were TES — Times Educational Supplement, which most international teaching job hunters will know well — and Schrole, which links directly with TES and is worth having on your radar if you don’t already. Between the two, we had a reasonable pipeline of applications going out. The frustrating reality, though, is that a significant number of those applications disappeared into silence.
“The hardest part of international job hunting isn’t the interviews. It’s the applications you never hear back from. Not even a no. Just nothing.”
Time spent crafting a careful application, tailoring a cover letter, researching a school — and then complete silence on the other end. No acknowledgement, no rejection, no thank you but no thank you. It’s one of the genuinely frustrating realities of international teaching recruitment and nobody talks about it enough. You learn, eventually, to apply and move on rather than wait and wonder.
And then came Athens.
We applied separately — each of us putting in our own application for our respective roles at an international school in Athens. We didn’t apply as a couple or flag our connection upfront. We just applied, as we had done for many schools before and waited.
The difference this time: we didn’t wait long.
On the same day we applied, we both received emails inviting us for an interview. I was interviewed first. The following day — while I was still in my interview — my husband received his invitation to interview. And by his third interview, we had both been offered positions.
“From application to job offer in a matter of days. After months of silence from other schools, it felt slightly unreal. We kept waiting for a catch.”
To put that in context: in international teaching recruitment, waiting days or even a couple of weeks after an interview for a decision is completely normal. Receiving an offer during the interview process itself is not. We’ve since been told this is very uncommon. At the time we were just relieved — and slightly stunned.
What made the difference? Honestly, we think a few things. The timing was right — the school had openings in both our areas. Our experience across multiple countries was relevant. And sometimes, when the fit is right, the process just moves quickly. There’s no magic formula, much as we’d love to give you one.
What we’d tell other teaching couples
Apply separately. Make each application strong on its own merits. Don’t rely on the couple angle — schools hire for roles, not relationships.
Use TES and Schrole together. They’re linked but not identical — listings can vary. Cast as wide a net as possible.
Don’t wait by the inbox. Apply, move on, apply again. The silence from some schools is demoralising if you let it be. Treat it as background noise and keep going.
Be honest about your timeline. Schools planning for the following academic year want to know you’re serious and available. Be clear about when you can start.
The right school moves fast. When the fit is right, things can happen very quickly. Make sure your references are lined up and your documents are ready so you’re not scrambling when it does.
We started in Athens in September. Reception class for me, Head of Technology for my husband and our children in the same building. After everything this past two years has thrown at us, it still feels like a dream — and an enormous, exhale-out-loud relief.”
If you’re a teaching couple navigating the international job hunt and want to ask anything about the process, drop a comment below. We’re happy to share what we know.
— Marie
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