Work abroad or stay for career progression

[earlylifecrisis]

I have been offered a job overseas (in an international school). Kids would have school places, DH could get an office transfer and we could save quite a lot of money if we went for 2-3 years. The job is a side step, however, wouldn't give me progression and would even mean that I couldn't teach A level which I have done thus far.

If we stay at home my hod is going on mat leave next academic year and I would very likely be offered acting hod . Trouble is I'm not mad keen on the school and if it wasn't for the possibility of progression I'd look for something else. Good opportunity for working way up though which is what I had in mind as kids get older. This is the less lucrative option.

Wwyd? Kids are 5 and 3 so a good time for them re overseas. They would miss grandparents

I imagine my perspective will be unpopular, but I always wonder what I would have preferred to have done when I look back on my life.

Time and memories are the only thing that matter when it's all said and done and I would opt for the option that I feel would create better family memories.

To me, that would be a few years abroad.

I think it's an amazing, once in a lifetime opportunity whilst the kids are young.

Whilst a promotion to acting HOY is a great opportunity, odds are there will be more. Similarly, I think it will be easier when they're older to take on an extra stress and time role like that.

Plus, from that career level, I imagine it will be very hard to turn back.

However, if you feel that you'll be sacrificing you're career for your family and partner (understandable and something which I would otherwise always advise against) and that is something you don't want to do, then do what you feel best for you.

Best of luck

Is it in an interesting country? Will you be happy there? I'd answer that question in order to decide. You could easily move jobs in this country if you wanted to. And you say you'll save money, will you? What will happen when you come back? Will you be able to afford to buy somewhere here then? How old are grandparents? Are the children still likely to see plenty of them in later life? How far is it if gps want to visit? And will you have room for them?

WhatamI thanks so much for your thoughtful response.
In terms of my career, if it wasn't for the opportunity staring me in the face I probably wouldn't be applying for HOd yet anyway. My husband is happy to do whatever, he loves an adventure but would never recommend that I give up a career opportunity if I didn't want to.

I just know the kids would love it, warm weather, apartment with pool, international buddies. Think It would be good fun for them and us.

Borg it's Singapore. We actually lived there once before pre-kids and loved it.
We own a home here already so we would rent it out rather than sell anything. We would hope to save he money to move to a bigger house in the catchment of better secondary schools.

Borg sorry I didn't finish! Grandparents are mums only both mid-sixties now. We would have room for them to visit but flights are quite pricey and neither is loaded.

Oh so do it then! (not OFS is it?)

Hoping to save anyway, we'd earn enough to save but whether we accidentally blow most of it on travel is another thing....!
It's not OFS!

Singapore is good fun. Will your husband be able to work too? Having School fees paid is a huge bonus to your budget here (Singapore). Go for it!

Hi lions yes his office will have him back there on a local contract and I would be given the package that gives 2.5k towards accommodation and free school places and medical. We'd obviously have to top up the accommodation but last time we were there we had a big place for less than 4K so hoping that's still possible!

I think you should go for it then while you're all young enough to do it. Good luck, whatever you decide.

Thanks borg. I guess I'm a bit worried about not taking HoD and then never having that chance again but I am still youngish (32) so I could hopefully still get it another time!

Ok just to give an alternative view. If you stayed for another couple of years or even another year and got the head of dept. Job Could you still go abroad then. Would you be better placed to take more lucrative overseas jobs. Your children would still be very young so not a problem moving them or is this a one off opportunity. I am overseas (not Singapore)and there always seems to be lots of opportunities for teaching positions at international schools. I am just thinking could you have your cake and eat it

Hi tween thanks. Yes that is a good point- an opportunity may well come up in a couple of years and I could go for a higher level job. Certainly worth thinking about!

What would happen if you didn’t get the acting hod? Or if you only had the post for that short period? Would you regret not taking the role abroad?

And what yes I would probably regret it in those scenarios.

Singapore schools are always recruiting so if I were you I'd do HoD and then apply with that under your belt.

Johnny I teach quite a small subject in terms of numbers so there's never many of my subject in any one department. recruitment might be a bit less frequent.
I guess I'm worried if I don't take this option then I won't ever do it as my mum will get older and I'll feel guiltier than I do now!
But I might also never get the opportunity for HoD again.
Decisions! I got to decide by next Tuesday

I’d go but I wouldn’t expect to be able to save anything - Singapore is excruciatingly expensive - even more so with kids (though school fees being paid does help of course!) - we did two years there on a big salary and found it very expensive.
But in terms of life experience for the kids it’s amazing. Hod jobs will still be around when you get back (if you can bear to leave!)

Drama llama we lived there for a year a couple of years ago and managed to save quite a bit but we didn't have DC. We should have around 14k per month coming in for 2 jobs, with school free and accommodation paid 2.5k (so will need to top up- would hope to get a 3 bed in an older condo for around 4K). Do you think savings would be possible on this?

Ooh Singapore is fabulous and child care/domestic help is affordable. I would go.

I wouldn't be able to leave my mum (but i'm sure she would push me to go) If your Mum is quite independent and has lots of friends then she would probably be fine. That would be the biggest factor for me.