khru

"But if you don't come across well as a person no amount of experience is going to help you, and if you come across badly this may lead to questions being raised about you and what you've been up to in the past.
Of course, you might also be unlucky enough to be interviewed by a small minded bigot who ought to know better."

It sounds like you've been around well travelled HTs. Whilst I didn't have a problem getting work (as a female chemistry teacher) I've heard loads of sniping and bad-mouthing about more mature male teachers who've spent time overseas. Obviously overseas experience would be helpful for geography, MFL and RE but it isn't always so well regarded for other subjects. Hopefully things are changing. I always try to challenge the misconceptions but teachers, in many areas of the UK, can be a conservative bunch.
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BTW Jon, where are you from in Suffolk?
(Did a placement at Sudbury Upper School & loved it. Didn't like any of the other Suffolk schools tho)