Trainee Teachers- securing your first role

At this time of year, even in the best of times, it is normal for trainee teachers to start panicking about not securing that vital first role for September. Its not helped that these are certainly not the best of times! While the temptation might be to keep banging out application after application this probably isn't the best approach and could, potentially, lead to more anxiety should another rejection email come through (or worse never hearing again from the school). There are, however, some things you can to do help you succeed or, at the very least, take some of the pressure off yourself.

Based on my own experiences of applying for various jobs over the years and now as a manager within an education setting these are my top tips.

Before we begin though, first, the disclaimer: These are suggestions are based on my own personal opinion. Other people may have different views or, as is their right, disagree with me. So feel free to use, or ignore, these tips as you see fit!

So without further ado:

• Don't panic, easier said than done I know. The worse thing you could do though is panic and start churning out application after application with very little changes. Its easy to get into the mindset of 'the more applications I send out the better my chances'. I know I did. I must have sent out about 50 applications, all with very little in the way of changes. The number of acknowledgements of the applications were very few and the number of interviews even fewer. Instead, target the schools you really want to work in. Do your homework and get to know the school, and the role, as much as possible before applying.

• 'Shall I compare thee to a summers day?' No, leave that to Bill Shakespeare. Comparing yourself to others is never a good idea. Some of your cohort of trainee teachers may have secured a job before the end of their final placement but this doesn't mean they are a better teacher than you. Nor does it mean they 'just got lucky' or must be doing something brilliantly amazing or different.   Try to be happy for your friends/colleagues and celebrate with them but leave it at that.

• Plagiarism is bad! Similar to above , it is tempting to copy the personal statement of a successful application. However, just like we are trained to teat our learners as individuals, we should also treat each school as an individual. What one recruiting head teacher thinks is a great application, another might disagree!  Sure, get someone to look over your application form and personal statement but write it so you are happy with it.

Ok, so the above points seem a bit negative.

Now lets focus on some positive action.

• Include an executive summary. This is simply a table in word with the person spec in one column side and how you meet that spec in the second column. Written in bullet points. This would be included along side the normal personal statement and/or covering letter. This allows the recruiting head to see, at a glance, how your skills and experiences match the essential requirements for the role. There are no guarantees this will work, however, I've got interviews when I included one and feedback from an unsuccessful application said other candidates had included one.

• Include mentioning your hobbies and interests in the application. Recruiting head teachers like to know more about the applicant as a person. They will be looking for someone who compliments, and fits in with, their current teaching staff.  Realistically, no amount of hobbies are going to secure you that role if the rest of your application is poor or if you interview badly but it could be the tie break question between you and another candidate.

And finally...

It may be that, at the end of the term, you haven't secured that dream job.

All is not lost!

There is always the option of supply work.  Supply teaching is a great way to gain more experience, particularly in a unfamiliar age group or school setting.  Which in turn gives you more to write about in your next application

If supply is something you're interested in I've written a couple of blog posts which you might find useful:

https://colinrbrowne.wordpress.com/2017/01/02/supply-teaching-is-it-for-me/ - looks at the pros and cons of supply work.

https://colinrbrowne.wordpress.com/2017/02/22/supply-teaching-getting-work/ - looks at how to go about getting supply work.

A couple of important things to note about supply teaching:

Although there is no time limit on completing your NQT year you are limited to 5 years on supply without completing it. After 5 years you will are likely to be limited to working, as a supply, in an academy or being paid as unqualified teacher. (as soon as you pass your NQT year there is no limit to the amount of years you can be a supply teacher. I know some who have made it their main role.

You can complete your NQT year while on supply in certain circumstances. In England you need to be working in a school for an entire term for it to count as your NQT year. This needs to be an entire term and the school must be willing to support you. In Wales you can complete your NQT year while on daily supply.  Sorry Scotland, I have no idea how supply works in your country!

There are a number of supply teaching groups on Facebook. One particular friendly one is the Supply Teachers Network.

Hopefully this has helped put aside any anxiety about not securing that first teaching role just yet.  For most people it will happen, its just a matter of when not if.  In the meantime you need to be kind to yourself and try not to let a lack of job affect your mental health and well being.

Please feel free to comment below if you have any questions or go to my Facebook page.(https://www.facebook.com/ColinRBrowne) where I will attempt to answer any questions you may have.