For many teachers and newly qualified education candidates, the job hunting process can be both time consuming and potentially daunting. But how can you best prepare for this in order to set yourself up for success?
Consider your online presence
Social media can be a highly useful tool to find your new role. For example, not only can Twitter be a great source of up-to-date job listings, but it’s also a good platform to network and research relevant information. There are a vast number of teachers taking part in Twitter debates and these public conversations will provide a fantastic platform for a candidate to gain real insight into the world of teaching from those with first-hand experience of the environment. There are live chats nearly every night of the week, each dedicated to a different specialism, so review the conversations and take part where relevant. There is also a group of tweeting teachers known as ‘tweachers’ who are great to follow and engage with in order to build your network and identify possible job opportunities.
Remember though, that it’s vital to carefully monitor your online presence. Ensure that your security settings are up to date and that any posts made are private where relevant. If contributing to public debates, take a considered approach to what you’re saying. Remember that once something is posted on social media it is available to anyone, at any time, and anything potentially damaging could have an impact on your career should a future employer, pupil or even a student’s parent, stumble across it.
Seek expert help
It’s important to bear in mind that many head teachers will use an external supplier for the initial stage of candidate sourcing, particularly if these partners are able to assist with safeguarding assessments of teaching professionals. As such, it is valuable to not only be aware of advertised jobs, but also which resourcing experts are likely to have the connections that could be of use for you and your career.
Remember as well that external suppliers will also be able to support you in the job hunting process, including helping prepare for the interview, providing tips on making your CV stand out from the crowd and offering advice on how to grow your network.
Set aside time to do your interview prep
Once you’ve secured that all important interview, your efforts shouldn’t stop there. It’s important to set aside time to do the detailed preparation for the interview itself which will obviously include a run through of a lesson plan and an observation. In order to be fully ready to shine during this part of the process, ensure you plan a lesson format that you are comfortable and confident with. Remember to including timings in the plan and print off at least three copies in case there is more than one observer.
It’s also important to consider your approach for a possible student tour of the school. Remember that this is, in fact, a part of the interview process and pupils will feedback to the head teacher on how they found you and whether they feel you would fit in. As such, remember to be attentive, engage with the students, and prepare a set of questions specifically targeted at pupils.
About the author
Azam Mohammed is Managing Director of Capita Education Resourcing. The company specialises in providing a comprehensive range of recruitment solutions and added value services to the education sector. Its national network of offices ensures that it can provide customers with a fast and effective service, responsive to their local needs whilst being able to find its candidates jobs throughout the UK. For further information please visit: http://www.capitaeducation.co.
Image: Shutterstock
