Please mention teacher-online when applying for jobs


Your letter of application

It is important to write a good letter. It may be your first personal communication with an employer. They should be pertinent and business-like but should allow some personality to show through. Impressions can be formed immediately. Address your letter to a named person, usually the Head teacher. Check the spelling of the name. Follow any specific instructions given; most schools still require a hand-written letter of application.

Start by saying where you saw the advert and why you want the job. Consider carefully where your assets match with any specific qualities given in the advertisement.

Show some knowledge of the school/college. Check out the website.

Make yourself sound interesting, point out a few areas of expertise.

CV tips

• Your CV should summarise your academic and professional history and highlight your strengths.
  
• Pay close attention to the language you use, ‘responsible for’, ‘achieved’, ‘leadership’, ‘management of’, are all good.
  
• Use bullet points, do not write lengthy prose.
  
• Work backwards from your current or most recent post, including start and end dates, position and/or responsibilities associated with each post.
  
• If you are applying for your first job, remember to state any relevant work experience.
  
• Try to make your CV pertinent to the position for which you are applying.
  
• Keep your CV honest.
  
• Applications for a first teaching post will want to state achievements while at College or University. A couple of years down the line these may no longer be relevant. Keep your CV up-to-date.
  
• Grammar and punctuation and use of English are important. Your chance of selection is considerably lower if your CV contains such errors. It is useful to get a fresh pair of eyes to read through your CV.
  
• Referees should include your current employer.

Other considerations

Equally important to formal qualifications are other attributes such as intuition, empathy, and experience from your working life and private life, your personality. The ways these will blend with the school/college are important. Try to show your personality at all times, in your letters, CV and interviews.

Showing you are flexible and dynamic are important attributes. Your interests and academic record alone will not sufficiently differentiate you from others applying. What motivates you, what are your values; give the employer the opportunity to determine your personal strengths.

Initial contact with a school/college will probably be through the office and the secretary. Communicate your message effectively, be polite, introduce yourself. When making an application, can you do something innovative or creative.

Personality is difficult to gauge from a CV and therefore the interview is the most important part of the process. Prepare yourself for the interview.

Interview skills

The first impression is a lasting impression. Appear clean, tidy and well groomed. Dress conservatively not flamboyantly. Keep accessories to a minimum.

An employer will disapprove of lateness. Arrive well in advance of your interview, bide your time outside if necessary. Present yourself no more than five minutes early. When entering take note of the surroundings, you may pick up some vibes.

Present yourself with an air of self-confidence. Maintain eye contact, shake hands firmly and if possible use names. Be pleasant with everyone you meet, they may be asked to give their opinion of you.

Inevitably there is a question and answer session. Ensure you have practiced answers to the most likely questions. Speak maturely and with self-confidence. Do not be afraid to discuss your weaknesses as well as your strengths.

Enthusiasm is vital and must be evident in all aspects of your interview.

At the close of the interview try to maximise your chances of a second interview. Say how much you enjoyed meeting the interviewer and what a good school it is, how well you can see yourself fitting into the school.