Tackling the January blues
For existing teachers, the holidays hopefully represented the perfect opportunity to plan ahead. Doing so, not only prepares you for the challenges of the New Year, but it’s also an effective tactic to help pick yourself up from the lull during the break. Setting goals, making resolutions, and outlining a roadmap for the year ahead can provide a sense of purpose and direction.
If you’re feeling dissatisfied with your current career path this is also a good time to assess where you are and identify areas of your role that bring satisfaction and job fulfilment, as well as those you are not so fond of. This self-reflection can help you pinpoint the direction you want your career to take.
January is also a great prime time to reassess your CV. As we all know, this is your chance to sell yourself to potential employees and it therefore needs to frame you in the best possible light. You can again use this approach not only as a way of helping you get ahead in your career for 2024, but also as another method to tackle the January blues. Tailor your CV and portfolio to highlight your skills, experience, and adaptability and try to emphasise any relevant training or certifications that showcase your commitment to professional development as this can appeal to potential employers. Another useful tip to help you think more positively is to set realistic and achievable professional goals. These can be the foundation of your plan for the year and can give you something to strive for.
Consider supply teaching
For many, the dread of returning after the holiday period and back into full-time, five-days-a-week work can be the main factor impacting moods and overall positivity. However, supply teachers don’t face these challenges and they can essentially pick and choose how, when and where they work so it fits around their personal lives, and not the other way around.
Supply teaching has numerous benefits; firstly, it allows you to have greater control over your schedule, giving you the flexibility to balance your work and personal life according to your preferences and other factors in your life. Working in this way also exposes you to a much wider range of classroom environments than you would be able to in permanent roles. This not only helps to keep your work interesting and diverse, but it also allows you to explore different teaching styles and work with a range of age groups.
In addition, supply teachers have more chances to boost their skills by taking on professional development opportunities which can in turn, increase their ability to secure the best roles in the market. At a broader level, it also challenges you to adapt quickly to different learning environments, enhancing your teaching skills and resilience. This experience can be valuable for your long-term career growth.
What do you need to do to start a career in supply teaching?
Before making the transition into supply teaching, you will need to conduct thorough research on the requirements and expectations of the role and also consider participating in relevant training opportunities to boost your skills and make yourself as employable as possible. Expanding your network is also a good idea; most teachers will have some supply specialists within their professional circle and nurturing this to know as many people as possible can help to provide useful insights, support and identify potential job opportunities. Attending industry events and workshops is also a good way to expedite this process, but equally, you can reach out to other teachers within your network to get started.
While working in this way offers numerous benefits, it’s also essential to acknowledge and prepare for potential challenges too. Classroom dynamics can vary, and adapting to new environments may require resilience and quick thinking. It can also be more difficult to get to grips with the particular challenges that some schools can offer when compared to working in a similar permanent role. However, the positives hugely outweigh the negatives and skills and experiences gained through supply teaching can be invaluable for personal and professional growth.
If you are considering a move to supply teaching, the single best solution is to partner with a specialist agency that understands the market and can find jobs that fit with your skills, lifestyle, experience and motivators. If this sounds appealing to you then get in touch with our expert team.
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