Understand your motivators
Any job search should begin with a period of introspection. This is your time to ascertain what you do and don’t want from your next teaching position and whether you’re looking for a completely clean break or a role with similarities to your current one. You need to identify whether you enjoy your existing working culture and the type of environment that your current role offers. Understanding your internal motivators and drivers can make all the difference when looking for your next teaching position. Once you’ve ascertained what it is you’re really looking for, there are a few different methods you can use to source your next role:
Finding jobs in education in 2024
Online research
The start of your job search can begin online and you’ll be able to source basic information about different schools, academies and trusts by carrying out desk-based research. Some employers will post their roles on specialist education job boards while others may prefer to only host them on their school or academy websites. However, while carrying out your research online is a great place to start, it only forms one aspect of your search for your next teaching position.
Using your network
A good way to add more detail and depth to your job hunt and to find out what a school, academy or institution is really like is to leverage the power of your network. You will likely know other education specialists who will have an awareness and knowledge of other employers, and it’s worth reaching out to these people and letting them know that you’re considering looking for a new role. Word travels fast in the education sector and this is a great way of ensuring you’re getting a clear, realistic picture of what working at the school would really be like.
Job fairs
Attending education job fairs is a great way of understanding what roles are available and meeting some of your future potential colleagues and managers in the flesh. These events take place across the UK on a regular basis. Here at The Supply Register, we are attending fairs on the below dates:
January 2024
19th – Birmingham
19th – Nottingham
31st – Stoke
February 2024
2nd – Croydon
14th – Exeter
You can find out more about the full range of upcoming events taking place here.
Optimise your CV
It’s all well and good finding jobs in education that are the right roles for you, but actually securing them is a different matter. Once you have identified where you would like to work, you need to take a detailed look at your CV and question whether it highlights the skills that your potential new employer is looking for. You should always tailor your application so that your experience, background and competencies align with those that the school, academy or trust is seeking. You should also look to ask a friend or family member to review your CV and supporting statement to ensure it is error-free. Nothing is more likely to prevent you from securing an interview than presenting an application that is riddled with errors.
Boost your skills
If you are finding that the roles that are currently available in the job market don’t match your qualities as a teacher, then you can look to boost your skill set by taking on training and development opportunities. Identifying ways to expand your competencies will not only make you a better educator, but can also signal to potential employers that you are driven and focused on continuously improving, two qualities that every school, academy and trust is seeking.
Consider supply teaching
If, during the process of your job search, you have established that actually you would prefer a role with the flexibility and variety that a career as a specialist supply teacher can offer, then your best bet is to partner with a specialist firm to find your next position. Supply teaching can mean fitting your career around your life, rather than the other way around, and can lead to you experiencing a much wider range of working cultures and styles than would ever have been possible with a career as a permanent educator. If you’d like to find out more about the supply teaching lifestyle and the benefits it can offer to you and your family then take a look at this blog outlining some of the key reasons why it’s a profession you should consider. And if you would like to find out more, then speak to our expert team.
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