Jobseeking advice clinic: 5-6:30pm Tuesday 29 November

Gail Robinson

25/11/2011

Our jobseeking expert John Howson will be online to answer your careers queries live on Tuesday. Find out how to get your question answered

Comments

Question for John Howson. I'm looking to apply for a primary school teaching NQT job September 2012 from Canda. Is it appropriate to apply for jobs from abroad? If so, how accomodating are schools to contacting you abroad and doing a skype interview, or is it essential to travel home before the application process.

Question: How can I get my application to stand out? I am an NQT looking for a job in the south west, a very competitive area. I moved abroad for 3 months following the end of my pgce and was able to volunteer in school and even do some English teaching. Will this help my application or will the gap between finishing my course and looking for a job be seen as a negative thing? Many thanks

I have been teaching for the last 16 years and need a change? What can you recommend?

I have applied for countless jobs, yet haven't heard anything. How can I make my application stand out, and how long would you recommend waiting to contact the school for feedback?

I am currently doing my PGCE and I'm also getting married in July so won't be very flexible when it comes to relocating for jobs. Is it pointless to apply to schools I'm interested in who aren't advertising vacancies, but who are in the right areas? I heard teachers only resign a term ahead?

I trained in England to become a primary school teacher and taught for one term before moving to Edinburgh. I completed my probationer year in Edinburgh and have worked towards my masters. I am on the Chartered Teacher pay scale (£38,000)and would like to know if I move to England, what sort of jobs should I be looking for which pay the same? Could you please explain the pay scales. I am a Support for learning Teacher (SENCO equivalent) and hope to find a similar job in England for September 2012. Thanks GJ

I am a French (PGCE ) and English as a Foreign Language (MA) teacher. However I have not worked in teaching for 11 years. Is there any way of getting back into a teaching job? What steps do I need to take?

Dear John, I've been applying for TA jobs for the last few months, and no luck so far! Is it because the preference is given to those with NVQ L3 Qualifications and those with more years of experience, as I am newly qualified in NVQ L2 Teaching and Learning in Schools, with only 300 hours of Work Placement experience. I am also multi-lingual, and a qualified EFL Teacher. Thank you!

I am coming to England for a year in mid-February, taking a year's leave from my position as HoD Science in a state secondary school in New Zealand. I will be living in the Forest of Dean area and have so far applied for 2 maternity cover positions within a 25-30 mile radius, but without success. I am a UK and NZ dual national and have a National Insurance number. I completed my schooling and graduate equivalent quals in England, and have been living in NZ for 38yrs. My teaching and other post-graduate quals were gained in NZ. Should I be contacting schools directly or is it better to go via the LEAs? Does this also apply when seeking supply teaching jobs? Should I apply for police clearance via the NZ Police? I see that I'm not eligible to register with the GTC until I have employment - is there any other organisation that I should register with? Is there anything else that I can do prior to arriving in the UK? Many thanks.

I have been teaching for 16 years and am now looking for a change of career. The problem is my degree is a BEd and I have no other experience outside of teaching plus no idea what else I want to do. Help! I can't afford to stop work while I retrain at something new.

I've been a History teacher for 7 years and have only been able to get short to mid-term contracts (currently unemployed)...and I've really only got those jobs through knowing people at those schools, and my CV has become patchy. My main problem is writing a letter in support of an application. What do you recommend I include, given my CV, and what should I NOT write? Many Thanks

Hi, I've been fully qualified for six and a half years and had two full time jobs. I resigned from the last one. There's about 2 days a week (on average) on supply, and what jobs are advertised apparently receive alot of interest. From questions I've had answered I'm finding jobs are being given more and more to NQT's and no disrespect peoples because we've all been there. Does experience count for anything in teaching these days, as it does in other professions? I also keep getting told 'schools haven't got any money', 'schools use cover supervisors for supply'. Where does all this leave teachers with experience? While it is possible to be outstanding at interview it's less easy to be cost effective as far as pay scales go. Oh, and I'm on Main Scale 6 in the North East. Sorry to be cynical but all true, I'm afraid. Thank's!

I have been an MFL teacher for 4 years but have only worked as a supply. I went to several interviews. When I am told that I didn't get the job, schools often tell me that I didn't give a very good answer to the question about discipline (i.e.: "What do you do to maintain discipline in your classroon?"). What makes a good answer to this question? Many thanks.

I have been teaching on a supply basis for over a year now and I have applied for over 40 positions with only 5 interviews. I have over 10 years experience in working in school as a teaching assistant and qualified as a teacher in 2010. I am now 50 years old - is my age a barrier to finding a permanent position and can I continue to teach on supply after the 16 months is up?

I qualified in July 2010 and have been supplying since ... I have applied for a number of jobs, but have had very little success and only one interview. In my area jobs are scarce and competition is high - do you have any advice to make my application stand out? Thanks

I left my last post after I had my second child two years ago. I am very keen to return to teaching and move up the career ladder. I have applied for a number of positions without success and I am wondering how I can make my application stand out from the rest so that I at least get an interview. I qualified in 2001 and am at the top of the main scale. Would be grateful for some help!

I am applying for new jobs, both in the UK and abroad. Do I have to put my current head teacher as a reference, or does will the depute head suffice?

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