Graduate teachers must display literacy and numeracy skills in the top 30% of the nation. This makes the ‘those who can’t do – teach’ mantra, and sets the bar high for those looking to secure their first teaching role.
Teaching is a vocation ad one that you have been drawn to and devoted your academic career to. But landing your first teaching job is not easy. It takes time, hard work and a lot of patience. Before you hit the ground running make sure you have the appropriate degree and credentials for the position you are applying for. Once that’s all in order, follow these tips to help you get that dream job.
Every graduate teacher knows you need a great resume to have a hope of landing an interview but make sure you spend time composing a compelling cover letter as well. Resumes are of course crucial to getting an employer’s attention, but when an employer has a stack of resumes to look through, how do you think yours will stand out? This is why a well-composed cover letter is essential to attach to your resume. It makes it much easier for an employer to see if they even want to read your resume. It’s important to tailor your cover letter to the specific position you are applying for. Your cover letter should highlight your accomplishments and explain things that your resume cannot. If you have had exceptional practicum experience, this is where you can add that. Make sure that you request an interview at the end of the cover letter; this will show them that you are determined to get that job.
As for the resume itself, a well written, error-free resume will not only grab the attention of the prospective employer, it will also show them that you are a qualified contender for the job. A teacher resume should include identification, certification, any teaching experience and/or related experience, professional development and related skills. You should add any professional memberships, career objectives or professional development here as well. Some employers look for certain teacher keywords to see if you are on top of issues in the education field.
Remember to always tailor your application to the school. Too many applications end up being discarded due to lazy errors, so at least get the school name right. Make it hard for them not to interview you by looking at the school’s website, looking for the mission statement and ensuring that you state how your personal values align with theirs. This shows that you are positioning yourself as an asset to this particular establishment and not just looking for any teaching job at any school that will take you.
Before you start sending out applications, make sure your social media profile is above board. No one is saying that teachers can’t have a private life. You have as much right as anyone to have an online presence, and in fact, it would probably seem odd if you didn’t. But, as part of your application preparations it’s a good idea to Google yourself; make sure to check images too. Evaluate your digital footprint, chat with your friends about the sorts of photos you are happy to be tagged in and lock down privacy settings where appropriate. If you are unsure of how to do this a Google search will bring up plenty of step-by-step instructions. It all comes down to control. Always think before you post.
So where are the best websites to look for your first teaching role? Aside from the popular job aggregate sites such as Seek, there are specialised teaching role sites. Each state will have its own online presence, such as:
- https://teach.qld.gov.au/ https://smartjobs.qld.gov.au/jobtools/jncustomsearch.searchResults
- https://www.education.sa.gov.au/working-us/careers-education
- https://www.teach.nsw.edu.au/find-teaching-jobs/jobfeed
According to many of our clients, a website that has many listings is Teachers on Net, which is one of Australia’s leading education job sites, where thousands of schools advertise their vacancies.
Looking for a teaching job is daunting, but ensuring that your application is well-prepared and that you are ready for interviews increases the likelihood of landing a full-time job as soon as possible. Don’t be afraid to call upon the knowledge of professional friends and acquaintances – in addition to helping you establish networked connections, they can help you through the difficult task of applying and landing your dream job.
And if you are struggling with creating the perfect teaching cover letter and resume contact www.teachingresumes.com.au and you’ll have one less thing to worry about and be one step closer to a career in education.