Elliot Morgan, an expert in the teaching job application process, shares invaluable insights on landing your dream teaching role. He discusses the importance of school visits in evaluating fit and provides tips for crafting a standout application. Elliot also dives into effective interview preparation, introducing the STAR method for structuring responses. He highlights essential tasks teachers may encounter during interviews and emphasizes the need for authenticity and communication skills to shine in the competitive landscape.
Visiting a school before applying is essential for gaining insights into its environment and determining the suitability of fit for candidates.
A well-structured job application should align closely with the job specification, emphasizing relevant experiences and concrete examples to impress hiring committees.
Preparation for interviews should focus on specific examples and the STAR approach to effectively demonstrate reflective thinking and problem-solving skills.
Deep dives
Importance of School Visits
Visiting a school before applying for a teaching position is crucial to determine if it is the right fit for the applicant. It provides valuable insights that cannot be gained from a school's website or social media, such as classroom dynamics, teacher-student interactions, and overall school environment. This visit serves a dual purpose: applicants can introduce themselves as knowledgeable and personable, while also gathering important information to enhance their application. Additionally, firsthand observations can alert candidates to potential issues, like behavioral management problems, that may influence their decision to apply.
Crafting a Strong Written Application
To create a compelling job application, it is essential to understand and respond to the job specification outlined in the listing. Candidates should gather all necessary information in advance, such as personal achievements, continuing professional development details, and relevant experiences. A well-structured personal statement that clearly aligns responses with the job criteria is crucial, starting with the essential requirements followed by desirable attributes. Using bold headings for each criterion and providing concrete examples of experience increases the likelihood of making a strong impression on hiring committees.
Effective Interview Preparation
During interviews, it is more effective to prepare specific examples related to common themes rather than rehearsing answers to potential questions. Utilizing techniques like the STAR approach, which includes detailing the Situation, Task, Action, and Result, helps candidates articulate their experiences clearly and methodically. This structured method of answering questions also demonstrates candidates' reflective thinking and problem-solving skills. Moreover, taking notes during the interview or as tasks are presented can help address questions more thoughtfully and track the discussion better.
Navigating Interview Tasks
Candidates should be ready to engage in various tasks during interviews that demonstrate their teaching abilities and leadership potential. Tasks may include planning a lesson or responding to a scenario-based problem within a school context, with the focus being on identifying clear outcomes and effective teaching strategies. It is important to thoughtfully annotate lesson plans or presentation slides to inform observers of the guiding rationale behind each decision made during the task. Keeping in mind the evaluation criteria, especially regarding safeguarding and student well-being, will aid candidates in prioritizing effectively.
Building Relationships and Learning from Feedback
Establishing positive relationships with both school staff and students during the interview process is critical, as this can greatly influence hiring decisions. Interviews often involve informal interactions during break times, which provide opportunities for candidates to show their sociability and rapport-building skills. Additionally, receiving constructive feedback after unsuccessful applications should be viewed as a learning opportunity to refine future applications and interview performances. Persistence and gathering diverse experiences from multiple interviews contribute to improving one’s candidacy and eventual success in landing a desired teaching position.
Episode 119: This week on Thinking Deeply about Primary Education I'm joined by Elliot Morgan for an in-depth exploration of the teaching/leadership job application process, establishing a timely set of guiding principles for anyone preparing to land your dream teaching job. Covering every part of the job application and interview process from start to finish, Elliot has a ton of solid-gold advice for anyone interested in finding a new role within schools.
As part of the chat we discuss...
1. How important is visiting a school before applying for a job?
2. What advice do you have for completing the written job application?
3. How should we prepare for an interview?
4. Interviews normally come with tasks. What are they and what advice do you have for approaching these tasks?
5. What other general advice do you have for anyone who might have an application/interview on the horizon?
...plus much, much more.
Whether you're new to the profession or an experienced senior leader, you won't want to miss this one!
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