Finding a job
Getting your first job is the hardest and few people get a permanent position straight away. Mostly you start with temporary relief days or short-term contracts which lead to longer term contracts and then a permanent position.
If you want a permanent position or long-term contract straight away, you will most likely have to start in the country. Sounds horrific moving so far from the city! Most people who do go to the country, later describe it as the best years of their teaching lives – lots of social and other activities that you can’t get in the city, but it doesn’t suit everyone.
Writing an application
Writing an Application for a teaching position. Let us give you some advice from a Principal who has read thousands of applications:
1. Proof read your application carefully. Poor grammar and mistakes will not impress your panel. Write clearly and don’t try to over complicate your language.
2. Address the correct criteria; this is what you will be judged against.
3. Write something for each of the criteria.
4. Make it readable no smaller than size 10 font.
5. Try using two columns as your format as you fit more in.
6. Use examples from your teaching practice in your writing.
7. Describe your understanding of a program, teaching methodology or event that fits within the criteria.
8. When providing an example, describe what you know, how you did it and the successful outcomes achieved. Remember this should focus on learning outcomes.
9. You need to convince the panel that as a graduate you are worth having a closer look at because you have something to offer.
10. Be clear about your learning beliefs, these should be threaded through your examples.
1. Write general or philosophical statements; employers want to know what you know and have done. Remember they take a risk when employing someone they don’t know. Convince them that you are ready to take on the role.
2. Forget to update your Employable Teacher Register each year (Department preschools and schools).
3. Make assumptions in your writing; be explicit and don’t assume they know about you and what you have done.
4. Lodge a late application.
5. Ignore what the preschool or school’s website says is important to them. Incorporate a sentence or two that acknowledges their priorities and context.
These links have good ideas about how to design and write applications:
- Department for Education: A guide to preparing the personal statement section of your application
- Catholic Education: Job Application Guide for Teachers
- Department of Education WA: Applicant Resource – Writing your CV and Covering Letter
- Education and Communities NSW: Guide to Application Writing for Classroom Teacher Positions
- Catholic Education – Diocese of Parramatta: The application process
- The University of Sydney – Careers Centre: Writing an application
Applying for permanent teaching positions?
Give it a go – you may be lucky enough to get one straight away and it is important to develop your skills in writing an application and getting known within schools and preschools.
Department for Education Schools
When applying for Department of Education Schools advice can be found at https://www.education.sa.gov.au/working-us/working-teacher/recruitment-and-selection-information
Catholic Schools
For Catholic Schools go http://www.cesa.catholic.edu.au/working-with-us/working-in-catholic-education/teaching-positions
This contain fairly basic information but is still useful. There is also a ‘positions vacant’ search page which can be accessed through http://www.cesa.catholic.edu.au/working-with-us/positions-vacant
Independent schools
For independent schools, the Association of Independent School of SA (AISSA) has a job search function where you can view the latest vacancies https://www.ais.sa.edu.au/employment/
It is then a matter of applying to the individual school; some provide the information you need attached to their advertisement, while others ask you to fill in an online application.
Registering for contract and TRT positions with the Department for Education?
There is one gateway for both contract and TRT positions and that is the Employable Teacher Register. To be on the register you have to complete an online registration. An Authority to Teach will be issued then.
To apply to be on the Register click here.
For further information on the Register click here.
Any questions? Contact the Early Career Hub team: administration@ceasa.asn.au, 08 8463 5875
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