Looking for a new job isn’t for everybody – it’s a long, stressful process that is never going to be without its difficulties. If you generally enjoy your current position and don’t want to consider leaving, then there are many ways in which you can improve your current employment situation and make the most out of it. Here are some ideas:
- Actively seek a promotion. Make it known that you are ambitious and would like to move up through the ranks. People will appreciate your drive and commitment.
- Ask to have further training. You get more out of your work when you are well trained and can perform your duties to the best of your abilities.
- Look beyond the work. Enjoy time spent with your colleagues, engage in active one-to-one about your workplace and ask your manager about team building and incentives. They can be a good way to help you bond with your team.
If you are applying for positions but aren’t receiving any invitations to interview, you might be doing something fundamentally wrong with your applications. It’s worth considering some of the most common factors to affect a job application, so you can then put them right and make your applications stand out.
Think about these points:
- The time you apply. If you always get your application in at the last minute, the employer might think you come across as disorganised. Try to apply in plenty of time.
- Your grammar and spelling. Always read through an application after you have written it, before submitting it. Check your grammar and spelling thoroughly and ask someone else to read it if possible – many jobs require good attention to detail.
- The substance of your covering letter. Make sure you are covering all the points of the person specification in your cover letter, to show explicitly how you would be suitable for the role.
Finding a new job is never an easy process. You are always going to have lots of work to do, finding the schools where you would like to teach, seeking relevant opportunities and filling out the lengthy applications. However, you must remember that there is something driving you to apply for a new job in the first place. Once you have found a position that is more suited to you, then you will be happier in the long run.
Make some time each week to sit down and look at new jobs. It might only be 5 minutes, but that is all you need to spot an opportunity. Be methodical in your search, as this will make it more successful. Record the opportunities you have already looked at so you are not duplicating your work, and sign up for email alerts regarding relevant positions. Make sure you allow enough time to apply, so you are not feeling pressurised.
A school environment is a good place to work, alongside a team of enthusiastic and committed people. You don’t need to be a teacher in order to work in a school – there are many jobs you can take on that fall into the administration department of the school. Here are some examples:
- Office administrator
- Receptionist
- Timetable co-coordinator
- Accountant
- PA
There are also many other options if you would like to work in a school – many of these will depend on the school itself and its administrative requirements. Some schools will outsource some of their admin, meaning there is less need for them to have in-house staff.
If you would like to work in a school, there are many benefits, like good holidays and job satisfaction. You will be working with a good team of people and helping to support the education system, so it is a very important role to take on.