UK e-Learning

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:

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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.

Whether you are in school, university or in a job, you should put some thought into what you are going to do with the rest of your life. Chances are, you want to do something a little bit different if you are in work, and there may be things that interest you if you are still in education. It won’t be easy to make future plans, but you will be relieved when you do.

You also don’t need to have your whole career planned out. The best situation to be in is to know the field of work you enjoy and to have an idea of what you may like to do in the future. You should also be a little bit flexible though, as it can be hard to know exactly what you want to be doing in a few years time. Focus on what you enjoy, but allow some room to be flexible and change your mind.