Just qualified as a teacher and cant get a job

Chris842

Hi,

A reply from someone who works in the profession would be useful here.

In June, I qualified as a secondary teacher of ICT. But out of 50 people on my course, less than 10 people have jobs for September. ICT teacher jobs have been really limited this year, and now, they've all gone for September. There probably wont be any more until early next year for the following September.

Im one of the ones without a job. Im wondering: whether I should do supply work? But the agency said that because I dont drive, I may not get much work. And I have to pay the bills.

That means I'll have to look for a job outside of teaching. And my worry if I do this is: come next year, I'll have been out of teaching for a year and will be even less likely to get a job because of it.

Anyone got any advice?

Mind_the_Gap

You have my sympathies, especially since your NQT status will lapse if you do not find a teaching job within two years.

There is no magic wand, I'm afraid. You will have to:

(i) do supply work - register with as many agencies as you can (they will help you get your CRB check up to date if nec)
(ii) be prepared to travel across the city on public transport to work - even if it means getting up an hour or two earlier each day
(iii) call in to as many secondary schools and colleges as you can with your CV. Ask to speak to the person in charge of supply. Some times they prefer to contact you directly if they have work, as it saves them on agency fees. Make sure your CV and any job applications are is flawless - get an English teacher to proof-read them. (There are several sp. and grammar errors in your post which might lose you a job if you made them in an application).
(iv) consider moving anywhere in the country to get a job, or even abroad.
(v) consider teaching your second subject, or any of your A level subjects, instead/as well as ICT.
(vi) do voluntary work with young people rather than be unemployed.

Good luck. It's not a good time to be be coming into the profession, but if you persevere you will get something.

SandC

I would look for work outside of teaching and consider taking driving lessons so that you can get a car and put yourself up for supply teaching. If it's competitive then you need to make sure you're up there with the best of em, and really in a choice of 2 people, well most employers, teaching or otherwise, will pick the driver.

A colleague's daughter couldn't find teaching work after qualifying and she did Bodyshop parties until she found something. It would be my opinion that any sort of work is better than no work and I am sure that head teachers would consider it a good thing too. It shows that you have a strong work ethic and that you have flexibility.

Or perhaps consider spending a season abroad teaching english as a foreign language, something like that?

This is from an outsider looking in, so disregard if you only want opinions from teachers or those in education.

dandelionclock30

Theres lots of community groups that run computer classes.Look these up and see if any want staff.If not you could offer to volunteer whilst looking for paid work.
What about 1-1 tuition also whilst you are getting sorted?

Mind_the_Gap

dandelionclock30 wrote: »

Theres lots of community groups that run computer classes.Look these up and see if any want staff.If not you could offer to volunteer whilst looking for paid work.
What about 1-1 tuition also whilst you are getting sorted?

1 to 1 tuition for adults is sometimes possible to find, although here are lots of volunteers offering it. Be one!

Most parents of GCSE and A level students tend to want private tuition in the core subjects such as Maths, English Science and Mod. Foreign Languages.

Besides which, most kids are good at ICT - they drank it in with their mother's milk! And if they do struggle with it, they will not see it as crucial.

Hammyman

Unfortunately the OP has chosen to teach a subject that world and dog seem to want to do the same as it is jobs wise in the private sector. Had it been maths, a science or engineering subject there would have been jobs available as those subjects are a bit hard so not many want to do them. Can you not choose another subject?

chika

Mind_the_Gap wrote: »

You have my sympathies, especially since your NQT status will lapse if you do not find a teaching job within two years.

This isn't true, NQT starts from when you get your first post and register. There isn't a time limit after the award of QTS. You only get four terms on supply to complete it though.

Best of luck OP. I'd go along the supply route. As mentioned sign up to a few agencies, get out to a few different schools and get your face known. Many people get jobs like this. Also do you have a second subject? Could you teach that for a year to get yout NQT over and done with.

One other thing, some of the big agencies have exclusivity deals where they guarantee your pay so you will get something each week, even if you do not work.

Mind_the_Gap

Hammyman wrote: »

Unfortunately the OP has chosen to teach a subject that world and dog seem to want to do the same as it is jobs wise in the private sector. Had it been maths, a science or engineering subject there would have been jobs available as those subjects are a bit hard so not many want to do them. Can you not choose another subject?

It seems harsh, but there is indeed some truth in that observation - which is why I suggested OP being willing to teach his second subject/ another of his A level subjects.

He will not be able to go and find a job teaching Science or Maths though, unless he is qualified and experienced in those subjects -preferably to degree level. He'd need to re-train.

Mind_the_Gap

chika wrote: »

This isn't true, NQT starts from when you get your first post and register. There isn't a time limit after the award of QTS. You only get four terms on supply to complete it though.

My apologies!

bristol_pilot

For heaven's sake, learn to drive! Prospects in just about any career are limited if you can't drive - employers simply don't believe you will turn up on time. Driving lessons could be the best investment you ever make. (Then do supply work until something permanent comes up).

Chris842

Thanks for the replies.

I was applying for jobs all over the UK and as a result, had 4 interviews in various places. 2 of them said I was good but was beaten by someone better. The other 2, I was sent home at lunch after teaching a lesson and didnt actually get to the interview stage in the afternoon. This is better than most people on my course who havent been even been able to get an interview, so thats a positive.

I could teach Business Studies aswell. Possibly Maths too because I've always been very good at it. Not sure a school would hire me as a Maths teacher over someone trained in Maths though? To do another subject would mean doing another PGCE.

For supply work, I'm willing to get up as early as it takes. But I'm told they only call from 7am and onwards and if I didnt find out about a job until that time, I'd probably not get there on time by public transport.

I did see in the job centre, a job for 1:1 ICT tuition which Im going for. And I have an interview on friday at a school for a part time job. But because they cant see us teach a lesson now that its the end of term, they are interviewing lots of people and its unlikely I'll get it.

I'm going to wait until September and try to do supply, but will have to do something else if Im not getting enough work. Someone said I could get driving lessons? I cant afford it. I found a car on autotrader for £150, typed the car's details and my details into gocompare, the cheapest quote for 3rd party insurance was £4000! No way I can afford that on top of driving lesson costs

ANd about having to do my NQT in 2 years, that used to be the case but is no longer, I believe.