Applying for a job in a school, complete novice...

[clairedunphy]

I'm applying for a mentor role in a middle school, deadline is Monday and I've mostly completed my application but I'm not sure it's quite right.

My background is corporate, mostly IT training and consultancy, self employed for several years before maternity leave at the beginning of 2014, and I haven't yet returned to work.

I volunteered in my local school for a little over a year until maternity leave started, mostly hearing year 2 children read. I also completed an intro course in counselling skills at the end of 2012, and was later accepted into a counselling degree but didn't take the place due to pregnancy. I doubt I'll do that course now because with 2 children, money and time commitments are just that bit too much.

I've also just applied to be a volunteer mentor in schools, probably just an hour or so a week. Interview for that is on Monday, hopefully they'll like me and let me do it!

So I've tried to include all of this in a comprehensive way in the application, but I'm not sure if it will read as though I'm a bit flighty and disorganised. Ultimately I'd really like to work in a counselling/coaching/mentoring area and this job sounds ideal. I fit their 'essential' requirements, which are fairly generic, but not all of their 'desirable' ones, particularly that I don't have actual work experience in this area.

Can anyone advise on anything I should particularly concentrate on in my application, e.g. transferable skills from previous employment, or is my volunteering worth more in this context? Obviously I'll talk about both, but space on the form is limited and I don't want to waffle on (can you tell that I have that tendency...?).

Any wise words would be much appreciated, it's so long since I've actually applied for a job that I'm feeling a bit lost!

[bobajob]

They will shortlist based on the criteria, so ensure that for each essential point you make clear with an example how you meet it. Definitely concentrate on how your previous employment or volunteering meets the criteria, don't include anything that doesn't fit with their person spec.

[clairedunphy]

Thank you, that's great advice as I don't think I've been as clear cut as that. Off to review now...

[bobajob]

Try to make it as easy as possible for them to short list you - signpost how you meet the criteria. It's fine to list each criteria and then write a bit about how you meet it.

[clairedunphy]

Great, I might do that then, it'll make it easier for me to really think about each one. Thank you.

[FantaSea]

Yes, I agree with bobajob make a sub-heading and then write that section and so on. It looks a lot more organised than huge paragraphs. I think it is better to link your previous experience with an example of how this will benefit you in your new role by using the future tense as in 'I have over a year's experience in a primary school and this will help in my new role by...' rather then 'this would help'.

Also, you mentioned you mainly heard the children read. What else did you do? Are there any other tasks that you could elaborate on a bit more? In my experience schools like staff to have had experience in other schools so the more tasks you can show that you have already done, the better.

I would also study the school's website and see if you have any other skills which are relevant. This makes your application more individual to that particular job and shows great interest.

Hope that helps - good luck.

[PerspicaciaTick]

Brush up on your safeguarding knowledge. I've been for interviews in schools for back office jobs and safeguarding has always been raised at interview.

[clairedunphy]

Thank you FantaSea and Perspicacia, I hadn't even thought about safeguarding, can anyone recommend a website with a reasonably simple guide?

I didn't do much other than listen to children read, just a little additional literacy work (with flashcards) and some help with forest school lessons two or three times. I'll mention it all though, to give a full picture. I like the idea of sub headings, I imagine that will be much easier to read for them.

[PerspicaciaTick]

I did my training via my local council, but this gov.uk website seems pretty thorough.
www.gov.uk/schools-colleges-childrens-services/safeguarding-children
And the document for staff in schools on this page in particular.
www.gov.uk/government/publications/keeping-children-safe-in-education--2

[clairedunphy]

Thank you so much, this has all been so helpful.

[awishes]

They will always expect you to mention safeguarding in your application and you will likely be asked at interview "who is responsible for safeguarding in a school?". Your answer will be "everyone" because everyone is responsible for reporting any concerns to the deignated safeguarding officer. Hope this helps! Good luck.