To apply or not to apply?

[MissPrimaryCrafts]

Help! I'm doing my PGCE and starting to look for jobs, I'm quite worried about this as although there's a lot of talk about teachers leaving the profession I've heard from many people who qualified last year who failed to get a full time job for their NQT year.

I absolutely love one of my placement schools, it would be my dream to work there. However they're not advertising right now and of course I don't know for certain that 1. They will advertise at all and 2. If they did that I would get the job. I'd like to wait a bit longer and see if they advertise, but there are a couple of other jobs being advertised in my area and I feel like I should go for them as I can't afford to be picky...but then what if I get that job and my dream school advertises and I can't apply for it!

Any advice? Would it be unprofessional to speak to my mentor at the school and ask if she thinks they'll be advertising this year?

[EverythingsComingUpRoses]

I'm a mentor and would be happy for you to ask me whether we were recruiting this year had you done a placement at my school

[Zig27]

Some teachers are desperate to leave as covid increased their workload but are not leaving due to the lack of jobs being advertised in all sectors.

[PumpkinPie2016]

I've mentored trainees and had no objection to them asking about potential vacancies. Definitely ask her!

In terms of the other jobs - definitely apply. It may be that you don't get the first one you interview for but at least you'll have interview practice.

It's always difficult when you would like a particular school but if you end up working in a different school, you may love it there too.

Good luck!