Help! Do you work in a school office *edited by MNHQ at OP's request*

[Scaredycatmoo76]

I am have found the most perfect job working in a school office
Desperate for it

Any advice from how to make my app really stand out?

Many thanks!

Check your application for typos better than you checked your thread title? Sorry, only kidding
Good luck! It's my ideal job too.

I will go over with fine tooth comb!!

Show as much admin experience as you possibly can. Try to tailor what you’ve done in the past to the job description. Check your qualifications match what they’re looking for. Explain any gaps in employment and give two very good referees who will provide excellent references. Don’t go into detail about your own family or say it will fit in around your childcare needs as it may sound as if that’s all you want the job for (if that’s even applicable to you). Hope that helps and good luck!

Thank you!

Do you work in a school office?
Enjoy it?

Being a man who help you're application stand out as they never do these roles.

Seriously-good luck!

I found mine, by accident. Secondary school TA with a focus on interventions.

Don't tell them you want the job because of the school hours, or because it's close to home, the same school your kids attend.

Look up their values/mission statement.

Don't be afraid to be honest if you know you are lacking in experience in certain areas - apparently this was one of the standout moments from my interview. They should appreciate the honesty if you also show you are willing to learn and overcome.

But demonstrate where you do have the skills they are looking for. It can be in the home as well as previous work experience.

Do some research into safeguarding - maybe even an online course if such a thing exists?

Think about client-facing experience as well as admin - school offices deal with stroppy parents, local dignitaries etc.

@WaterBottle123

Being a man who help you're application stand out as they never do these roles.

Seriously-good luck!

Sorry I don’t understand!

I’ve just started in a school office and so far, I am loving it.

Best application advice I can give you is look at what they’re asking/looking for and address each point. So if they say ‘candidate should be punctual, cheerful & like dogs’ (or whatever!) get those three qualities in, even if you think surely it is obvious you do or you wouldn’t be applying. If you tick enough of their criteria, they will interview you.

I’m sure you wouldn’t, but remember they don’t care too much about how convenient the job hours would be for you, so try not to focus on that. Have a good answer for why you want the job that is about being part of a community etc.

My application took me about 10 hours start to finish and my friend who works in a school in a pastoral role read it about three times for me. Good luck!

Assuming you have IT skills, talk them up - they are increasingly useful in that type of job.

Get your paperwork in order as well. They wanted to see all my GCSE certificates which I had last seen two house moves ago!

Make sure you know your Microsoft Office software- especially Word and Excel. A friend who applied for, and got, a school office job was asked to create a school newsletter at interview, for example.

@Terhou

Assuming you have IT skills, talk them up - they are increasingly useful in that type of job.

Increasingly useful? Surely they are a key part of the job?!?

Multi-tasking is a key skill as your managing Flor's forgotten flute being dropped in as well as government returns!

I echo the safeguarding advice above. Make sure you have a good idea of what safeguarding is, who is responsible for it (everyone), the process you would follow if a child disclosed or if you had a concern, try to find out who the DSL is at the school (school website).

Prepare some examples of where you have successfully done the tasks on the job spec requirement - eg: tell us about a time you have dealt with a difficult person (aka parent)...

Good luck!

I interviewed for school office workers last week - I'd agree with posters above who say don't talk about the job fitting around your own life. Instead, show why you want to work at this particular school, how you share its values. Demonstrate your knowledge of school systems such as SIMS, attendance data tracking, etc. Prepare an example of how you'd deal with a challenging parent, manage a busy workload and deal with a safeguarding issue. Good luck!

Our office admin people are amazing-they know Sims, the budget, safeguarding, GDPR regs, guidance around medicine and first aid inside out-good luck!

If you have any experience of SIMS, talk it up as they love that. Safeguarding is a key thing to understand. They may well present scenarios and ask how you'd resolve them eg a child discloses something worrying, an angry parent comes in to complain etc how would you deal with it?

Big up your adaptability. Ours do- reception, petty cash, dealing with the main school in the trust re finance etc, first aid, dealing with strops (teachers and kids), go on school trips, letters, photocopies and photocopier wrangling-well just about anything that isn’t done elsewhere.
I’m cover manager, and on my first day working with my overstretched boss said, what can I do to help you? I do loads more than just cover now, likewise the office staff.
Good luck!

Make sure you hit every point on the job description and give examples of when you have done that thing. Research the school so you can refer to size, aims, ethos. Things like safeguarding and GDPR are very important so a reference to those would be good. You will definitely come into contact with a lot of young people and probably their families so examples of being good with children who aren’t your own could be helpful. I don’t work in a school office at the moment but have in the past. I went to some office interviews not long back and my memory is that they were ridiculously competitive - good luck!

My best advice from someone who works in a school

Say how you are willing to pitch in with anything !

Due to sickness, our receptionists have helped out with dinner staff , after school club and deliverys !!

Everyone needs to be a team player !

I work in a school office. Definitely address each point in the application form and think of any transferrable skills. e.g. if you have ever worked with any sort of customer database then mention that when they ask for experience with SIMS. Safeguarding, equality and confidentiality (especially if this is your child's school or you live locally) will be very important. Flexibility is key too. When I joined I expected to babysit the occasional baby/toddler in my office, but never a school dog. (She's great) Good luck!