Teacher who just can't get a job

[JaneyJonesy1919]

I have been doing agency teaching work for 1 year and 3 months (however with schools closing from March last year, it's probably more like half a year) in North Wales and I love supply and was lucky to be furloughed last lockdown and, with school closures, my agency are furloughing again (very lucky).

However, i'm starting to crave a permanent job. I'm still an NQT as my agency have never offered a long-term position and I can't seem to get a job - i've had quite a few interviews but always beaten. When schools are open normally, I make about £1200-£1500 a month
I apply for jobs in Wales and the North West with my limit being an hour away :(

My agency say they get good reviews about me. The best i've had was Autumn term last year in which I was with a lovely Year 2 class 3 days a week October-December. I was told on a week-by-week basis what days I was needed. I meet other supply and it seems the same for them - that they've been on supply for a few years. Also met a few permanent teachers who says it took them a few years before they finally got their job. Is it the area I live in? Or is it just me?

But I feel down and unmotivated lying in bed tonight.
I'm 27 and feel my life hasn't started. All those years in uni and still no permanent job.
If it wasn't for covid i'd probably still be loving supply.

Luckly in Wales there's no limit on being supply whilst an NQT but I feel down.
Any tips?

It’s not you it’s COVID. Schools have so little money once they’ve paid for all the extra cleaning, staggered hours etc. which weren’t necessary before. There’s no money for supply, and not all schools are permitted to employ supply staff at the moment. It will get better, hopefully before too long. Have you thought about online tutoring?

Exactly what @LizzieVereker said, it's not you it's the situation. Also it's in the agencies best interest to keep you as a supply teacher. You are a good earner for them, why would they want to offer you a permanent job when you can keep earning commission for them. Also a little tip, if you get a permanent role through an agency they may try to charge the school a finders fee. This happened to me a few year back. Would have been about £10000, luckily the school got out of it. So it's best to apply for jobs yourself, not through an agency as this could put schools off. Try to stay positive, things are crap atm, it's not you it's the situation xx

It's not you. It's not necessarily Covid either. It's the area. Teachers there tend to stick with a school through lack of choice and convenience. They live nearby and the next school is too far away. I did my placements in North Wales and the majority of teachers had been at the same school since their NQT year - some for 30 years. They stayed in the same roles for decades whether teachers or smt. New teachers were only needed when someone retired. When I moved to the south east it was like musical chairs in comparison. In my 5 years in mainstream we never had the same dept team from one year to the next. SMT and dept heads also changed rapidly. Often there are 4 or 5 schools within an relatively easy commute. And many more for a longer commute or relocation.

Would you consider applying further afield and relocating?

However, I imagine that once the stress and pressures of covid dissipates some teachers will be reconsidering staying in teaching so there could be a glut of jobs available.

I second what thingsdogetbetter says.
Are you in a position to move to a more built up area for a few years?

Forgot to add that on my placements I there seemed to many many applications for the few positions that did come up. In the South East there seemed to be a much smaller pool of applicants for a lot more jobs.

Thanks everyone for the input!
I have considered.moving but I wouldn't even know where to start with that in terms of applying for jobs and going to interviews.
I could't afford to just pick up and move with no guarantee of an income :/

If you have some flexibility with location then look for jobs first. In England schools will shortly be advertising for jobs starting September, I'm not sure if this is the same for Wales. Then apply and make sure you note that you're willing to relocate for the right job.

I don’t teach anymore but when I first started teaching I applied for jobs in different parts of the country - basically went where the work was. Got the job, then looked for accommodation. Obviously if you want to stay local then the smaller amount of schools will make it harder. Perhaps get to know a school well though supply work, be extra brilliant and they’ll want you if a position comes available.

Can't you leave cv into schools and get them to contact you directly for subbing? That's how we do it here in ni
I was a sub for 6 years - but I had 3 or so regular schools the first year and then one gave my name to another principal and I ended up in that school for 3 years with my own class.. Followed by a year away (dh moved for work abroad) followed by 1 year subbing on our return in mostly one school who helped me with interview prep which lead to me getting a permanent job in a neighbouring school.

@JaneyJonesy1919

Thanks everyone for the input! I have considered.moving but I wouldn't even know where to start with that in terms of applying for jobs and going to interviews. I could't afford to just pick up and move with no guarantee of an income :/

Do some research ( vacancies, accommodation costs etc) on where there are jobs in the places you would consider living in .

Apply for the jobs , if successful look for accommodation. February half term is the notice hand in date .

You will be in with a better chance this year as lots of final year teaching students will not have established a relationship with the schools they would normally do placements in. You already have this experience plus you're cheap to take on .

Are you getting an observation at every interview? Any feedback?

Have you considered working abroad (private schools)? Obviously it’s tricky right now, but there are some good opportunities out there if you are willing to be flexible. My SIL and her husband have worked in several countries, the most lucrative was Kuwait, where they were very well paid. Lots of NQTs were employed there too.

Its definitely the situation, I qualified 8 years ago and I and everyone on my pgce course got jobs for the September. You have to start looking early (Feb/March for the September)

Hi OP, I just wanted to say that I have been in your position and spent quite a few years in the North West doing supply work and found it really difficult to find a permanent teaching job. I have since moved to the Midlands and there seem to be fewer teachers going for the jobs and so much more chance of succeeding. (I do now have a permanent job here.) You can apply to jobs when not living in the area, I know I applied to jobs here, even when living away. You would need to look at school websites carefully and tailor applications accordingly if you can’t visit, ring and speak to head teachers if you can. Perhaps ask for video tours, lots of schools would offer them, especially in covid times. Good luck. Message me if you want more info or help.

I assume you speak Welsh given the area you're looking to teach in. Reality is rural areas don't usually have a shortage of teachers as most stay for life.

You'll probably need to move unless you're willing to wait.

I don't speak Welsh, but there are lots of English-speaking schools around my area. I am born and bred in Wales though

Thanks for the tips everyone, once teaching jobs start coming out, i might just look further afield.
You've all cheered me up as i've been feeling sorry for myself tonight, feeling I made a massive mistake going into teaching despite loving the actual job.

Are you primary? If so it’s extremely difficult to get a teaching job in Wales even without a pandemic! There have always been hundreds applying for each job so unless you are known to a school then it’s unlikely they’ll even look at the application. Getting good feedback from the agenda is encouraging, I would stick with the supply and apply for everything that comes up, hopefully you’ll get something soon.

I was in your position, graduated in 2011 but didn’t really do supply, just took temp contracts until a permanent job came up in Denbighshire. I quit once I had DS4 though! I taught on Anglesey first, but I’m not first language welsh and Anglesey, Gwynedd and Conwy won’t consider your application unless you say you speak welsh. It wasn’t a problem in Denbighshire though, and probably not in Flintshire/Wrexham?

I think my advice would be to keep applying for everything that comes up, even part time/maternity leave jobs. Even if you are after full time, a foot in the door is always good!