Aibu to ask for help with teacher image

[TurkishDelight9]

Unfortunately, for a teacher,I look much younger than my age of 24. I am short and have long naturally light blonde hair. People say I look like a teenager. I have grown relationships with the kids in my current school whete i have been for 3 years, so i can manage them well.
I am moving to a new area in September and have got several interviews coming up for upper ks2 teacher. I want to look, sound and generally portray a more commanding teacher presence, because i dont tbink mt first impressions work with me in that respect.
I am fine in my own school because i have developed good relationships with the kids. I am aware though, based on first impressions, SLT of any schools i interview at may think I look too young and lack authority especially if i am nervous on the day.
I have booked a lesson with a coach to work on body language and tone.
How can i style myself to look more mature, authorative and professional, yet still warm and approachable. I am pear shaped and 5 foot 2.My work wardrobe needs to 'grow up' a bit, i think!
Any suggestions?
**I have probably made loads of typos and errors because i have iritis and cant see clearly!

What I found helped me most of all when trying to command a stronger presence in the classroom was to lose all ideas about wanting to be liked. Whilst I teach secondary rather than upper primary, the ideas that I use with Y7 would probably work equally well with Y5-6. For your interview, make a conscious effort to slow your pace of speech right down and increase your volume a few deciBels, and make strong eye contact with any student who appears mischievous. The old saying about "don't smile until Easter" has a grain of truth.

Not being personal, but do you wear glasses for your condition? I ask because glasses make me appear older as I wear them lower on the nose and peer glare over the top!

If you teach the lesson well, it will probably come down to how much they will have to pay you compared to the other candidates.

I am short and have long naturally light blonde hair. People say I look like a teenager.

If you don't already, tie or plait your hair back or put it up, at least for interviews. Practice beforehand so you don't have any wispy bits escaping.

Im v similar to.you but older now and teach teens. Dress as professionally as is practical for a primary classroom and yes, hair up. Keep voice steady and calm.

An updo and not a young, wispy one but something more 'severe' like a tight bun and no wispy bits escaping. Make up on the minimalist side, nothing too bright or teenage looking.

Clothes wise my kids teachers all seem to wear either tailored trousers and shirts or midi style dresses with jackets or cardigans. Both look fine to me. I always think a proper shoe adds a grown up edge (I frequently wear trainers to work these days)

I was a very young looking professional in my 20s and these things helped stop the 'what are you 12' comments from the elderly.

Thanks for your suggestions!
It is so difficult to walk the line between being approachable and authoritative, when ypu have only a short time available to show both sides!
Also my big hips and butt, are a problem clotheswise! I am on a budget too. Maybe i need to get into wide leg trousers and......? Smart blouse??

I was a secondary school teacher at 22 and my main goal was not to get mistaken for a sixth former!

For an interview, definitely dress smarter than an average day in the classroom. I would echo the advice about hair, and also try to use makeup and jewellery in a mature kind of way. But most of it will be in your attitude and body language. Good luck!

In terms of actual clothes suggestions, I think this blazer (comes in several colours]] is a good one for being slightly smart without being overly corporate. I would pair it with a top like this polka dot one and a pair of wide-legged trousers. Ideally, you would wear shoes with a low heel rather than flats for a slightly more mature look. If it needs to be flat, loafers rather than ballet pumps.

Oh no - I was always told it was until Christmas!
(So that's where I went wrong. 😞)

I had this problem; but the internet didn’t really exist then!

I always joked that y6 teachers always worse a suit blazer; I think this is a good approach. Luckily there are loads of jersey type blazers these days that are comfortable enough to be agile in but look smart.

Only slight issue I found with wide legs is that I’d trip over the swishy part while running across the classroom to stop an incident (I’ve lovely worked with send) but m and s do some that are wide enough to be flattering and smart but stretchy enough to be flexible. Other option is the pencil look or harem esque type look

Hair can definitely be worked to give an older look

This. A jacket always and not black or school uniform colour. Eg smart black trousers and white shirt and pink jacket. Sensible shoes. Nice necklace, earrings, wear a band on your left hand ring finger if you want. Glasses help and a little light make up. Slow down and don’t squeak or shout.

call you order eg start of lesson activity to get on and then-

Morning everyone silence for the register please and answer your name clearly

morning to everyone
greet at the door
clear entrance and exit policy eg settle before they get in the room

I am SLT in a school. Tbh they will be able to see from your CV that you have been teaching for a few years and are not 19! Dress like a grownup (blazer is a good idea, sensible heels for KS2) and deliver a great lesson and they won’t care.

FWIW my work wardrobe is a rotation of blazers I wear over seasalt style dresses with loafers. There’s loads of Seasalt on Vinted, they suit pear shape.

I honestly think in primary it's not a biggy because younger kids have less of a concept of age. I was in the same boat of looking younger than I do, but I taught secondary. I got a lot of "Miss, I'm not being funny but you look about 14" and being mistaken for a sixth former by kids and staff. It happened less if I wore a blazer, maxi dresses, heeled boots (carefully making sure I didn't wear a blazer the same colour as uniforms), but primary teachers often don't dress that formally and it might even be impractical for the job.

There are loads of good petite style accounts on Instagram for inspiration. As a teacher, I would tend towards a more timeless/minimalist style which balances practicality and comfort while not being too youthful (in a good way!)

I’ve got the absolute opposite proportions, but a quick trawl for examples has produced:

@katiegibbons1
@missionstyle_
@Vanessaa.giuliani
@sonam.naylor

(sorry about the mumsnet account tags, can’t remove them)

Hair I agree with whoever suggested a more ‘severe’ style - hair off face, middle parting, pulled back ponytail, chignon or similar - perhaps with again quite minimalist makeup and maybe a stronger lipstick if that’s something you would be comfortable with.

These are kids. You will look old to them. Not ancient but old.

I'm 5ft 2, and because of my height, people always think I'm younger than my years! Utter pain in my early 20's as I was always the one who got stopped for ID! I'm 51 now, and still don't look my age, so don't despair, as you age, you'll be grateful that you look younger!!

I work in a First school (Foundation - Year 4) in a non-teaching role. Most teaching staff stick to midi dresses, flat shoes or neutral coloured trousers with a more colourful blouse/shirt. Jewellery and makeup is kept at the minimum and discreet. Being in a school, work wear has to be practical and comfortable.

Don’t put your hair in a plait, that is very schoolgirl! Put it up if you can do a neat bun or French pleat.
Choose more formal clothes, shoes rather than trainers, a top in a neutral colour, with a jacket.

I laugh at the suggestion of wearing a wedding band, 40 years ago lots of women would take off engagement or wedding rings for job interviews.

It's all about confidence op. Kids are notoriously bad at gauging age. Be the boss, and talk to them as if you are their Mum.

Wear a blazer.

Channel Maggie Smith in Downton Abbey The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie.

Watch amy cuddy ted talk on presence. brilliant.

I had a parent make a complaint about me doing that. It was the only way I could see her child properly if I was reading or doing the register. I eventually got varifocals but apparently the child found it scary 🤓