Calling all TA's.......what do you think got you the job?

[VanillaPumpkin]

And what should I stress on my application form?
Any help or tips gratefully received. I have spent all day trying to do my application form, rewriting my personal statement bit over and over.
TIA.

Is it primary or secondary?

I am not a TA, but I do work in a school doing support.

Look at the job spec. Make sure that you prove that you got everything you want in the job spec.

Ie. if they ask for good organisational skills what can you do to show that you got good organisational skills?

You also need a good covering letter that is about 1 side of A4 that summerises your application form and why you are suitable for the post.

It helps to visit the school prior to application. TA jobs are very popular and a lot of people apply. If you visit the school then it shows you are seriously interested and you are likely to get an interview. They will remember your name when they sift through 90 job applications to choose 5 people to interview.

Schools are weird in that they make you decide on the day whether you want the job. It helps to be sure that you actually want the job.

Good luck.

I work in secondary - I stressed things like a good standard of education in a wide range of subjects. Then scattered words around like creative, flexible, team worker etc
I'd also done a TA course independantly which showed I was 'serious' about the job

RT - I didn't have to decide on the day??

I know this is obvious but PLEASE double-check your spelling and grammar!

I'm not a TA but I work 1 to 1 with a child. I think I gave all the right answers...
ie what would you do if a child wanted to tell you a secret...
what would you do if a parent asked you questions outside of school
I also had the relavent experience as I had worked in a pre-school and have an NVQ level 3

Make sure you include anything that you are good at like knowing your way around a computer, playing the piano, art etc. Anything that would be useful and could set you apart from other applicants.

Use your previous jobs/parenting/fundraising/volunteering experience as reference to the skills they have listed. Try to work in how good you are at multi-tasking and how you understand the need for confidentiality.

Will try and think of some more....

Also I thought the job had gone when I went for the interview.. so I just looked at it as interview experience relaxed... and probably asked them more questions than they asked me .. they said afterwards that I interviewed really well and was really confident... little did they know...

Sorry for disappearing. I forgot I had to conduct an interview as a pre-school trustee this evening.
Thank you all. It is for a primary school position. I volunteer at the school already so that is something at least.
There are some great tips there.
Um if a child wants to tell me a secret am I right in thinking I have to explain there can't be secrets but he can trust me and tell me??? Child protection issues I am guessing????
Parents have asked me questions out of school about the reading I volunteer to do . If it is light hearted and related to their child I answer them, but on other occasions I have directed them to the teaching staff. Is that right? Eeek!
I am VERY VERY discrete and NEVER discuss the children, even with my husband. That is something I am really good at. I am not a gossip.
All grammar and spelling will be triple checked (especially apostrophes).
I have gone through the job descrip and broken it down and related my experiences to the requirements giving as many examples as poss....
I am not hopeful though as none of my employment history is directly relevant, though I do have some voluntary stuff that is (toddler group, pre-shcool trustee and reading at the school etc).
I know the competition is so tough though.
Oh well. It has been a good experience to do the application after so long as a SAHM so not a waste of time.
Thank you.

If you have listened to children read then that is experience, don't do yourself down. The fact that you already volenteer at the school means that you know what its like.

Sometimes what you did in the past as a job may not be relevent at first sight, but skills do carry over. For examplem if you worked in an office doing admin then its proof you are organised and maybe proof that you are confident with a computer.

Prehaps a question I would have is "How would you react if a member of staff discussed how awful your child was in the staffroom at breaktime?" Or "How will you seperate being a mother to your child and impartial with other children in the class?"

I hope you get an interview and ofcourse that you get the job. If you don't get the job its worth asking for feed back. Schools are often very good at telling you how to improve your chances of being sucessful next time.

The secret thing is - you need to explain that the child could tell you something but that you might have to then tell someone else, depending on what the secret is.

Oh great advice about asking for feedback. I wouldn't have thought about that.
I read my last report before I stopped work and it was a real ego boost thank goodness. Made me realise that I was actually a real asset to them so that was nice.

If there was a discussion regarding how awful my daughter was I would probably join in . No seriously I actually deliberately sort of avoid her at the moment and always avoid hearing her read if I can. She is silly for me. To be honest I think the novelty would wear off for her quite quickly and the job is not assisting in her actual class, although I know our paths would cross.
This is great feedback thank you as it is making me think carefully about things and my answers etc.

Whizz, thank you for that about the secret. I am guessing that is a popular sort of question given the importance of Child Protection.

Hows it going... did they offer you an interview....

Aw, thanks for posting. No . No phone call so no interview on Monday. I am disappointed but not surprised. I will ask for some feedback though.
I hadn't actually intended to go back to work until dd2 was at school, but this was such a good opportunity to do what I want to do that I had to apply.
So looking on the bright side I don't have to arrange any childcare and get to enjoy dd2 for this last year before she starts school.
I will still volunteer while she is in Nursery so hopefully build up my profile for this type of job or my PGCE in the future .