How many applications did you make to get your NQT post?

[anchovies]

Just that really. I've submitted about 7 now, following the advice on TES and not even got shortlisted. Training in secondary science as well so supposedly a shortage subject! Starting to get a bit fed up :(

Thanks for all the words of encouragement. It's a shame because I naively thought the PGCE (Chemistry) was the hard bit! I have had a previous HOD and my mentor look at my letter who both said it was fine but there is clearly something amiss! I don't think my slightly random degree in engineering and not great A Levels (maths, biology, chemistry - CCC) are helping although I did do SKE before the PGCE.

Don't suppose anyone would have a look at my application for me just to see if there's anything I can improve? I am making them very school specific, including an executive summary (as per Theo Griff's advice.)

I applied for 4 and was interviewed at 3 of them. I am a Maths teacher and this was 10 years ago.

I would second noble's suggestion of re-writing your letter to sound really dynamic. I don't think I applied for any jobs before Easter though, I think I applied for one just after Easter and the others were just before May half-term.

Alos wothr bearing in mind is the domino effect - people getting the jobs now may well be serving teachers who will reosign and create a vacancy that will be advertised. And any jobs advertised after the May half term can only be filled by NQTS ( or mat returners etc) as serving teachers will be too late to give notice for September. I do sympathise with the headache this gives schools! This is the situation a local school found itself in last year for several key posts and had to scramble around and came up with a less than ideal situation.

Do supply in the meanwhile. Get yourself known. I did a term at a school then they asked me to stay on permanently.

Put in three applications, had two interviews - one it was immediate that the school didn't fit for me and I withdrew from the process. The second one was perfect and is the job I got.

Apply for as many as you can but make sure you change them for each school. It is still pretty early for jobs. Most teachers will not resign until nearer the deadline and most schools won't advertise till timetables are done which is usually after Easter in secondary.

Also play your strengths - engineering is an in demand field at the moment, so say what you could bring from that - teaching it or systems? giving careers advice?

Thanks again for the thoughts, am going to re-think the letter for the next one. Intheend your idea about engineering is great, I went on to environmental consultancy after my degree so am going to definitely make these into positive things rather than just brushing over them as I have been doing.