Supporting letters for Job applications

[PurpleAlert]

I have worked in the same school for many years and have had enough.

New head has just about done me in. Half the staff have left, he undermines me at every opportunity, endless paper pushing excercises, monitoring book scrutinies, data that doesnt improve, 11 hour days without a break, hours and hours of extra work in my own time blah blah blah. So sad- it used to be such a lovely place.

I have heard about a job coming up locally soon that would suit me down to the ground and would be in a very good position to get (not in a school- specialist teacher post.)

I am thinking about starting to put my CV together but havent had to do this for years.

It's years since I applied for a job and want to make sure I have a very strong application. Any tips for a really good supporting letter to go into my application? I want to ensure it's not too waffly!

One more thing- will my head be contacted before any interviews for a reference or is this asked for once the job is offered?

Tes job forum has excellent advice! Good luck!

It's usual to tell head before interview and for references to be taken up either before the interview or on interview day.

You can often tick a box to say that you do not want your references to be taken up until any job offers are given.

Slightly contentiously I'd personally approach tes jobseekers with caution.

Is it a classroom teaching post?

Fabulous - that box doesn't apply for teaching posts unfortunately! Safeguarding. Although in practice, heads rarely contact refs before inviting to interview IME.

All the ones I've applied for have had this option... is it a new thing?

I always been offered the job subject to references and CRB (now DBS.)

Very standard (and best practice I believe) to request references before interview. We have always requested references for all candidates selected for interview.

Regarding the covering letter, I only have experience of reading (and writing!) letters for school positions. I start with a paragraph briefly stating why I think I am fab for the job and how excited I am by it (cliche, but there you go...). I then look at the spec, decide from that what the key responsibilities and accountabilities are for the role, and write a paragraph explaining my approach to those areas, and giving examples of how I have demonstrated my competence. Im my last paragraph I try to tie it all together with something that demonstrates how I fit with the philosophy of the school I am applying to.

When I'm reading letters, I like to feel the passion! I am aware however, that that is because it reflects my approach to the work. If I feel the passion, I sense a good fit. Its probably desparately unfair, but then again, a shared philosophy and goodness of fit is quite important...

Fabulous, a lot have it because they are application forms issued by local councils. They really shouldn't, though.

Safer recruitment means that we have to take up references before interviews. Write your letter of application to be specific to the job description/person spec. Make a list of points you want to get in & manipulate their person spec to fit your strengths.

Wow thanks for the advice- not a classroom teaching post - it's a specialist teacher post ( peri that visits schools with pupils who have a particular sen for which I am qualified for and very experienced with- don't went to say what - might out me! ) I wouldn't be working for a head - more like an Sen service - in fact one if the attractions of the job is that it's very autonomous- something I used have in my current job but this has now sadly disappeared due to a control freak of a head teacher. I wouldn't mind so much if he had any expertise in the area if sen I work in but he doesn't.