Jobless for September

[twerkit]

I'm on a fixed term contract ending this summer. I've applied for a couple of jobs but is it of general opinion to an employer that if you haven't secured a job by June you're a bit crap?

Maybe but there's so much unnecessary worrying in teaching that if you learn to step outside of it it's very liberating.

There's lots of scenarios which mean you haven't secured a position. Additionally it would be awful to rush in and accept any job just so you have one. I'm practically evangelical about supply. It's pretty much sneered upon but I've found the experience hugely beneficial. (to the point where I've realised what a mugs game being a full time teacher is)

If they have a vacancy, the chances of getting an interview now are high as the pool of applicants tends to be smaller, and you can show them you're not crap!

It depends on your references and track record.
E.g. if you've done lots of 1 year and maternities and change schools each year then it may look like schools haven't seen anything worth keeping on (sorry to be blunt but that was feedback my friend was given). The idea being that schools have quite a bit of natural turnover so going fixed term to permanent is common. That plus lots of unsuccessful interviews might mean there's work to be done on interview technique and/or demonstrating to schools why they should keep you.

But if you've done multiple years your last few schools and then this year you took a fixed term and it's not been renewed/you can't find anything then that's unlikely to be a red flag and you can chalk it up to I want to find the right school.

Hard to say really. I know people in bith camps.

These are the first two I've applied for but the deadline isn't for a while still. I feel ill with stress of it all.

DH was in a similar position last year. He joined an agency in July. They sent him to a sixth form college the first week of Sept for a 6 week placement and he's still there. The college have just offered him a ft contract. We felt the same as you did last year but a lot can happen between now and September. Many years ago he got a post in July as the school shifted around their timetable and needed additional staff. Don't lose hope.

Because of personal circumstances, I'm only just in the position to be starting to apply for September - I'm still hopeful! Or I was. My LA release jobs in a Thursday and there are hardly any so I've had a bit of a panic this morning but I'm going to apply for what's there and hope the pool is small.

E.g. if you've done lots of 1 year and maternities and change schools each year then it may look like schools haven't seen anything worth keeping on (sorry to be blunt but that was feedback my friend was given). The idea being that schools have quite a bit of natural turnover so going fixed term to permanent is common

It is sad that this is an assumption. I shifted to supply for many reasons that are personal to my circumstances. In a nutshell, supply works for me, given everything else I have got going on. I don’t want a permananet contract and would turn it down if offered.

Why would you automatically assume that’ll kill of temporary turned permanent means I’m crap? I really shouldn’t ha e to prove myself by discussing my personal situation in detail.

Wel I've applied to three. Will know by wb 25th.

Proving yourself is part of the interview process! I've explained, loosely, a number of job move decisions I've made in my teaching career. At the end of the day, schools want to appoint good teachers. As I said, the applicant pool is smaller this time of year, so interviews more likely, and that's where you get your opportunity to show what you can do. Fingers crossed for you OP!

But the people you’ll be up against also won’t have secured a job by June, so it’s hardly going to count against you!

ohreallyohreallyoh
Turning to supply for personal reasons doesn't seem to have the same negative view. Friends who've opted for a career on supply seems to find that's seen differently to school hopping

Like I say, I'm only sharing my friend's interview feedback. She rightly turned it round and said 'if you weren't happy with my career history then why shortlist me for interview?'

Maybe it being in her first 5 years of teaching contributed to that view but she was essentially told schools would have massive reservations about someone with such a patchy history. Another wants to leave her school but is wary of leaving as they've also heard too many moves puts off schools who are seeking stability in their teams.

In terms of internal fixed term contracts, I've known half a dozen people go for externally advetised jobs at their own school and not get it (I was an external who was appointed over internal).

When we've advertised externally and not appointed internals it's usually because the internal has no real chance of getting the job unless the field is poor. I'm not saying it's right, but that's what I've seen