NQT with no job :(

[NotSoSorry]

Hi everyone!

Well I've finally completed my training this week and will be an NQT in September. However, I haven't secured a job and there just hasn't been much. I'm so upset! I'm going to sign up with a couple of supply agencies but honestly, we're in the shit money wise.

Do you think anymore jobs will come up in September or will the next flurry be after Christmas? I'm so worried.

What 'kind' of teacher are you?

As in subject, primary, secondary etc

Fewer than 50% of NQTs generally manage to get work for the following September.

I did supply for 2 terms before landing my job, which was frustrating, but also allowed me to build up the number and type of schools I had experience in, which was great for anwering interview questions with confidence.

Think the biggest question would be location location location. In my surrounding area there is loads of jobs for NQTs advertised atm in all different levels.

When did you start looking for a job? Most of them are advertised april/may time.

Sorry to say most jobs will be gone now for September and unless you do supply you might be waiting until April next year for something permanent.

Only 50% of NQTs get a job for the following September? What about the teacher shortage?

A lot of Universities had to limit the number of qualified teachers they churned out a few years ago as there were too many compared to the number of jobs. Depends on the geographical area, naturally, but the local university to me had to close down their teacher training dept completely.

I think the data usually quoted is something like 85% land jobs, but that's in the first 2 years, not in the first term following graduating.

On top of that, a high percentage of NQTs then leave within the first 3-5 years of teaching.

I started the first term of my NQT year the January after I graduated whilst employed as supply teacher in a medium term post. I then had a full two years as a day-to-day, casual supply teacher/part-time nursery assistant before I continued it in another school. I was part of a jobshare so it took 4 terms to finish but that wasn't a problem. Again, I was employed through an agency and stayed at the school for 3 years on the end before moving on.

Try not to panic about not having a job to start your NQT year. Pester your agencies to get you as much work as possible and, if possible, never turn it down because you never know: an early morning no-notice call might lead to a term or longer and, if the school are willing to do it, you could then at least get some of it under your belt, as well as gaining relevant experience and decent references that will help when you apply for other positions.

Where are you based OP? I’m in the south-west and many jobs were still being advertised a couple of weeks ago.

Fewer than 50% of NQTs generally manage to get work for the following September.

I find this really hard to believe.

Where in the country you, OP? What phase / subject do you teach? How many jobs did you apply for?

Have you been for interviews and not been appointed ? If so getting feedback is important to find out why . Spend the summer signing on with supply agencies. You may might get something long term in September c/ o supply agency.

It depends what age and subject and where you are.

Rural area where people rarely leave jobs is going to be much harder to get a job than in a more suburban area with more schools and staff movement.

If you're Art or PE then you're going to have a rougher time than English, Maths, Science.

Jobs for September come out from January. Did you apply for jobs from then? We're you possibly over selective about applications? Did you leave it until after Easter to start looking?

Only 50% of NQTs get jobs? I'm really shocked by that it doesn't feel like that at all around here

I can't believe only 50% of NQTs get jobs either. Where I am schools often have to advertise more than once to get enough applicants to move to interviews. I do supply and I'm always being asked what my 'intentions' are because schools are desperate.

Perhaps the poster who said only 50% of nqt's find work for a September start could tell us where that data comes from. I can't find anything online. Personally I think it sounds extremely unlikely in the current climate.

This may also sound horrible but it will depend on the calibre of the trainees/NQTs too. I've worked with some trainees who I would genuinely hate for any child to be unlucky enough to be taught by them. Some providers have a low bar and then pass people who really aren't up to standard. I can see why a school might opt for a long term agency teacher over them as an NQT.

I agree that there are NQTs who really don't make the grade...it's just that they all seem to get jobs!

I can see why a school might opt for a long term agency teacher over them as an NQT.

Wouldn't the cost be very different?

Namechangeforthiscancershit
If the option was someone with subject knowledge so poor that usually well behaved y9s would eat them alive and be a drain on a whole department and a liability for pupil progress or someone who is qualified, good and has gone on supply to keep out of the day race then it's probably a no brainer. Do supply for a term and recruit in the next window. It's probably better in the long run for students and the school could avoid the risk of having to raise performance issues, months of sick pay plus supply costs and so on.

I couldn't agree more. I just wish schools would take the long term view.

Register with all the supply agencies and make it clear you are looking for a long-term position. There will be maternity covers from September, plus posts which couldn’t be filled before the holidays.
Keep looking on the site the nearest local authorities use to advertise posts - they don't all end up in the TES nowadays due to the cost of advertising.

I got my job as an NQT quite late in the term. The woman I was up against didn’t get a job until the January (I saw her on an NQT course). Maternity cover comes up and you could do that.

We had nearly half of our teaching staff leave this year (two form primary) and managed to appoint for all of the roles. Not all NQTs though as you end up with a very inexperienced staff.

Namechangeforthiscancershit
I'd have said the situation I outlined the schools who opted not to employ such NQTs probably were taking the best long term view.
It's better for the students to have someone who knows what they're doing, not employing someone who would drain a department, recruit someone for the next start date who is a better candidate (who may well be an NQT) rather than hire a poor quality NQT, have the struggle to drag them through the year or fail them (with associated stress for all involved).

There's a lot to be said for taking someone who may not be the strongest and nurture them to help them achieve their potential and quite another to take someone with glaring issues.

I'm the one who quoted 50% but did then qualify that with it being quoted more like 85% in the first 2 years.

I'm fairly rural north wales though so obviously it will vary.
There were exactly 42 jobs advertised in my county this term. The 2 local universities would have produced more than that number of nqts.

Try some supply work and keep looking OP - there will be jobs coming up after half term and Christmas and they will be less competitive.

If you were Science and in Yorkshire secondary you’d walk into a job