Anyone else struggling to get shortlisted!

[Oxterguff]

As the title says really. I realised earlier that I’ve now been actively applying for jobs for a year without success. In that time I’ve only managed one interview which I didn’t get, I asked for feedback and sent a reminder email a few weeks later but didn’t get a response. I didn’t get a great vibe from that school anyway so wasn’t overly bothered! All of the feedback for those I haven’t been shortlisted for hasn’t suggested any major issues or any improvements to my application or personal statement.
I’m UPS3 (so I know I’m expensive) I have 18 years experience in a range of phases and the jobs I’m applying for are secondary shortage subject roles. I’ve been at my current school for several years and despite having some lovely supportive colleagues, the environment (particularly SLT) is becoming more and more toxic and I’m currently being targeted for speaking up about unfair practices. I need some positive stories from people who managed to get out on UPS3. If I thought I could quit teaching and earn the same money elsewhere I’d consider that too but I doubt that’s possible! It’s ludicrous that experience counts against you in teaching when it’s an advantage in practically every other career!

Yep. You are expensive therefore unemployable due to your experience. Try not to worry about it. It's not you it's the ridiculous system we are in. If you want to stay in teaching best stick with your current school - keep applying though. I'm sure there are a few heads out there who put common sense in front of being stupidly frugal and parsimonious. 😂

You may need to apply for a leadership role. It is all about justifying your salary after UPS3. For example UPS3 without a TLR is not massively different to a Leadership 4/5 salary. With a TLR 1 you could easily be the equivalent to a Leadership 10 salary. From experience that salary is justified to a leader but not so easily justified where an ECT / M scale teacher could be moulded to do the same job. Sad but real.

@TortolaParadise I thought the same thing but I have also applied for a few second in department roles and didn’t get shortlisted there either. It seems as if schools can only afford NQTs/ECTs for regular jobs and they seem to want under 30s who are still MPS for leadership roles.

If you're applying for subject shortage roles, I'm amazed you aren't getting interviews, even though you are expensive.

Are any of the roles requesting references in advance? And if so, have you seen your reference? Schools you've applied to won't always let you know if there are issues with your reference, btw.

Have you got any feedback on your application from colleagues etc who you trust? People you apply to will often give only very generic feedback.

I do wonder if going for HoD roles might be better- often for second in department, people will do this by M3/M4, so you're still about 10k more expensive, and perhaps HoDs are threatened by your experience?

What subject?

Have you considered working in an independent school. They will less financially constrained to only take on NQTs.

What a nightmare. It’s all the result of school underfunding isn’t it. There’s a massive teacher shortage and they can’t recruit enough people and there are big issues with retention. But if schools can’t afford to pay experienced people, they won’t be retained. Crazy.

I also struggled when we relocated a couple of years ago, and I was UPS3. I think it can come as a bit of a shock to the system, as there is a lot on here about all the teachers leaving, but the truth is they are replaced pretty quickly with ECTs in some parts of the country!

I did get my current role after a lot of applications. I had two interviews in that time I didn’t get.

Some areas do have a lot of teachers, it isn’t personal, and also some think if you’ve been in one school for ages you are a bit dinosaur like! I also find second in dept roles go to young enthusiastic sorts!

Have you applied for roles with an Easter/January start?

@Postapocalypticcowgirl
No reference requests here before shortlisting plus I’ve seen my reference and it’s really good. I’ve also had feedback on my application which has all been positive so I don’t think either of those are an issue. Interesting point about M3/4 teachers going for the second in department roles. Maybe I could try going for HOD jobs. I think the expectations in my current school put me off but there must be better schools out there!

@WombatChocolate
Science
I haven’t really seen many independent school jobs coming up here but I will look.
I know, we are losing 2 newish teachers from our department who are giving up on teaching altogether. No doubt they will be replaced by NQTs who will do the same in a few years.

@Thisisthewaywe
Yes, I’ve applied for everything I’ve seen within a 30 mile radius. I’m pretty sure I am regarded as a dinosaur these days!

Also worth remembering many roles are already earmarked for individuals before adverts have even gone to press. Some adverts exist just to fulfil formalities. This doesn't really help you but it could explain things.

Apologies if I am asking the blooming obvious but are you addressing every single point on the job spec and person spec in the order that they are listed?

@Oxterguff it is worth bearing in mind very few schools will give negative feedback on applications. I do think it's worth showing it to someone senior you trust for really honest feedback.

I think it's difficult because a lot of people (in part due to poor pay or lack of staff) start taking on additional responsibilities a lot earlier, so in some ways, someone on UPS3 who hasn't taken on that responsibility before isn't so attractive to schools. They may wonder why you've never taken on that sort of role before and if you really want it. I'd perhaps specifically address this in your supporting statement.

Something like a lead practitioner role could also be a good fit, perhaps.

This is going to sound harsh, but including pension contributions etc, you cost about £20k more to employ than someone on about M3. ECTs are a bit different because having too many ECTs is difficult now. With schools so financially stretched, you don't just have to edge out the competition, but show that you would be significantly better than them.

But honestly if you aren't getting interviews for a shortage subject (around here, schools will often interview every applicant, as usually there's < 5 anyway) then I'd be seriously questioning if your application is as good as it can be.

Or else perhaps in your area, your subject isn't as shortage as you think. Is there somewhere you could commute to (eg expensive city?) Which might struggle to recruit more?

@Philandbill
Yeah, I’m addressing all of the points on the person specification so I don’t think it’s that.

@Postapocalypticcowgirl
I have had senior people look at my application as well as a few colleagues and all have said it’s very good, well written etc so I’m pretty sure it’s not that.
I do wonder whether me not looking for anything senior earlier in my career is an issue. In saying that I started in a completely different phase, then was initially employed in a different role in my current school before teaching my current subject so it haven’t just been teaching the same phase and subject for my entire career.

I am currently commuting to a city anyway but having the same issues there as in local schools. I’ve even had schools tell me that I am the only applicant as a reason for not shortlisting so I don’t think it’s a case of too many applicants.
I can only assume it’s purely down to cost which is depressing and not something I can do anything about.

Oh heck. We've relocated and I need to work from September and I'm UPS3. I don't want a TLR again while my kids are small but maybe I need to have a rethink 😬 supposed shortage subject here but between two cities with big ITT presence. Eek.