Ready to give up applying for teaching jobs 😩

[RealAquaCat]

Hi!
So I qualified as a primary school teacher back in 2020. I’ve had absolutely zero luck in applying for jobs over the years and ended up working in a preschool as no teaching jobs ever responded to my application.
I’ve since progressed to being the preschool room leader, but I really want this year to be the year I land my first teaching job.

To my surprise, after applying for at least 15 jobs in the last month I was offered 2 interviews. Both interviews were in 2 stages - first was a teaching observation, and if you pass that then you come back for the formal interview. Last week I had an observation and didn’t get invited to interview, and then this morning I had an observation and once again have failed to be invited to interview 😞

Do I just give up? It’s not even like I can volunteer in any schools to build up some more teaching experience as I work full time Monday to Friday. I tried so hard and thought I did really well in the observations, and to spend 5 years applying for jobs and to not even pass an observation when I’m finally being offered interviews, it’s so disheartening and so stressful. I don’t want to get into supply work either as work isn’t always a given, and I’m a single parent with a mortgage to think about.

Can anyone offer some advice, thank you ❤️

Are you set on primary ?

I only say this because I did one term of my ECT in a primary school and hated it. I did a primary PGCE. I then went on supply for almost 2 years which cemented for me that I didn’t want to teach .

I now work as a teacher ( job role is actually tutor ) in a post 18 SEN setting and I absolutely love it! I’m currently deciding between which NPQ to study to progress to leadership as I’ve been offered that opportunity.

ECT is only required for education up to 18 years of age . My QTS still counts for careers beyond 18.

Not all schools are at all.
We have a teaching role currently out at present. So far we have had over 80 applications for the full time role.

however, feedback is always useful to ask for.

Is this also Scotland? I’m fascinated by this.There are currently 226 primary teacher jobs within 25 miles of me on the g’ment website. Teachers have still got a few weeks to resign yet too!

I'm not sure if Scotland is different, but London aside, you earn the same as a teacher anywhere in England (and I think Wales). In Sunderland, it would be a well-paying job, but in St Albans, it wouldn't be. In Sunderland you would probably have a lot more applicants than in St Albans.

Good point.

I am also ready to give up. I have had a few interviews recently and not got them because I am not an ECT. Each time they have sent the experienced teachers home after the teaching section and only kept ECTs to interview. It is becoming very depressing