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5 average rating | When writing a job application, remember the golden rule of writing to impress the recruiting headteacher, not yourself
You probably know all this, but it can be helpful sometimes to refresh your memory. And remember: this is just my view, others may have different ideas! But I would be happy to receive any application that was clearly set out, thoughtful and actually relevant to my post at my school, rather than one that seemed a carbon-copy that you had sent off to fifty different schools. We all want to be loved for ourselves.
And of course, the very BIG issue: no head wishes to receive an application that is just a re-hash of some-one else’s. There are too many requests on the forum for an application letter or personal statement to be shared with others. Don’t do it – if we get two applications with an identical couple of sentences, we bin them both. Write your own!
Aims of a job application:
- To get selected for interview
- To influence the panel in your favour before they even set eyes on you
- Not to get you sacked when you start the job….it must be honest
Elements of a job application:
- Application Form
- CV - if required. Government advice to schools is not to ask for this, but a few schools still do.
- Letter or “statement in support”
- Executive summary to show how you comply with the criteria (this is explained below)
The application form:
- Photocopy it and practise
- Legible - type it if possible: ask for electronic version, or stick and paste then photocopy the final version, don’t send the one with stuck-on bits
- Dark ink, preferably black
- Get the details correct
- Fill it all in. Yes, all of it! Don’t leave anything blank
- Don’t say “see CV”
- Don’t leave the current salary blank if they ask for it
- Follow the instructions - especially for the chronological order of your employment history
The curriculum vitæ: (If needed – Only send one if the school specifically asks for it. Nowadays it is only a few schools, mainly independents, who haven’t yet taken on board government advice not to ask for CVs)
- Normally recent first - don’t begin with your A-levels or GCSEs
- Proper emphasis - write more on relevant experience and most recent, less on e.g. being a school prefect or member of the Children of Mary (I have seen it)
- Don’t just give job title - explain what were your major responsibilities and successes
- “Bury” less favourable information by putting on left of page
- Explain any unusual things such as why you have a 2-year gap in your employment history; we shall assume that you were doing something you don’t want us to know about if you leave a gap!
The letter or statement
- Carry out the instructions
- No more than two pages means 1½ - 2 pages, not just one paragraph
- Handwritten if they ask, but typed unless they specifically ask for hand-written
- Address any issues they ask you to, don’t just ignore them
- Make it specific to this post in this school
- Wring value out of every sentence you put in, cut the waffle
- Tell them why they need you, not why you need them
- Make it specific to their job description, addressing their needs
- Make it as structured as a good student essay
- Make it easy to read
- Get it professionally typed unless you are an ace at laying out documents. A professional lay-out always looks better
Sample opening paragraph of a letter:
I wish to be considered for this position and enclose… I am attracted to this post as a development of my role as…… in which I have direct responsibility for … I have been concerned especially with…… I now feel ready to extend this experience of ….. and ….. into another school. school XXX is of particular interest to me because of its ……… (Don’t say because you live near it!)
Internal structure:
3 or 4 main sections. I would actually put headings in the letter, to make the structure clear; typical ones could be:
- Current and recent experience
- Other achievements relevant to your post
- The priorities of your post
- The future of XXX School
Current and recent experience
Say what you are doing, but in structured fashion: curriculum role, pastoral role, managerial role, extra-curricular, contact with parents/ other schools, experience of budgeting, etc.
Other achievements relevant to your post
Responsibilities/ contributions in previous posts; any outside activities that show skills relevant to teaching and managing children and colleagues; any specific training done
The priorities of your post
What you think the post is about, based on the clues that they give you. What do they need you to do? How would you fulfil this? This is your chance to show them that they need you
The future of XXX school
This is relevant specifically for management level posts, showing that you have an understanding of the type of School that it is, the context that it is working in, and how you could contribute to its development
The executive summary. The what?
- Remember the primary aim - to get shortlisted; make it easy for them to select you
- Will also concentrate your mind in writing a good application letter by reminding you of all your strengths
- Based on: person specification, job purpose
- Show both their requirements and how you match up to them
- Do it in table form, showing their points (good Hons degree) and how you comply: (BSc II(a) Bio London)
- Must always fit on just one side of A4. The idea is that they can see at a glance everything about you that fits their requirements. One side only.
An example executive summary is shown below - it relates to a senior management post, but something very similar can be done for a teaching post. The important thing is that the left-hand column is exactly what they are looking for because it comes from their person spec and job details. How can they fail to short-list you if you tick all their boxes?
Summary John Smith
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Final dos and don’ts
Don’t:
- Don’t correct errors on their forms
- Don’t use staples on your application – they will need to photocopy it
Do:
- Have your name on each page
- Check you have got the name of the right school.
- And then check it again!
Need more advice? Visit the Ultimate guide to jobseeking
Comment (30)
This is an excellent resource with lots of good ideas.
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0:38
3 February, 2009
susangoldie
Thank you Theo - some really good meaty advice for someone is is about to step onto the interview carousel again after 6 years. Things change so quickly!
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9:00
17 February, 2009
cranwell
It would be good to add a section of particular relevance to NQTs - how to impress when you have little hands on experience.
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14:54
17 February, 2009
maribelle
This is great advice - thank you.
I agree with maribelle that something aimed towards those of us just starting out in our careers would be helpful.
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15:39
14 March, 2009
GingerKitty
Brilliant work - thanks very much!
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21:32
15 March, 2009
mickeyforpresident
I pride myself on being a 'know it all' when it comes to getting short listed. However, even I have learnt a thing or two.
Rainy x
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12:06
6 April, 2009
Rainy
Thanks so much for this forum. I knew I could rely on the TES site. This has really helped me to focus on what needs to be done.
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8:46
16 April, 2009
cfe
Thank you very much very informative and helpful. I am considering applying for an Assistant Head position and the executive summary was very thought provoking.
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18:40
27 April, 2009
newtonsgirl
This is excellent. Many thanks indeed
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17:12
8 May, 2009
StevenHill
Thank you. Very helpful
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17:22
10 May, 2009
Smel
Ain't he The Tops!
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Rating:
16:11
12 May, 2009
genoveva
Very helpful but as Maribelle and GingerKitty say it would be more helpful for us first timers.
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1:09
6 June, 2009
paulinemarie1
I have gained many interviews based on my letter of application and Executive Summary - I now NEVER submit an application without an ES!!!!
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23:56
7 July, 2009
ALioness
I would like some information for new teachers with not much experience at interview stage. I can get interviews but I keep losing to the more experienced teacher all the time.
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16:21
12 July, 2009
chemsley1
Extraordinary piece of advice...thank you very much..dear Theo!! ;)
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12:37
26 July, 2009
Noush1986
Useful advice for returners to teaching who've been out of the loop for a while.
Thank you for your time to help us out.
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13:22
27 September, 2009
lara mfl 05
So it seems after spending a year and 7k in this country doing a PGCE, I still have no hope of getting a job because you want me to have led some sort of life specifically designed to be some sort of teaching mesiah.
For a job which is paid about 3K more than a binman and 3K less than working in my local dole office.
I'll stick with supply or go abroad again ta.
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19:12
11 October, 2009
jezer
I so agree with Jezer's response. I'm Maths qualified, tonnes of exeprience (currently in between the dole & supply) but to be honest if I'm to stay in teaching, it's abroad. Helpful article but you summed it up, we need to pamper to some egotistical Head, brown nose and tell them why they should consider us mere mortals. Complete tosh, though sadly true, that's why education is screwed up. Supply & Demand dictates that it's a teacher's market, so really we should be calling the shots. However, most schools & all the dodgy academies (ie schools that have already been in Special Measures) are run by people who haven't got a clue. "Those who can, don' t stay in teaching", to be brow-beaten by the politics. Will the last decent person in teaching please turn the light out!!
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0:27
15 October, 2009
daveyboyw
Hi FolksMy Person Spec is 2 sides
(see https://www.edulink.networcs.net/schools/Aston_Fields/Vacancies/Deputy_Head_JobDesc_PersonSpec.pdf )
How on earth can I condense this to one side of A4 for my exec summary....help please!!!!
ThanksG
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16:37
12 November, 2009
gazwebb
Looks really good...thank you
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20:43
15 January, 2010
krama
thnk you very much for your nice tips with good resources.
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22:38
25 February, 2010
helmytolba
I have been employed in two roles in education, for the last 6 years, and now after relocation have the task of finding a new job.(this current climate has made interviews harder to get and means posts get flooded with applicants)
So I have now applied for 8 roles using this format. Having applied for many jobs and usually always getting them I feel that this format will reall make me stand out as the candidate they need! Fingers crossed I get one of them?!?!
Thanks for all the helpful advice-especially the personal spec and letter structure
I will email when I get one of the jobs! : )
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14:35
15 March, 2010
stephii_b
I applied to 9 schools last year and did not get one interview. I have lots of experience working as a supply teacher but, it seems like they judge you on a piece of paper. Where am I going wrong in my application form? Is it my personal statement?
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20:39
16 March, 2010
fionastar
Fiona - don't take it personally. I applied for over 50 jobs last year and got two interviews (both for temporary posts). Just keep applying and applying and applying. Its a numbers game.
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22:42
17 March, 2010
heatherstrang
Heather is right Fiona- as depressing at it is can just take a while! I finished my PGCE last summer and have been on supply since. I have actually lost count how many jobs I have applied for (roughly 25) and although I have had about 5 or 6 interviews, I keep losing out to people with experience. I have been on supply in a school since christmas and got an interview for a post there, but once again, they gave it to someone with more experience! :( After speaking to staff I was told often it's a case of the staffing structure- ie if there are a lot of NQTs or newer teachers, they'll be wanting people with more experience and vice versa.
You really have to be philosophical and believe that the right school is out there for you! That's what's keeping me going anyway! Good luck! :)
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20:43
21 April, 2010
rachael.doman
this is amazing advice. I recently got very disheartened having finally got an interview and then missing out to a still studying NQT. Having a years worth of supply teaching experience I had hoped this would give me an "edge".
I've never done an executive summary, but it makes a lot of sense. Thank you for this to keep me motivated to keep trying!
One quick question, I can't fit my summary on one page, this school is asking so much that their person spec was on 1 1/2 pages anyway. Does it matter if the exec sum. is longer than 1 page?
Thank you! :)
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9:59
4 May, 2010
MissJCC55
I'm a bit confused - is the Executive Summary actually PART of the letter, then? - with the signing off bit after it?! - or is it a separate sheet in addition to the letter...? Thanks.
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23:19
11 May, 2010
krcoulls
I was also unsure about this, is it an additional page?
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20:34
27 May, 2010
dragonmclaren
I did an executive summary, for my very first teaching application, and it worked wonderfully!
The head loved that i had considered the person specificaion in such detail, and as suggested, they had no choice but to invite me to interview!
Taking the time to complete the summary demonstrated to them that i had thoroughly read the person specification and considered the position carefully before applying, and also showed that I really wanted the job as I went to all that effort in addition to the application form & personal statement
I got the job :-)
Thank you so much for such a great idea!
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20:23
14 June, 2010
barbaramolony
hiya, would you include an exucutive summary as well as a personal statement?
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9:55
15 June, 2010
sparklequeen