Depressed NQT

Heydeldel

Are there any other NQTs out there finding the job situation really dispiriting?

I got another rejection letter today. I was gutted as I really thought I would be at least shortlisted and interviewed. I was invited over to the UK recently to interview - they wanted to see me so I've obviously got something to offer! I'm at a loss as to how to make myself more employable. I know I lack experience but how can I get experience if no one gives me a shot?!

I applied to correct mocks - same story - not enough experience.

I'm keeping busy doing loads; I'm volunteering; co -running a TY project to gain experience ; giving grinds to keep me in teacher mode; trying to get subbing; doing my NQT workshops; doing an online course on E- learning. I'm at a loss as to what else I can do!

It just seems to be one closed door after another.

I know I'm ranting but just needed to vent a bit with others who are going through the same thing. *sigh*:(

TheDriver

on the other side of the fence, try getting subs for school, seems a right shortage of sub teachers out there, in all subjects....

Heydeldel

TheDriver wrote: »

on the other side of the fence, try getting subs for school, seems a right shortage of sub teachers out there, in all subjects....

Really? Must do a CV drop again into local schools so.

TheDriver

its the usual story, most people give up so lot less people around looking for sub work.

mtoutlemonde

Heydeldel wrote: »

Are there any other NQTs out there finding the job situation really dispiriting?

I got another rejection letter today. I was gutted as I really thought I would be at least shortlisted and interviewed. I was invited over to the UK recently to interview - they wanted to see me so I've obviously got something to offer! I'm at a loss as to how to make myself more employable. I know I lack experience but how can I get experience if no one gives me a shot?!

I applied to correct mocks - same story - not enough experience.

I'm keeping busy doing loads; I'm volunteering; co -running a TY project to gain experience ; giving grinds to keep me in teacher mode; trying to get subbing; doing my NQT workshops; doing an online course on E- learning. I'm at a loss as to what else I can do!

It just seems to be one closed door after another.

I know I'm ranting but just needed to vent a bit with others who are going through the same thing. *sigh*:(

Heydeldel I'm in the same situation I had a few interviews last year but to no avail - although I have learnt a lot from them. I have had 8 days subbing so far this (school) year I'm going to keep going (as hard as it is) because I know someday I'll get the job I've been waiting for! Its very hard though especially when people ask you what you're doing.

In relation to subbing - I delivered 22 CVs to schools around my area - only 1 rang me back! Like you I completed a course but it's really annoying because I learnt so much and can't use it in the classroom!

It will all work out for us someday! We just have to wait for it!

Heydeldel

mtoutlemonde wrote: »

Heydeldel I'm in the same situation I had a few interviews last year but to no avail - although I have learnt a lot from them. I have had 8 days subbing so far this (school) year I'm going to keep going (as hard as it is) because I know someday I'll get the job I've been waiting for! Its very hard though especially when people ask you what you're doing.

In relation to subbing - I delivered 22 CVs to schools around my area - only 1 rang me back! Like you I completed a course but it's really annoying because I learnt so much and can't use it in the classroom!

It will all work out for us someday! We just have to wait for it!

Thanks for that. I know I'm not alone. I'm just really frustrated at the lack of opportunity here at the mo.

mtoutlemonde

Heydeldel wrote: »

Thanks for that. I know I'm not alone. I'm just really frustrated at the lack of opportunity here at the mo.

No def not alone! And another thing that annoys me is when my friends put things like '2 weeks to the mid-term', 'Parent Teacher meeting this evening' etc. I would love to have a mid-term! I was working last year and its very hard not having anything this year! And there was a thread here during the week about a person four years in and fed up with teaching - I would love to have four years teaching behind me!! What are your subjects Heydeldel?

Heydeldel

mtoutlemonde wrote: »

No def not alone! And another thing that annoys me is when my friends put things like '2 weeks to the mid-term', 'Parent Teacher meeting this evening' etc. I would love to have a mid-term! I was working last year and its very hard not having anything this year! And there was a thread here during the week about a person four years in and fed up with teaching - I would love to have four years teaching behind me!! What are your subjects Heydeldel?

I know, I see friend's Facebook status all the time complaining about Monday morning and having to go back to work after Christmas etc. Hard to read.

I just have one subject: English. Unfortunate but it's what I've got.

It's disheartening that even after 4 years those teachers are still out applying every year with NQTs. We're all battling for any bit of work we can get.

mtoutlemonde

Heydeldel wrote: »

I know, I see friend's Facebook status all the time complaining about Monday morning and having to go back to work after Christmas etc. Hard to read.

I just have one subject: English. Unfortunate but it's what I've got.

It's disheartening that even after 4 years those teachers are still out applying every year with NQTs. We're all battling for any bit of work we can get.

I have ICT and French - so essentially have one subject - for the moment although I can see ICT being an examinable subject at some stage, and there are developments regarding short courses for the new JC aswell. We'll probably pick something up with the new JC coming in - as there will be teachers who are close to retirement who may not want to retrain.

TheDriver

to be fair, anyone new to the career will show massive enthusiasm, everyone would love night shifts/foreign work/PT meetings etc. However settle into the job and other factors also come into play e.g. relationships/family etc, then these extra things on top of full hours can be tough going, full days in front of the class + PT meeting + back in next morning doing same is tough.

I must admit i get cvs in but won't ring them back. Number of things about looking for subs
1) won't ring people who live 3 hours away because in reality, subbing is only a day here and there
2) subs turn up late/don't mix with staff or act strange puts staff off and they don't get asked back
3) one subject teachers are generally last on the list. Sorry, but its the reality because subbing is usually a test bed for future work and nice to see how NQTs get on. Most schools won't employ 1 subject teachers because its impossible to fill your timetable and if/when you get a CID, your hours will probably get up to 22 hours and then principal can't find work for you.

I could go on and on but its tough out there.
One bit of advice: when you send in CVs, please please please follow instructions e.g. if they want email only, then email. if they want post, then post. And make sure you put contact details on the cv.

mtoutlemonde

TheDriver wrote: »

to be fair, anyone new to the career will show massive enthusiasm, everyone would love night shifts/foreign work/PT meetings etc. However settle into the job and other factors also come into play e.g. relationships/family etc, then these extra things on top of full hours can be tough going, full days in front of the class + PT meeting + back in next morning doing same is tough.

I must admit i get cvs in but won't ring them back. Number of things about looking for subs
1) won't ring people who live 3 hours away because in reality, subbing is only a day here and there
2) subs turn up late/don't mix with staff or act strange puts staff off and they don't get asked back
3) one subject teachers are generally last on the list. Sorry, but its the reality because subbing is usually a test bed for future work and nice to see how NQTs get on. Most schools won't employ 1 subject teachers because its impossible to fill your timetable and if/when you get a CID, your hours will probably get up to 22 hours and then principal can't find work for you.

I could go on and on but its tough out there.
One bit of advice: when you send in CVs, please please please follow instructions e.g. if they want email only, then email. if they want post, then post. And make sure you put contact details on the cv.

Thanks TheDriver your advice is always good! I was hoping to do the Maths dip in Limerick (as I have a substantial amount of maths from my under grad and would love to teach maths) but you have to be in a teaching position and teaching at least one class of maths per week. If I could do this I would have three subjects.

Just one question (I think from previous posts that you're in a VEC school), when you apply to a VEC do you address the letter of application to the CEO or the principal of the school where the vacancy is?

TheDriver

thanks mtoutlemonde. French will get you plenty of hours though, can never seem to get french or german subs
You address the letter of application to the person it states on the form. If its subbing, just the school.
Now, this is important, ALWAYS SEND TO THE ADDRESS/PERSON IT STATES. I have seen people being smart sending it to the principal or deputy or chair of BOM thinking it looks good however the chair of the board might be on hols, opens letter 3 weeks later, its past closing date and theres only one person to blame.

mtoutlemonde

TheDriver wrote: »

thanks mtoutlemonde.
You address the letter of application to the person it states on the form. If its subbing, just the school.
Now, this is important, ALWAYS SEND TO THE ADDRESS/PERSON IT STATES. I have seen people being smart sending it to the principal or deputy or chair of BOM thinking it looks good however the chair of the board might be on hols, opens letter 3 weeks later, its past closing date and theres only one person to blame.

Yeah I always follow the instructions as outlined in the ad. I remember you writing about this in another thread If it has no name (as the VEC sometimes doesn't) do you address it to the CEO or ring HR and find out name of the school?

TheDriver

ah, some VECs advertise and don't name the school. If thats the case, post to the VEC but a phone call always helps to clarify the situation.

mtoutlemonde

TheDriver wrote: »

2) subs turn up late/don't mix with staff or act strange puts staff off and they don't get asked back

Meant to say earlier - I was subbing in a school where the majority of the staff were female - it was incredibly uncomfortable in the staff room - strange looks, I even heard one girl say 'Who's your man over there?' and what felt like twenty pairs of eyes staring at me! After a few days I decided to eat my lunch in the classroom or in the car. This is not like me - I would talk to anyone and am very quick to initiate a conversation. I must also say that there were some of them that were really nice and introduced themselves but the majority stared or ignored me.

rainbowtrout

mtoutlemonde wrote: »

Meant to say earlier - I was subbing in a school where the majority of the staff were female - it was incredibly uncomfortable in the staff room - strange looks, I even heard one girl say 'Who's your man over there?' and what felt like twenty pairs of eyes staring at me! After a few days I decided to eat my lunch in the classroom or in the car. This is not like me - I would talk to anyone and am very quick to initiate a conversation. I must also say that there were some of them that were really nice and introduced themselves but the majority stared or ignored me.

Not perhaps the nicest atmosphere fair enough, BUT

I know I say 'who's yer man/woman over there at least once a week', not loud enough for the person to hear obviously but we have subs coming and going, we have speakers in from colleges, study skills, bullying/drugs awareness etc, etc and you end up wondering if the new person in the staff room is actually teaching or just in as a visitor, I'm sure they didn't mean anything by it.

If some of them are nice, you should have probably gone over and sat down and talked to them and had your lunch with them. You won't get to know staff if you eat your lunch in the car, and even though it might have seemed intimidating to you, they will think you are the strange one if they see you eat your lunch in your car, not the other way around.


Some teachers, just like in any other place of employment will be unfriendly or ignorant, don't write off a whole staff because of it though, particularly if you are looking for work in the long term.

mtoutlemonde

rainbowtrout wrote: »

Not perhaps the nicest atmosphere fair enough, BUT

I know I say 'who's yer man/woman over there at least once a week', not loud enough for the person to hear obviously but we have subs coming and going, we have speakers in from colleges, study skills, bullying/drugs awareness etc, etc and you end up wondering if the new person in the staff room is actually teaching or just in as a visitor, I'm sure they didn't mean anything by it.

If some of them are nice, you should have probably gone over and sat down and talked to them and had your lunch with them. You won't get to know staff if you eat your lunch in the car, and even though it might have seemed intimidating to you, they will think you are the strange one if they see you eat your lunch in your car, not the other way around.


Some teachers, just like in any other place of employment will be unfriendly or ignorant, don't write off a whole staff because of it though, particularly if you are looking for work in the long term.

I did say some of them were nice - the thing was the tables in the staffroom was just a row of tables and from the time I spent in the staffroom - everyone had their own place - and we all know what some teachers are like and the nice ones were in between others / on yard duty. I know I've asked in the staff room who a certain person is but I wouldn't be obvious about it. As I said earlier this was completely out of character for me as I am always the first to introduce myself if there is a visitor.

CisaLarroll

I am an NQT having studied primary school teaching. I am currently doing my induction hours which will be finished in March and I will have a level 8 degree in Bed then. I am hoping to move to England then. I heard it is a lot easier to get your dip/probation hours done over there as there are more jobs. I am unsure of what way to go about it. Ideally I would love to have a job set up before I go over.Does anyone know of any recruitment agency's that may help me? Has anyone heard of anyone doing their dip over in England? Any help or advice would be gratefully appreciated.

Lisa