Finding the right teaching job can mean being in a job that you enjoy for the rest of your life. It’s the difference between loving what you do, and hating it. So when you’re job searching, you want to make sure you find a suitable teaching job in the right school. 

You can use a variety of methods to get as much information as possible about the school you want to work in. Ask around in your teaching contacts, or use the internet to research schools and areas first. You can also use your application process to scout out good schools by asking the right questions at an interview. 

We’ve put together a handy guide to help you find a suitable teaching job that’s perfect for you. 

Research The Schools and Location

Before you submit any applications, do some research into the location you’d like to work in and what schools you think you would be most suited for. Every school comes with their own unique selling points, perks, and pros and cons. You can look at school websites to see what subjects they excel in and get more information about what sort of values they have. 

Another prime point is location. If you know teachers who are currently working, ask around and find out what the consensus is on good schools to work at in your area. If you’re planning on looking further afield and going somewhere new, you can use the internet and find out what people say online, and look up the schools test scores and statistics.

Ask The Interviewer Questions About The School

Another excellent method to find out if the school is a good match for your values and skills is to prepare a list of questions to ask the interviewer when you go. Depending on their answers, you’ll get a better understanding about what working at the school is like and be able to identify if there are any ongoing management issues. 

Some example questions could be: 

• Why is the teacher currently in the role leaving the position?
• What is your average teacher turnover and how does that compare with other schools in the area?
• How much planning time does teachers receive?
• What is the average class size in the school?
• What kind of support is available to new teachers here?

Please remember, you don’t need to ask the entire list. You may have found some answers online already. But preparing questions in advance shows the interviewer that you’ve planned for the interview, and that you’re thinking about what it’s going to be like for you in the role. It’s a good thing! Don’t shy away from it for fear of embarrassing yourself. 

Check Out The School When You’re Interviewed

Again, once you actually go to your interview, you may be interviewed at the school you’d be teaching at. If that’s the case, it’s prime time to get some information about whether it’s suitable for you. From the moment you enter a school your movements and actions will be examined as part of the interview, but that’s a two-way street. You have all that time to gather info too. 

Note how stressed staff members seem when they interact with you and each other. Are they professional and polite? Or do they seem like they’re running around like headless chickens? If it’s the latter, you may not want to work there. 

You can also look at how the children are behaving, pick up the atmosphere in the corridors and playground areas and see if they seem happy and engaged, or like they could be difficult to manage. 

Make mental notes and review later when you get home to decide if that’s the school for you. 

Sign Up To a Recruitment Agency

Last, an excellent way to find the right teaching job is to sign up to a dedicated teaching recruitment agency. Agencies have access to a range of jobs that don’t make it onto the general job market because they work closely with employers, and often get jobs sent directly to them. 

Since they develop a close relationship both with you and the school, you’ll find that they can refer you to jobs that suit your values, interests, and personal requirements a lot easier than you’ll manage just browsing online yourself. 

Working for a reputable teaching recruitment agency also gives you access to an extra set of eyes and ears to identity suitable jobs, and send them your way. It’s a win-win!