Trainee Teachers: Things you need to know about finding your first teaching Role

We’ve put together this guide for trainee teachers with everything you need to know about how to land your first teaching role. From how to find online teaching jobs to teaching assistant jobs, we’ve got you covered.

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Entering into a new profession can always be daunting and anxiety-provoking, but it can feel impossible for a trainee teacher looking for their first teaching role. It’s around this time of year that many trainee teachers will be looking for their first trainee teacher jobs ready for the new school year in September. You may even be reading this as a trainee teacher yourself. But do not worry; we aren’t just here to help you save money with our amazing free discounts (sign up if you haven’t already). We also want to help you with this next chapter of your life.

Getting Started

Before searching through adverts for trainee teacher jobs looking for something to apply for, you should think about what kind of role you are looking for. Is there a specific type of school you would like to work in? Consider what school size you’d prefer, with the number of pupils it teaches, as well as the local area and how far you are willing to travel for a role.

Every school has a unique ethos and community, and as a trainee teacher, you may be surprised at just how different each school can be. So, before you jump headfirst into applications and interviews, think about how you want to spend your first few years teaching. Once you have a clearer idea about what you want, looking for it will be a lot easier. Plus, if you’re looking for more information to support your decision, why not check out our Blog on Teacher Pay Scales & Salaries.

But don’t feel disheartened if you don’t find what you seek straightaway. It is more important that you find the right fit, and you shouldn’t compare yourself to others you may have trained with. Everyone goes at their own pace, and holding out for the perfect role is worth the wait.

Where to find teaching jobs UK?

Now that you have an idea of where you might want to work or what criteria you are looking for in a school/role, your search can properly begin. There are several places where you can find teaching jobs UK, including school vacancy pages and local council job boards.

If you’ve identified a specific school or education setting that you know you would like to work at, then you should keep an eye on their website at the vacancies page. Not all schools will advertise posts on job boards, so regularly checking what they post will put you ahead of the competition. If you’re keen to make a good impression, you could also email their HR department informing them of your interest and ask them to get in touch if any vacancies become available.   

If you haven’t found the right ECT role for you yet, you could always consider a role in supply teaching!

How to find online teaching jobs

Online resources are great for early career teachers (ECTs) as not only are they a great place to look for resources for lesson planning for trainee teachers but also for trainee teacher jobs. If you’re looking how to find online teaching jobs, we’d recommend you check out local council job boards, as here you’ll find a list of teaching roles, including assistant and support staff positions. This is great if you’re looking how to find online teaching assistant jobs. You can even tailor your search for vacancies in your local area.

And, of course, you can also check out the usual search job listening websites where you will find teaching roles. It is important to remember that you may not be able to apply to the school directly for roles, and instead, you’ll need to go through a recruitment agency. While this may mean that you aren’t able to talk directly to your potential future colleagues, you can carry out your own research so that you can get your own feel for the school.

Top Tip: Head to the Teaching Vacancies board on the government’s website and filter jobs by ‘suitable for early career teachers.’ This means that you know schools are open to ECTs to join their staff and will understand your lack of experience when applying.

Found a job you like? Check our blogs below to help you with the next steps of finding your perfect trainee teacher job. You can also check out our Blog on Teacher Pay Scales and Salaries to learn more!