How easy is it to get a job afterwards?

Does anyone who has finished their pgce have any experiences here?

I know it massively depends on the subject. I'm not talking maths and science here, because I know they are easier to get into than the others. I am doing r.e. and I'm worried about finding a job and I've not even started yet. I just can't imagine how there will be loads of jobs in my area to apply for, and then factoring in all the people applying... I'm just so pessimistic.

I know a girl who has just finished her geography pgce and I was surprised at how many vacancies seemed to pop up. She had about ten interviews before getting a job.

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Reply 1

Mr M

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Original post by Airfairy

It doesn't just depend on subject - location is equally as important. I don't think it is going to be possible to answer. At my school in Suffolk, we receive between 0 (physics) and 150 (PE) applications per post.

Reply 2

Steveluis10

It's hard to say.

I finished my secondary English PGCE last month and there were 24 of us on the course at my Uni. 22 have jobs for September.

One person got a job as early as December of last year but that's not really the norm. People told me before I started the course that people start to get jobs quite quickly from March onwards and that was certainly the case. I got my job at the beginning of March - first interview I had. Loads of people got jobs from April-May. There are jobs advertised until late on in the summer so there's always opportunities but I do know of people who have been on about 10 interviews and been unsuccessful so it really depends how you perform at interview. Make sure your application and covering letter is 100% up to scratch - schools can tell a lazy or copied effort straight away and it goes in the bin.

For R.E I can't imagine there would be as many jobs as a core subject but I'd say you still have a pretty good chance. Obviously it depends on your location as well.

Reply 3

Justpin

How long is a piece of string?

I found it easy to get a cover job (0 hours they call you when they need you), I've done many of such jobs. These do not make ends meet.

But to get anything with say a 1 year contract it is difficult as there are lots of unemployed teachers* meaning there is lots of competition. The fact that academies can now hire unqualified teachers and the government are pushing for retirees and soldiers to be teachers only adds up to increased over supply.

In the FE sector it is rough due to the massive adult education cuts that come year on year 25.6% in April that was on top of a cut last year and there have been deep aggressive cuts year on year. I'm still doing a limited number of hours a week.

Reply 4

Mr M

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Original post by Justpin

the government are pushing for ... soldiers to be teachers only adds up to increased over supply.

The numbers involved are insignificant.

Reply 5

TraineeLynsey

I'm primary and did about 15 applications. I got my job at my 3rd interview, but it was off the back of my very first application (an NQTpool) .

Reply 6

Juichiro

Original post by Mr M

Jesus Christ, Mr Mathews!

Reply 7

Mr M

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Original post by Juichiro

Jesus Christ, Mr Mathews!

I beg your pardon?

Reply 8

Juichiro

Original post by Mr M

I beg your pardon?

I was just surprised at the number of physics applications per post, Mr. Mathews. :smile:

Reply 9

Mr M

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Original post by Juichiro

I was just surprised at the number of physics applications per post, Mr. Mathews. :smile:

I'm not called Mr Mathews. Keep guessing - a phone book may help.

There are areas of the country where it is completely impossible to recruit physics or mathematics specialists.

Reply 10

Juichiro

Original post by Mr M

I'm not called Mr Mathews. Keep guessing - a phone book may help.

There are areas of the country where it is completely impossible to recruit physics or mathematics specialists.

I know! 'M' could stand for anything so I will keep trying until I hit the jackpot. :tongue:

P.S. What's your opinion of the new Secretary of Education?

Reply 11

Mr M

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Original post by Juichiro

I know! 'M' could stand for anything so I will keep trying until I hit the jackpot. :tongue:

P.S. What's your opinion of the new Secretary of Education?

No opinion. She does look particularly poor-qualified for the job.

Reply 12

spanishguy

What's the number of applicants per MFL posts Mr M?

Reply 13

lantan

My own experience: 6 interviews, around 35 applications. :smile:

Reply 14

myrtille

I did my MFL PGCE last year and applied to 11 schools in total. I was invited to interview at 10 schools and attended 8 interviews (had to cancel 2 due to interviews being on the same day). My first interview was in February and my last was in May - I attended 2 interviews on one day and they both called in the evening to offer me the job, which was a bit tricky!

I know one school said they'd had 16 applicants (and narrowed it down to 4 for the interview) - I don't know if this is typical.

Reply 15

Chewyy

Original post by Mr M

I'm not called Mr Mathews. Keep guessing - a phone book may help.

There are areas of the country where it is completely impossible to recruit physics or mathematics specialists.

Do you know what the situation is for maths teachers in London?

Reply 16

Mr M

Study Forum Helper

Original post by Chewyy

Do you know what the situation is for maths teachers in London?

Yes. The shortage is not as acute there as it is in some parts of England but you shouldn't need to search for long to find a job. I would expect a typical London secondary school to get fewer than 10 applications per post and half of these will be so atrocious that they will be binned immediately.

Reply 17

Mr M

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Original post by spanishguy

What's the number of applicants per MFL posts Mr M?

Again it will depend on location but we didn't receive any applications for a part-time French & Spanish position recently. We filled the job by approaching someone who was already known to members of the Department.

(edited 9 years ago)

Reply 18

Chewyy

Original post by Mr M

Thanks for the information :smile:

Reply 19

varcolac

9 applications, 7 interviews, 1 job. All but one person on my course is employed for September.

Make sure your application doesn't go into the circular filing cabinet on the floor by explicitly addressing every part of the person specification in your personal statement or covering letter. They want someone with extracurricular skills? Trumpet your Duke of Edinburgh awards or what-have-you. They want someone "well qualified" in the subject? Explicitly link your degree(s) and PGCE to the post. They want someone who has effective behaviour management? By the time you start applying for jobs you'll have put at least one kid in detention and set out your expectations for every class you've taught so you'll have plenty of evidence for that.