Preparing to Apply for Teaching Positions in Australia

Working at the heart of some of the best schools in Australia and the UK, partners of TES, Smart Teachers, deliver premium recruitment services for teaching professionals looking to relocate and work between Australia and the UK.

For UK teaching professionals seeking opportunities to work in Australia, Smart Teachers give an insight to our readers on the top 3 considerations when preparing to apply for work in Australia.

CV Presentation

There are a few basics to get right for making your CV stand out to a recruiter or hiring Head Teacher Follow the following steps:

• No more than 3 pages! On average an employer looks at a CV for no more than 90 seconds – be concise and keep it relevant.
• Include what visa you are travelling on.  As a recruiter, the ‘right to work’ is the first thing I search for on a CV!
• Consider including a professional photo. Make sure you are wearing professional attire with a basic background. Do not include any photos of students or consider a selfie as appropriate!
• Explain gaps in your CV. If you have worked in another industry that is not relating to teaching, don’t remove it; just limit the content to a few sentences at most.  Be mindful – that Head Teacher doesn’t really need to know a detailed list of your responsibilities at Sainsbury’s! Include voluntary work, work experience and training courses. Again if they are not strictly relevant to teaching keep explanations to a minimum.
• Evidence of Extra Curricular Activities. Involvement in extra-curricular activities is an aspect highly sought after by Australian schools. Any involvement in coaching, after school clubs and school visits should be clearly highlighted on your CV.
• Save space – Don’t include your A level or GSCE results on an Australian CV. The education systems are very different and do not directly translate.  Australian teachers tend to not put their VCE/HSC results on their CVs.
•  Finally, spell check!

Applying for Teaching Jobs

The best time to come to Australia is September or October.  The reason for this is it’s Australia’s busiest teaching recruitment period.  The academic year begins with Term 1 at the end of January and runs all the way through to December.  Recruitment for Term 1 takes place in September or October.  If you are in Australia around this time, you can meet Head Teachers for interviews face-to-face, which is always preferred.

Preparing for Interview

It is vital that you spend time researching the curriculum of the state you are intending to teach in so you can draw upon this knowledge at interview. One of the main reasons for overseas applicants being unsuccessful in securing a position is due to their lack of knowledge in this area. Remember you are up against Australian qualified teaching professionals who have grown up and trained in the curriculum and therefore they are at a distinct advantage if you are not up to speed!

If you are considering a move down under to further pursue your teaching career to warmer climates then get in touch with Smart Teachers for friendly support and advice on the processes you may need to complete. Utilising the support of a recruitment agent such as Smart Teachers can offer real peace of mind when looking at a big move.

For more information get in touch with Smart Teachers at smartteachers.co.uk