Curriculum Vitaes, cover letters, selection criteria responses, recruitment online, interviews. That has been my life so far post-University. Instead of feeling wonderfully exciting, it feels rather draining and terribly stressful. I have no idea where I will be next year. I am not sure that's ever happened before. It's daunting and scary and really rather unnatural to be writing and talking myself up all the time. I'm sure many other graduates are feeling the same way right about now so here's a little advice I have been picking up along the way that will help you get through this process of getting a job.
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- Have a hobby that takes your mind off of job hunting. It can be really damaging to be thinking about work all the time so find something to do (reading, playing piano, having a hit of tennis) that takes your mind off things.
- Just keep on applying. Job hunting is a bit of a numbers game, so hang in there and get your CV out to as many schools as you can.
- Research the school before applying. Most schools have a school website, so search for it and read it carefully. The people interviewing you will notice when you mention things like the upcoming 150th anniversary for instance.
- Dress the part. When you do have an interview (and you will!) dress appropriately. Wear a suit of some sort. Do your hair and makeup. Try and look professional. It shows that you care about this job.
- Have someone else proofread your application. This could be a family member, but it is also really good to get someone in a school (preferably someone who has been on an interviewing panel) to have a read through. They're likely to pull you up on things you've missed (I missed behaviour management in one of my applications!).
- Try some breathing exercises. It sounds incredibly silly, but focusing on your breathing, especially on the day of an interview, can really help to calm any nerves you may be feeling.
I hope that this helps! There will be a school somewhere that will love you and really welcome you in to their school and community, it may just be a matter of time. So don't lose hope, stay focused and you will get there.
If you have any tips that you have found along the way, be sure to leave a message in the comments, I'm always looking for more advice!