1. GETTING YOUR FIRST POST Alexis Taylor, Julia Lawrence and Susan Capel From: Learning to Teach in the Secondary School 5th edition, Routledge © 2009 UNIT 8.1

2. At the end of this unit you should be able to: articulate why you want to enter the teaching profession follow the procedure for, and process of, applying for your first teaching post make a written application which is received favourably prepare for an interview for a teaching post. From: Learning to Teach in the Secondary School 5th edition, Routledge © 2009 OBJECTIVES

3. BEFORE YOU APPLY Consider why you want to enter the teaching profession Deciding where you want to teach Looking for suitable vacancies Selecting a post which interests you and sending for further details From: Learning to Teach in the Secondary School 5th edition, Routledge © 2009

4. APPLYING FOR A POST Making an application Referees Methods of application –Letter of application –An application form CV Notes about applications From: Learning to Teach in the Secondary School 5th edition, Routledge © 2009

5. THE INTERVIEW AND AFTER Preparing for the interview Attending the interview –Teaching a lesson as part of the interview –The interview process –Possible interview questions Your commitment to teaching Your knowledge and understanding of your subject and subject application Your views about education, philosophy of education and educational ideas Your ability to cope as a teacher Other roles you may be asked to undertake Your future development as a teacher Other interests, activities etc. Other questions Accepting a post If you are not offered the post From: Learning to Teach in the Secondary School 5th edition, Routledge © 2009

6. To explore this material further, read: Taylor, A., Lawrence, J. and Capel, S. (2009) ‘Getting your first post’, in S. Capel, M. Leask and T. Turner (eds) Learning to Teach in the Secondary School: A Companion to School Experience, 5th edn, London: Routledge. From: Learning to Teach in the Secondary School 5th edition, Routledge © 2009 FURTHER INFORMATION

7. Hammond, M. (2002) ‘Why Teach? A case study investigating the decision to train to teach ICT’, Journal of Education for Teaching 28, 2, 135–148. Priyadharshini, E. and Robinson-Pant, A. (2003) ‘The attractions of teaching: an investigation into why people change careers to teach’, Journal of Education for Teaching 29 (2), 95–112. From: Learning to Teach in the Secondary School 5th edition, Routledge © 2009 FURTHER READING