Supply teachers are often called to the same schools over and over again. What do you need to do in order to be requested for repeat supply cover?

One of the main reasons supply staff are called back is because they use their initiative. Whether it is asking for a school map, or asking if you need to take on a duty cover, schools notice when you take the initiative and ask them things. If you come into school and don’t ask, or keep yourself to yourself, the school will not see what an interesting and thoughtful person you are!

Next, being cheerful goes a very long way – by smiling and saying hello to other teachers and students, you instantly come across as a nice, friendly person who they will want to see again.

Finally, think about the teacher you are covering for – it might be a nice idea to leave a short note for when they return to let them know how the classes went and if there were any other interesting things to note.

The CV or resume is one of the few documents that could make or break your chance at getting an interview for that new job. Alongside the cover letter, the CV is the window into your skills, personality and background which a prospective employer can use to see if you could be a good fit for them.

One major thing to remember with a good CV is to make sure it is no more than 2 pages long, and certainly no less than 1 and a half! Any longer than 2 pages will make your interviewer lose interest, or think that they have been exaggerated.

Employment history should be kept to the last 5 RELEVANT years. If this is the first job since studying, you can list any part time work as “variety of part time jobs through university” or similar. The relevance of past employment will help the new employer see why you would be a useful addition.

Most people go to university expecting it to give them tremendous benefit when looking for a job, but the reality of the situation is rarely so clear cut. It comes down to the subject you’ve taken and where you’ve taken it; how broadly applicable are the skills you’ve learnt? Does the course offer good reviews from business leaders? Are there a lot of jobs pertaining to the specific subject you’ve undertaken? All of these are questions you should ask yourself when looking for a job. Or better yet, you should ask them before you’ve taken your course, as it will give you a more realistic impression of what value you’re getting for the 3-4 years you’ll end up putting into getting you’re degree.

It is important, as a recent graduate, that you manage your expectations: don’t go out expecting to get an amazing job right off the bat, and don’t be condescending to offers for work when they are few and far between.