Recruitment in international schools can be an interesting experience.
Applications and emails come through from a range of teachers from all over the globe, sometimes numbering more than 200 for a single role.
As a candidate, you can find yourself up against some excellent competition. However, many applicants fail to put themselves across well because of some very basic and, at times, humorous mistakes.
Using an email address more befitting a teenage boy’s old MSN username (yes, I am that old) doesn’t set quite the right tone. Neither does using a topless photo as your email profile picture.
These are a few of some very basic mistakes applicants make when applying for jobs and it can sometimes come down to an instant rejection if the basics are not covered. It’s a harsh reality but one that applicants should consider.
Teacher cover letter: how to stand out
Having led the recruitment process in an international school setting, I have picked up a few tips along the way to make sure your letters of application stand out when applying for positions.
1. Read the small print
Read the job advert and any supplementary information carefully. How have you been asked to apply and what is the school looking for? Your letter must be tailored to those requirements, otherwise it becomes just another letter of application in a long pile.
2. Know who you’re speaking to
Who are you addressing with the application? Unless otherwise stated, it would always be the principal/headteacher of that school. And here’s the biggest tip relating to this...gender specified letters of application that wrongly assume that person is a sir will ensure a very quick rejection.
3. Look professional
Check that your personal email address and the profile picture attached are appropriate. Without saying too much on the matter, your email address details should be appropriate for a professional context. Likewise, the number of applicants who send in an email not realising that their profile picture is more suited to a dating app would surprise you.
4. Triple check everything
Check the grammar and punctuation for your CV and letter. You are making a first impression and while an error may sometimes be overlooked, if very minor, consider your competition. If you struggle in this area, get someone to read over it.
5. Go the extra mile on personalisation
Whatever you do, do not forget to read up on the school and personalise your letter to suit this. Consider its mission statements as a bare minimum. Some candidates who really stand out are going further these days. They will go into our social media channels and find out what we have been up to as a school. I had one candidate refer to an article I had published recently on LinkedIn. It’s impressive because it shows that the candidate is doing the background reading and is invested in the opportunity.
Far too many applications are clearly generic, or cut and pasted from another school application. For the record, if you are doing this, make sure you remove all reference to the other school.
6. Back up your buzzwords
Remember that your letter and CV are the script you will refer back to in your interview. It may get you an interview but be sure that it will be referenced, so make sure it’s truthful.
Education buzzwords and recent trends are great but remember that school leaders will likely be well read on the subject, so if you reference particular writer or theory in your letter, they ask you to elaborate in your interview.
Neal Oates is vice-principal of Star International School Mirdif, in Dubai
