finding a job
New Zealand teaching jobs are advertised in the Education Gazette. Click here.
Finding your first job after study can be tricky since you lack experience. If you're lucky you might get an offer from one of your teaching placements. This is great because you'll have a head start with knowing how the school works, people's names etc. It reflects well on you that they want to keep you on! If you're in teacher education right now, be aware that each placement is essentially a long job interview and that you might have this chance at the end.
Relief teaching
Most beginning teachers will have a short period of relief work when they first qualify. This can also be an advantage since you get to try out a variety of different teaching levels, you can suss out which schools you'd like to work for, and you can get yourself known in the local community for when a job does come up. Try signing up with a relief agency and/or approaching schools in person with a one-page CV.
New Zealand Relief Teachers
The Staffroom
Oasis Education
Christchurch - Quickhelp
Auckland/Wellington - Education Personnel
Other opportunities
Sometimes an opportunity will come along that's not quite what you wanted e.g. not full time hours. It can be well worth getting a 'foot in the door' if it's a school you'd like to work full time at later on. I personally had a 12-hour per week teacher aide job turn into a full time teacher position.
If you're finding it hard you might also like to try looking for an education related job on TradeMe or Seek e.g. teacher aide, tutor, after school care supervisor, swim teacher.
Responding to a job advert
- Make sure that the advert does not specifically say 'not suitable for beginning teachers'. In this situation the school might not have a suitable mentor teacher, or the job responsibilities are not suitable for a BT.
- Take note of whether applications need to be sent in hard copy or electronically. Sometimes either is acceptable, sometimes the school requests one type.
- Look at what qualities/skills the advert calls for, and tailor your cover letter to include these points where applicable.
Useful links
TeachNZ: Applying for a position
Job Find Assistance program by Education Personnel (Limited space - extra help for newly graduated teachers, and Maori/Te Reo/Pasifika teachers)
Information on writing CVs and cover letters (University of Canterbury)
NZEI Primary teachers' collective agreement - Useful for info on pay, sick leave etc
Novopay
Finding your first job after study can be tricky since you lack experience. If you're lucky you might get an offer from one of your teaching placements. This is great because you'll have a head start with knowing how the school works, people's names etc. It reflects well on you that they want to keep you on! If you're in teacher education right now, be aware that each placement is essentially a long job interview and that you might have this chance at the end.
Relief teaching
Most beginning teachers will have a short period of relief work when they first qualify. This can also be an advantage since you get to try out a variety of different teaching levels, you can suss out which schools you'd like to work for, and you can get yourself known in the local community for when a job does come up. Try signing up with a relief agency and/or approaching schools in person with a one-page CV.
New Zealand Relief Teachers
The Staffroom
Oasis Education
Christchurch - Quickhelp
Auckland/Wellington - Education Personnel
Other opportunities
Sometimes an opportunity will come along that's not quite what you wanted e.g. not full time hours. It can be well worth getting a 'foot in the door' if it's a school you'd like to work full time at later on. I personally had a 12-hour per week teacher aide job turn into a full time teacher position.
If you're finding it hard you might also like to try looking for an education related job on TradeMe or Seek e.g. teacher aide, tutor, after school care supervisor, swim teacher.
Responding to a job advert
- Make sure that the advert does not specifically say 'not suitable for beginning teachers'. In this situation the school might not have a suitable mentor teacher, or the job responsibilities are not suitable for a BT.
- Take note of whether applications need to be sent in hard copy or electronically. Sometimes either is acceptable, sometimes the school requests one type.
- Look at what qualities/skills the advert calls for, and tailor your cover letter to include these points where applicable.
Useful links
TeachNZ: Applying for a position
Job Find Assistance program by Education Personnel (Limited space - extra help for newly graduated teachers, and Maori/Te Reo/Pasifika teachers)
Information on writing CVs and cover letters (University of Canterbury)
NZEI Primary teachers' collective agreement - Useful for info on pay, sick leave etc
Novopay