Substitute teachers choose to sign up to a supply teaching agency for a multitude of reasons, ranging from convenience to career progression. While enlisting the support of an agency is not essential to pursue this career path, it’s a helpful step to take and provides many advantages over job hunting on your own. Here are some of the key things to know about choosing a reputable supply teaching agency and the benefits this can offer.
- Take the stress out of job hunting. A supply teaching agency will keep you in the loop about new positions, support you through the recruitment process and submit documentation on your behalf. In short, working with an agency can make job hunting a more simple and streamlined process.
- Find out about new positions first. Recruitment consultants will have their fingers on the pulse when it comes to new roles, and they will want the best teachers to fill them.
- Work with the agencies that schools trust. Schools and educational institutions will trust and build relationships with the most reputable agencies in the marketplace. When you prioritise finding a high calibre agency, they are more likely to offer a range of positions in leading schools.
- You can sell yourself. Dedicated, reputable supply teaching agencies will have knowledgeable and well-trained staff who know what they are looking for. They will understand your qualifications and career experience, so you have an excellent opportunity to sell yourself. In turn, your consultant can accurately communicate this information to hiring managers to recruit the right person for the right job.
- Going it alone as a supply teacher can be difficult and should not be underestimated. It can be a rewarding but challenging career path at times that involves change, hard work and building new relationships with school senior leaders, teachers, and of course pupils. A supply teaching agency has seen it all before and can support you through every career move you make. Your consultant will be able to assist you with specific advice about your current position, as well as helping you think about your career longer term.
- Local knowledge. Supply teaching is different to any other type of teaching so it pays to work with an experienced, trustworthy agency. Even if you know the area and have knowledge of the schools, agencies will have direct experience of multiple roles, hiring managers, recruitment processes and much more.
So how can you be sure that the agency you are working with is reputable?
- Check their website
- Learn some more about them. Who runs the agency? What experience do they have?
- Take a look at their reviews and see what other supply teachers have said
- Can you find out about the schools they work with? You can ask more detailed questions like this during an initial consultation with a recruitment consultant
Learn more about working with a reputable supply teaching agency. Contact us, register for work or search our current jobs.