reference advice needed!

sarahlou · #1 (**permalink**) 25-09-2009, 02:10 PM

hey all, I'm currently doing supply, been at it for 2 & a half years now & to be honest, I'm getting pretty fed-up with it. (for many reasons I won't go into right now!) I keep seeing some lovely sounding permananent/long-term jobs come up that aren't through my agency but always put off applying for them. the main reason being I only really have 1 person as a referee, and that's 1 of my agency advisors. I did long-term supply for a term Spring 08 but didn't get on massively well with the head, so don't think it's worth asking him. I also did a term's NQT cover Autumn 08, but again don't think the head would be worth approaching for a reference. (Aside from him dropping the cack on me by giving me 2 days notice that I was "no longer needed" for NQT cover, he's also not a big fan of supply teachers.) Sooooo, my questions are these:
1) is it worth applying for a job with just one reference or is it likely to automatically go into the 'reject' pile with only one reference listed?
2) would 2 referees from the same agency (as I've had 2 different advisors recently) be worthwhile?
3) would a reference from someone who's not a member of senior management be worthwhile? (I have a number of options here from a girl I knew at uni who I've worked with several times this past year & also know personally,to a teacher I worked with my NQT year[04-05])
4) what sorts of references from outside of teaching/the education system would be acceptable? (when I got into supply I had a manager from Royal Mail as a reference as I worked there for 5 months before getting back into supply, although I'm no longer in contact with him.)

Ok, so my head hurts now, I need chocolate!!!

NuttySupplier · #2 (**permalink**) 25-09-2009, 02:38 PM

Hello!

Quote:

Originally Posted by sarahlou
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1) is it worth applying for a job with just one reference or is it likely to automatically go into the 'reject' pile with only one reference listed?

I think they want to see two listed... there's space for two on most forms...

2) would 2 referees from the same agency (as I've had 2 different advisors recently) be worthwhile?

Probably, I don't see why not... except, I assume they haven't seen you teach? They get feedback from the schools, and would write a reference from that... would they end up writing the same one as they've seen the same feedback? Sorry, never worked with an agency!

3) would a reference from someone who's not a member of senior management be worthwhile? (I have a number of options here from a girl I knew at uni who I've worked with several times this past year & also know personally,to a teacher I worked with my NQT year[04-05])

Only as a second reference, I wouldn't chance it though...

4) what sorts of references from outside of teaching/the edu
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ion system would be acceptable?

Personal referees such as your solicitor and vicar/man of the cloth or other 'professional' (think along the lines of who would be allowed to sign your passport
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graph.)

Here's the
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you deserve!!
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sarahlou · #3 (**permalink**) 25-09-2009, 06:04 PM

thanks Nutty!

that was what I thought really, that they'd want 2 references, urg! might have to see what my advisor says really.

my advisors haven't seen me teach nope, one was in the classroom at one of my first supply placements for about 10 minutes- he was in visiting the school & popped in to check on me. But I was in a reception/F2 class & was sat with a group when he came in. they will have had some feedback from schools, but I'm not 100% sure how limited/detailed that would be.

and that's pretty much what I thought about a reference from a non-senior management teacher. the only person I know who's senior management really is someone from my NQT year, and I'm not sure how valid a school would find her reference with me not having worked with her for 4 years.

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ly I have no solicitor (have no need of one, touch wood!) & I'm not religious. hmmm, maybe I need to look into volunteering at a Brownie/Rainbows pack for an extra reference!!

Halina · #4 (**permalink**) 02-11-2010, 01:33 PM

[FONT='Verdana','sans-serif']Hello,[/font]
[FONT='Verdana','sans-serif'] [/font]
[FONT='Verdana','sans-serif'] I am having a similar problem! I have just qualified this year and have not managed to find a teaching post, I am part of one agency that gives me VERY little work so I find myself applying applying applying...but nothing! I haven’t even got an interview which makes me believe there must be something I'm doing wrong! As I have had not much experience other than placements my only references are my long term placement class teacher and I have also been using my previous part time job manager as a reference. Could this be why I am not getting the chance to have an interview? I have a strong personnel statement so I would have thought that would count for something!? I have applied for so many too! help!?[/font]

janeb · #5 (**permalink**) 02-11-2010, 02:52 PM

Poor you, Halina.
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Jobs are hard to come by so maybe the perfect job hasn't come up for you yet - keep trying.
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Could you ask the head at your last placement (or a head at a school where you work for supply) to have a look through your personal statement/appliaction form and give you some pointers/reassurance?

Halina · #6 (**permalink**) 02-11-2010, 04:21 PM

[FONT='Verdana','sans-serif']Hello![/font]
[FONT='Verdana','sans-serif'] [/font]
[FONT='Verdana','sans-serif']Yes I've just been doing that today so hopefully something might change
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I have also rung my local priest to ask if I could use him as a reference and he has said yes. Fingers crossed anyway, it’s just a bit soul destroying after wor
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and trying so hard! Thanks again.[/font]

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