Interview with Lucie Daluiso - divisional managing director for further education at Reed
Part 2 of our series with Lucie.
We hear a lot about having a ‘philosophy’ in sports, particularly in football management, but you should consider your teaching philosophy when applying for a job in further education (FE), says Lucie Daluiso, Divisional Managing Director for Further Education at Reed. “Employers may ask about your teaching philosophy to determine whether your teaching methods and style are in line with those of the school.”
This question will be harder if you do not possess teaching experience in your locker, admittedly, but it is something you should think about nonetheless. “If you’re from industry and don’t have teaching qualifications as of yet, thinking about how you may approach this this question in advance can help you feel more confident and deliver a clear, well-crafted response,” Lucie explains. She adds: “You may not be asked it if they know you need the relevant teaching qualification, but having an idea of how you will approach students will help employers understand your enthusiasm and approach.”
However, transferrable skills are always desirable for employers and experience of “training team members” and/or mentoring apprentices can be forgotten strings to a candidate without teaching experience’s bow. These skills transfer very effectively to the classroom and should be mentioned in an interview.
As ever, preparation is key to feeling you can react to any eventuality. One crucial area where candidates can get ahead of the competition is by fully getting to grips with and understanding the job description as there is no better indication of what an FE institution is looking for in a teacher. “Candidates can often just review a job description and don’t always think about how some of the essential and desirable skills could form some of the cover letter in terms of expressing how they meet these skills,” Lucie says.
In addition to the job description, research of the college and their ethos, is important. Think about how your philosophy fits into the overarching ideology of the FE institution itself. As Lucie says: “It’s important to research the institution you're interviewing for. For instance, some colleges may maintain a more traditional approach to teaching, but others may be more inclined to try new, more student-centred approaches, so you want to make sure that you’re not only a good fit but are able to express why.”
Remember, there is no such thing as over-preparing for the application or interview. You should always “learn about the college’s teaching philosophy, approach to education and the expectations for parents' and guardians' involvement,” according to Lucie. “Check its website, to learn about what they offer students; you can always contact teachers or faculty members to ask questions, too.”
Ofsted reports are a good place to start to get an objective overview of the FE institution in question. As Lucie says: “It will list important information such as, key information about the provider, areas the college should focus on to improve further, and the current quality of teaching, learning and assessment — this can be a great start to what you would be able to contribute with your skills and experience.”
Research will always stand you in the best stead when going for an FE teaching job. “If you’ve done your research, then during the interview you can tailor your answers to align with the college’s mission and demonstrate how your qualifications, skills and ideas make you a suitable candidate for the job.”
Research undertaken by Robert Walters recruitment agency found that “although 39% of hiring managers do not, as a rule, use Facebook and Twitter as part of the recruitment process, 64% say they have viewed a job seeker’s professional social network profile (such as LinkedIn) at some point for this purpose”. With this in mind, candidates should be “wary of what they’ve posted”, Lucie expounds.
Lucie says employers in the FE world are well aware of the social media account of would-be employees and an engaging LinkedIn profile “can help you stand out from other potential candidates”. You should bear in mind that “first impressions count – even online, so ensuring your professional online social media is in line with your experience is vital.”
AoCJobs, part of the Association of Colleges, connects teachers and support staff with schools and colleges for online job opportunities.
