M_and_M

Oh dear.

What a mess. Who knows what my solution is, but one thing I know, if I stay where I am i will crack up.

Tom1983

Would you consider home tutoring??? I don't know whether that works or not out here

As choccie says though, if it means moving elsewhere - Do not come to Christchurch! There's going to be plenty of teachers you'll be fighting against once Peraltas merging is all complete

MOSO

Yes, I sent her a potential contact by PM, didn't hear anything back though.

Here's a list of special needs schools in NZ, of course there's only one in Invercargill. http://clickspecialednz.com/special-...s-information/

As Choccie says there are lots and lots and lots of NZ trained and experienced teachers who can't find work at the moment despite doing all the right things: volunteering, visiting schools, relieving etc. As you know teaching has been off the immigration list for a while now.

M&M could also investigate becoming an RTLB teacher (Resource Teacher, Learning & Behaviour).

Further specific NZ studies could also be an advantage In the Employment guidelines it states: What skills should schools look for when employing a specialist teacher? Specialist teachers should have the
skills and expertise to work with students with special education
needs, or be prepared to undertake professional development in
relevant special education topics such as adapting teaching and
learning strategies within The New Zealand Curriculum and Te Marautanga o Aotearoa. There is a specific NZ postgrad qualification Postgraduate Diploma in Specialist Teaching:Complex Educational Needs Massey University and the University of Canterbury both offer a Postgraduate Diploma in Specialist Teaching: Complex Educational Needs. The Ministry offers a Complex Needs Study Award to support teachers or advisors who work with students with complex education needs and would like to gain this
postgraduate qualification.


No easy answers in the current climate, and I'm sure M&M's current job would be snapped up if she left!

BEVS

Hopefully she will see this here and think to check her messages.



This will not help at all but you have a cyber hug from me. Hate to read you having such a rotten time of it.

pippalonghorn

I'll donate a big hub too.

j19fmm

Oh dear that is a horrible situation to be in, I really feel for you. I'm sorry I can't remember if you are secondary or primary?

M_and_M

Thanks guys. I didn't get a PM? I'm secondary trained but special needs teachers are still on the visa shortage list. Trouble is since there's only one special needs school in each are I have to either change types of schools of completely relocate. Again :-(

MOSO

I'll try and PM again, but yes it would involve relocating. There are very few options for specific jobs without relocating from Invercargill.

There is also an advert in our local paper (Kapiti Observer, p59, which I think is online) this week for 'course organisers' who run 3-day courses all over the country for teams who support students with autism.

For a position description and more information it says to contact [email protected]

BEVS

There are a couple of M and M's knocking around.

Tom1983

Baggsy the chocolate peanut ones

M_and_M

.?

BEVS

There is you & there is at least another without the underscoring

M_and_M

Ah yeah. I notice that when I tried to create the name at the start!

M_and_M

I have an interview! Some 30 applications later, but never mind.

It's on Monday lunchtime.

Any tips for kiwi interviews? I'm bricking it!

Purrball

Great news.


Thorough interview preparation reduces or elimates nerves, which will help you be far more relaxed and perform better. Don't see it as an interview, but see it as a meeting and a conversation which you need to prepare for so that you can be on the top of your game.

Although these could apply to almost any role, do as much of these things within the time you have:

1. Find out as much about the school and position as you can. Find out if there are any planned developments in the school programme or curriculum that may impact on your role. They may not come out and directly ask you why you want to work there, but at the very least, that subtext will be there. Have a short, but detailed answer ready for this topic. Enthusiasm for the role will go a long way towards making up for any weaknesses.

2. Everything you know about the role and what they're looking for, have a preprepared example ready for things you suspect they're going to grill you about, especially anything on your CV, which you should know like the back of your hand. Your CV is why they choose you, they'll have it in front of them. Be prepared to talk about and expand on any quantifiable achievements and results. Have a good think about the top ten or so specific qualities they're looking for in a person with this specific role and have examples from your own background and career that mesh with these.

3. Tell us about yourself. Often asked as an icebreaker. Don't waffle on about your personal life, but maybe start with why you went into teaching in the first place and then draw on one or two things from your career that demonstrate why you're a good fit for this specific position and this specific school. Also be prepared for any questions about any relevance that your UK and recent experience will have for this role and above all, show that you love it over here in New Zealand and what you like about the Kiwi education system.

4. Do some rehearsal if you can, asking a friend or partner. Make it as much of a mock interview as possible.

5. When it comes to explaining why you want to leave your current position, don't be negative. Don't focus on the downsides. Looking for new challenges or anything about the position that you're applying for that you can show an interest in will demonstrate that you're motivated for this role. If they ask you where you see yourself in five years time, always say with this school, perhaps having developed an aspect of the role.

6. Have an answer or two or three prepared for any question that they may ask about how you handled a difficult situation, especially if it demonstrates trust, responsibilty, iniative always finishing with a positive outcome.

7. Weaknesses or concerns. There are always areas of concerns or weaknesses. Try and look at your CV and experience in terms of the role and where you think they might probe you. If they ask you if you have any weaknesses, always demonstrate that you're working on overcoming them.

8. Any questions? They'll probably ask you if you have any questions. After you've done your research, prepare a couple, but never about salary or terms and conditions. Ask about school activities, ask about an area where you think you can contribute outside of the formal role description, perhaps about school trips, clubs, sports etc. Ask them perhaps what they enjoy about teaching there.

After the interview, I always make notes on the questions they asked, so that if I'm unsuccessful, I can prepare better for next time.

p.s. I try to find out the contact details and always send individual thank you notes or emails after an interview, within 24 hours, to the specific people that interviewed me, thanking them for their time. Not only those it show courtesy, it also serves two other important purposes: one, to keep you in their minds, and two, to provide a final opportunity, keeping it brief, to cover in one or two sentences, specifically what you would bring to this role or to make a better stab at addressing any concerns that might have cropped up and where you could have felt you could have answered better.

Knock 'em dead.