A Guide to Attracting Candidates
Every child deserves to be taught by an excellent teacher but in today’s market it can be difficult to attract any applicants at all for vacancies, particularly in small schools. You will have to think creatively in order to stand out and appeal to many. Here are some ideas to get started:
1, Look to others for ideas
Take the time to look through other schools advertising on platforms such as the TES. What attracts you and what puts you off?
Ask your staff the same questions and agree on the best ideas to include in your campaign.
2, Quality and Clarity of Messaging
Make sure that the key words from your school vision are included throughout all marketing material and include professional photographs which evidence these.
Carefully edit all information shared, as mistakes in adverts and professional materials will put people off.
Consider using professional services to create your marketing materials. Like everywhere - you get what you pay for and high quality marketing will make you stand out from the crowd and much more appealing.
3, What can you offer?
Why should people choose your school over all others?
What can you offer that is slightly different? Free meals? Close proximity to public transport? Flexible working? PD Mentors? Discounts?
What would appeal most to potential applicants? Ask your staff.
Make this clear in your marketing materials.
4, Use your network
All the stakeholders in your school are invested and interested in you being able to appoint high quality staff so get them involved.
Include testimonials from staff and governors to say why they enjoy working at the school in your information pack and emails.
Create an advert and a deck outlining all the key information about your school and ask stakeholders to share it with teacher friends through their social media channels.
Contact other local schools who are advertising and ask if they would consider recommending your school to any staff they are unable to appoint.
5, Spread your reputation wide
For people to apply to your school, it helps if they have already had a positive interaction with the school and/or its staff.
Spread your positive reputation by offering yourself and any willing staff as writers or speakers for magazines, meetings, conferences, universities, or on podcasts and make sure your school is named and your logo is visible on presentations and handouts.
Consider hosting your own free training for teachers either in person or online to share ideas and resources and become known as a proactive and exciting place to work.
