"Inform yourself. Look at the school, check out the website, even drive around the block, because that will give you a feeling of the people who are in the area, the children, how they respond, how they feel about the school.” Jen Veal –

How to structure your application: - Read carefully what your employer wants, - Personal statements should be no longer than two sides of A4, - It should be clear and is easy to read, - Make sure you know enough about the school to personalise your

“Include something about your outside interests but not too much. This will show you to be more of a rounded person – you are not just about all things work.” @literatelady – Senior Lecturer in Education at Plymouth Marjon University

Writing the application: You will want your personal statement to be just that – personal. So, make sure you include information about your ethos, passions and interests and how they will help you when working in the specific school you are

“It's all about convincing them that you've got what they're looking for. It's not just about telling them how wonderful you are in very broad terms.” Steve Hardy - Education Consultant on behalf of @NASUWT, The Teachers Union

Remember to: - Check your application for typos - Address any gaps in your CV - Ask references before giving them - Print off your application - check the formatting - Send it to the correct department or person

Check your online presence. It can be easy to forget when uploading to social media, who can see what you are sharing. If you have low privacy settings, images, videos and even status' you post may appear on Google. https://t.co/srWqPl1PaX

Remember, social media can also work as a positive when job searching. You could link to your LinkedIn profile on your application – this will help employers see who you are in a professional manner. This allows you to build a positive online

“Education remains the third-highest growth area on LinkedIn in terms of new members joining. There are lots of headteachers recruiting via LinkedIn.” Sarah Morrison – Managing Director at @ElementaUK

And relax... Once the application has been sent, try not to focus too much on whether you will get an interview. If you are unsuccessful, it may be worth asking for feedback from the school – politely and professionally.