If you’re preparing to apply for a role with ECMS, there’s more to consider than just your resume.
Working with us in early learning is more than just a job, it’s a commitment, and a rewarding one. At ECMS, we celebrate the diverse lives of our team and encourage you to embrace your authentic self at work. So, when reviewing your application, we’ll be looking for two things. Naturally we’ll want to know about your experience and skills, but we’ll also be looking for something deeper: can you show us who you really are, and what is your purpose – why you really want to work in early years?
Who are you, and why are you here?
Whether you’re starting out your career or bringing with you a wealth of experience, the most valuable information you can provide us isn’t in your resume. It’s about you, why you want to work in early learning, and why you want to work with us. If you think deeply about this, deeper than “I like children” or “I’ve always loved baby-sitting”, it will really help you answer all the other questions in your interview.
Why do you really want to work in early years? Here's some thought-starters to help you define your passions and motivation:
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Think back to when you first applied for your qualification. Why did you apply?
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What are your strengths? What are your passions? How do they lend themselves to this sector? Some strengths may at first inspection seem irrelevant, but when you’re in the business of building curious minds and wholehearted people, most things are relevant. Part time opera singer? We love singing voices! Passion for cooking? Guess what – great learning experiences can stem from this!
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What brings you joy when you’re engaging with children? What do you value in a child’s early experiences? Why do you love your work?
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When you review your pedagogical philosophy, what is really important to you?
Why is this so important?
Work really is about more than work. We want to consider not just your resume and how well you interview. At ECMS we’re all about the whole person. Throughout the thousands of interviews we’ve conducted, the stand-out candidates have been the ones showing us real passion and a connection to their reason for being here - to why they want to work in early years and why they want to work with ECMS. They knew they wanted to be teacher or educator and they knew why. And that ‘why’ influenced not only how they answered almost every question but it demonstrated what unique flavour they bring to the role.
Once you’ve thought deeply about who you are and why you’re here, you’re ready to present yourself well as a candidate. Now it’s time to brush up on your basic application skills.
Some basic tips for your application
Before your application think about how to best demonstrate your experience and skills - show us you’re the right candidate for the position. You might not have much experience of applying for roles, so how do you prepare? Before you apply for a position with us, here’s some things that will increase your chance of success:
Build relationships
During your placements it's important to get to know the people you work with and for. These might be your potential hiring managers or referees.
Location matters
Some areas will be slightly more competitive than others, so that might influence how wide you want to cast the net.
Consider the size of the service
Are you interested in going to a large service or small service? There’s pros and cons to both. For example, a small service has many benefits, but sometimes may not have access to as many supports for a beginning teacher.
Build your repertoire of experience
Reflect on your experience: what has your journey been? What have you learnt? How do you do things differently now and why? Think of practice examples.
Find the right role for you
Consider all the elements above, along with your knowledge and experience. What is your experience and knowledge of the EYLF? What about the NQS? How confident are you in child safe practices and reporting requirements? Every role has essential knowledge, skills and abilities tied to it. Review the selection criteria and position description. Are you a good fit for this role? Do the needs of the service align with what you would bring to it?
So now you’ve found the ideal role to apply for, think about the recruitment process itself. There’s plenty of available resources online to help you with the basic principles of a job interview. Here’s a few general pointers:
Resume and cover letter
Find the name of the person you’re applying to. Structure your letter effectively. Tailor your letter to the role, don’t just copy/paste. In your resume, incorporate keywords from the job posting and include only relevant information.
Phone screening
At ECMS we’ll often ask for an informal 5-10 min phone chat with shortlisted applicants – and if you’re not in the best space to have that conversation, it’s important to be able to say “now’s not a good time, can we reschedule?”
Think about place
What is it about this community that draws you in to wanting to teach here? Before applying, build your knowledge about what matters in the physical, social and cultural context of this service and community.
The interview
Research potential interview questions and prepare answers with relevant examples from your work. Make sure you present professionally and engage your interviewers with appropriate eye-contact and enthusiasm.
Reference checks
Choose appropriate referees, at least two who have supervised or managed you (these can be teachers or mentors for new graduates) who can talk about your skills and experience that are relevant to this role. Make sure your referees are prepared and when the time comes, give them the heads-up that they will be contacted. Keep in mind that we’ll only ask you for references once you have been shortlisted for the role – so you don’t need to disclose your intentions to your referees before you’re ready!
These are all ways to help you present yourself well in your interview. But what really counts is a strong understanding of yourself and what ultimately inspires you about working in early years. Think carefully and we wish you good luck!
A full list of current vacancies can be found at the ECMS Careers site – we'd love to hear from you!
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