Not Another 'GETTING SUBWORK' Post

I've spent my first year out of college subbing. I had the opportunity to work in seventeen different schools, sixteen of them in Dublin. I've worked in DEIS Schools, Educate Together Schools, Private Schools and an Autism Unit. If I could go back in time to August 2014 and if someone offered me a job for the 2014/2015 school year, I could have whatever class I wanted, in whatever type of school I wanted and get my DIP done, I would say NO THANK YOU!!! I can't put into words how much I've loved this past year and how much experience I've gained throughout the year. I've grown in so many ways, my confidence in myself and my ability to teach, I've learned so much about classroom management, planning a day, classroom organisation and how to interact with children from going into different schools and I've learned so much about myself.

The first thing every substitute teacher should do is sign up for TextaSub. I remember the very first day the schools opened in August, principals were looking for subs, so sign up the night before schools re open for the 2015/2016 year! For anyone who hasn't heard of this it's a service run by the IPPN. You must have a mobile phone number(obviously) and be registered with the Teaching Council. When you sign up you can choose two counties to get TextaSub updates for. Your subscription lasts for seven days and you must renew before your subscription runs out or you'll have to sign up again. I normally just subscribed to Dublin but if I had had a driving license at the time I would have signed up for Wicklow or Kildare as well (i.e a surrounding county).

That sort of leads me onto my next point.




 I spent the year without a car, and it wasn't easy. I was very lucky that I had a certain number of schools in my locality that I worked in and were within walking distance. If I am subbing next year, I will have my car in Dublin with me. If you don't have a car get the Hailo App! NOW!! I spent over three hundred euros on taxis this year, just getting me to my schools in the mornings. It's expensive and worth having a car and SatNav. 

Once you have that all done, it's time to get out and go from school to school with your C.V. I went to schools in the second and third weeks of September. A lot of principals told me that they just call subs on a first come basis. If your CV is the first one in, then they'll call you first. I would recommend giving schools a week to get themselves organised. Make sure you have a planned route of where you are going to go.

School Days is a great website for giving you a list of all the schools in your area. Don't call into a school first thing in the morning, leave an hour at either end of the day - if a school opens at 08:30, go in after 09:30, if a school closes at 14:30, don't go in after 13:30/13:45. Also in the run up to break and lunch, this is more for your sake. You can't be guaranteed you'll ever call into a school at a 'good time', but you're giving yourself the best opportunities to meet with the principal and have time for a brief 'chat' if you avoid calling in at these times.

How to Dress?

                   

When going around with C.Vs, it's important to dress professionally. You also have to be realistic and wear something comfortable as you might be doing a lot of walking or driving.

I love heels but I wore pumps when I was going from school to school. I like to wear dresses so I wore smart dresses when going from school to school. Wear something that makes you look smart but also feel like yourself. Making a good impression is difficult if you feel and look uncomfortable. It's important for both  male and female teachers  to look professional but also remember you're not going for interview. Look neat and tidy, feel comfortable and act approachable and friendly. You only get a few minutes, maximum, of a principals time, if you're extremely lucky. As long as you look smart, they won't remember your outfit!!

CURRICULUM VITAE

In each envelope I had a C.V, Cover Letter and a business card attached with a paper clip. I made mine as I wanted them to look a certain way, but Vista Print do great deals on business cards, so if you aren't overly creative or just don't have time I'd recommend ordering some. Just make sure you give yourself enough time as they need to be printed and posted out to you and may take a couple of weeks. They print 100 standard business cards for Euro4.99.
Here is a sample of a business card. Make sure to include:

• Your name
• That you're a Substitute Teacher
• Mobile Number
• Email Address
• Teaching Council Number (I put mine under my name on both my business card and CV.)

TIPS

Here are some tips I picked up from handing in my C.V

• DO NOT be timid or shy. I dreaded the thoughts of going from school to school with C.Vs from the beginning of my final year! It turned out to be fine! Sometimes you're not greeted with the friendliest secretary, but that's ok! They might just be having a bad day. Do not let it get to you. Most principals and secretaries are so nice and encouraging, you'll end up walking out of most schools with a spring in your step.
• DO be respectful to the secretaries. They're important. In some schools they're in charge of organising the subs. Make a good impression on the secretaries because they are the barrier between you and the principal meeting!
• DO NOT assume that you will get to meet every principal. You won't. If at all possible try to meet with the principals but sometimes a secretary will take your C.V without letting you step foot into the school! (It happened to me! Safe to say I never got a call from that school!)
• DO ask to see the principal but ask nicely! In every school I went into I said something like this (in the friendliest and most sincere way I could):

"Hi, my name is Aisling. I'm just wondering if it would be possible to give my C.V to the principal in regards to substitute work."

As you can see I'm asking to give my CV to the principal but I'm not obnoxiously asking can I talk to him/her. Secretaries are used to people calling in. They more than likely have a system of who gets to meet with the principal. It's still better to make it known you'd like the principal to get the C.V instead of something like this:

"I'd like to hand in my C.V for substitute work."

This gives the secretary the option to just take the C.V. It's worth subtly asking for the principal!


Being a substitute teacher is hard work. It's okay to be tired every time the weekend comes around as you're constantly on edge, wondering where you'll be tomorrow, if anywhere. Going into different schools, different staffrooms isn't easy. Having junior infants one day then sixth class another is confusing.

Remember that a lot of principals and teachers were in the same position as you are now. You'll find a lot of principals and teachers feel empathy towards you and are very encouraging. Being a substitute teacher is very rewarding. Of course it would be wonderful to have your own class, use this opportunity to learn as much as you can, all the experience will eventually stand to you and you will be grateful for the time you spent as a substitute teacher!

Good Luck and enjoy!!
Aisling ♥