Are you in a job that no longer excites you? Do you feel like you're not learning or earning as much as you could? In schools, career advancement opportunities are often limited, so it might be time to create your own promotion.
Here are my suggestions for setting yourself up for promotion.
First, consider the reasons you want a promotion, as this will guide your next steps. While there are numerous reasons someone might seek a promotion, I have distilled them into these three primary motivators.
Pursue a passion project: start a club or student group, or join a professional organisation
Upskill in a new subject area or leadership technique, then apply it at work
Collaborate with someone outside your school: look for grants or action research opportunities, start a moderation network
Take opportunities that give you time-in-lieu or additional pay, such as attending camp, hosting a student teacher or being a registered first aider
Look for partnerships or paid roles parallel to your day job: school council, exam invigilation or marking
Start a side-hustle: bake cakes and sell them, do gardening or handywork for cash
Talk to people doing the job you want and ask them to mentor you
Shadow school leaders or work with them on projects or committees
Look for ways to improve processes or systems at a school-wide level, then formalise it in your title
Join interview panels whenever you get the chance
These recommendations might serve multiple purposes, like providing a challenge and helping you earn some extra money. You can attempt several at once or shift between different motivations. Getting a promotion takes patience, resilience and energy, which can be hard to muster after a busy week at school. Be realistic about what you can do and how quickly change will come.
Next, think about where you want to work and how you could implement the option(s) you've chosen. Do you need the help of a colleague or your boss? Is there room and receptiveness for new ideas at your current school? Perhaps now is the time to update your CV and explore opportunities with other employers.
Then, articulate your timeline. Where do you want to be in 12 months, in 2 years, and in 5 years? This isn't necessarily a roadmap, but understanding how much time and effort you wish to dedicate to your promotion can be beneficial.
Finally, leverage the new experiences, skills and knowledge you've gained in your CV, cover letter and key selection criteria. Think about how to tell your story and convince others you are ready to take a step up.
Book an online appointment to have a personalised conversation about your career and where you want to take it.
Further reading:
