Aisha Oxer - Teach First Graduate Programme Case Study
Aisha Oxer, who graduates in 2025 with a degree in Early Childhood Studies, tells us securing a place on the Teach First graduate programme as a Trainee Teacher.
What does your graduate job/graduate scheme involve?
Teach First is a 2-year programme where you receive your PGCE at the end whilst being able to work in a school. The main duties include timetabled teaching time and also home learning to support the PGCE degree.
Why did you decide to apply for a graduate scheme?
I applied for this option as it was fully funded and offered me to be able to work as I am learning. I prefer to have my learning on the job as I think I strive better gaining on job experience.
Three things you like about your job/are looking forward to about your job:
- Aspiring young children to do good in the world/ being able to support them in their early stages and development.
- Working under pressure, I learn a lot quicker and better when I’m faced head on with a situation.
- Gaining experience working in a classroom environment.
What did the application / selection process involve, and how did you prepare for each stage?
The application was in stages that involved many challenges to prepare for. To prepare for each stage I had to do a lot of home learning, making notes and ensuring I knew as much about the company as I could.
What help and support did you access from the Student Futures team?
I was able to talk to them about my options and where I could go after my degree. I knew I wanted to do a SKIT route but was unsure if financially it was something I could go for. Student futures helped me to identify different schemes and companies that I could look into.
What relevant work experience / skills / volunteering / Student Union activities did you use during the selection process?
During the selection process I was able to use the work I did on my university placement as part of my work experience (Team Oasis’s, a children’s charity in Dingle). In addition to this, I worked as a Teaching assistant with Hays on the days I was not in university which really helped me gain a vast amount of experience in different school settings and working with so many different types of people.
What advice would you give to other students to improve their employability?
To improve employability I would definitely recommend gaining as much experience as you can especially in the field of work you would like to go in to. Ensuring you have good work relations with those you work around and managers as this really helps with securing jobs and references. Also, not being afraid to ask questions, reaching out to people already in the Profession or managers and asking them any questions you may have.
Would you do anything differently in terms of your employability if you were a first-year student again?
I wish that I would have looked at where I wanted to be when I finished my degree sooner. I would have been able to gain more experience and would have motivated me a lot more in my first year, as I would have known the direction I wanted to go in.
Any other advice you would give to LJMU students around careers and employability or your own experiences not covered in these questions?
Send employers emails, keep asking questions and find out the information that you need. Ensure you know everything about a company before you go to the interview so you know what you are talking about and that you are fully prepared. You can never be over prepared for an interview that you really want. Even when I was working as a TA with Hays I would ask teachers in the school ideas for my interviews or what things I should definitely include.
Support from the Student Futures team
If you want to talk about potential careers options with your degree, need help finding opportunities or want support with your CV, application forms or preparing for an interview, you can get advice and guidance by booking a 30-minute 1-2-1 careers meeting with a Careers and Employability Adviser from the LJMU Student Futures Team. You can also come along to a Careers drop-in or CV Café which take place weekly at the Careers Zones for quick careers queries.
If you are thinking about starting a business, freelancing, pursuing a side-hustle or have an idea that you want to explore further, email the Start-up Hub and a member of the team will be back in touch, or visit the Start-up Hub website.
For help finding part-time, temporary or casual you can fit around your studies, email the Unitemps team or visit their website.