I Got Hired: Merseyside Schools Manager

Posted on: 2 February 2023 by Richard Finch in Graduate stories

Oscar Feeney is a class of 2021 BA History and French graduate from The University of Liverpool who is now the Merseyside Schools Manager for The Tutor Trust.

Please tell us a little about yourself

Originally from Preston, Lancashire, I studied History and French at the University of Liverpool from 2017 to 2021. I enjoyed my course and loved the city. Whilst a student, I did a variety of part-time jobs. The one that stands out, though, is my time as a Secondary Maths Tutor with Tutor Trust. Almost five years since first joining as a tutor, I am still at the organisation, now as Merseyside Schools Manager.

Can you tell us more about your current role and what you enjoy most about it?

Tutor Trust is a social mobility charity which pays university students to provide small-group tuition to pupils in primary and secondary schools who otherwise wouldn't have such an opportunity.

In my role as Merseyside Schools Manager, which is an operational role, I oversee all tuition that takes place in Merseyside through two coordinators who I line manage. This means I regularly meet with school staff who are interested in our services and pitch to them our offer, ensure all tuition programmes are running well, maintain and sustain relationships with stakeholders, and support my two direct reports to both fulfil their role and to continue to grow and develop professionally.

One aspect I particularly enjoy is successfully converting an initial pitch to a school into a current tuition programme, which is easier said than done!

How did you find out about the opportunity and what made it appeal to you?

I was one of the very first Tutor Trust tutors in Merseyside. I found out about the charity through an email from the University's fantastic Careers and Employability team.

I had already done some paid tuition work whilst at college, the idea of using my skills and knowledge to help less advantaged pupils in my new university city appealed to me, and I also wanted to get paid! It ticked all the boxes for me, so I knew I had to apply to become a tutor.

Having tutored with Tutor Trust from first year through to graduation, I saw they were advertising for number of full-time positions. I duly applied and, 18 months later, have progressed and developed professionally within the organisation I first joined as a first year undergraduate.

What was the application & recruitment process like?

The application and recruitment process for my first full-time role after graduating was quite straightforward. The first stage was a written application which included a CV, letter of motivation, and written questions. Next, I was invited to an online interview which included some standard set questions and a 5-minute presentation. I don't remember any of the interview questions being particularly surprising, so any prepared candidate could have answered them. The 5-minute presentation also went well because I had rehearsed it so much; I think I finished it in 4 minutes and 58 seconds - perfect!

Of course, the fact that the panel knew I had been a tutor with them for several years didn't harm my chances. I would say, though, that the skills I gained from my time tutoring were as, or more, important. Excellent preparation but the flexibility to think on your feet, ability to quickly build a rapport with strangers, showing confidence even when you maybe don't feel it internally, communicating clearly - these are all skills that I gained as a tutor and that helped during the interview.

Did you get involved in any Careers & Employability activities whilst at university? If so, how did they help you secure the role?

I would not have my current role but for that initial email I received from the Careers & Employability service about Tutor Trust!

What advice would you give to students currently looking to secure a role like this?

The more opportunities you seize, the more that open up to you: gain a range of professional experience that you can talk or write about in the application process; seek support and advice from the Careers & Employability team and others in preparing for the application process; be willing to persevere. If you're reading this, you're probably already a step ahead of your peers - you'll do great.