I've been teaching for five years, but I clearly remember the
summer I spent looking for a job. First, good for you for
making your job search a full time job. It needs to be.
Although I didn't, a friend of mine sent thank you notes after
her interviews. It didn't get her a job, but it left a good
"taste" in the mouths of administration. In the note she
thanked the person and mentioned a few key points from the
interview.
A lot of schools frown on the follow-up call. In fact, I've
seen postings that say, "no calls please." If you call that
would probably look like pestering and could hurt your
chances. Trust me, if they like you they will not forget you!
I didn't get the interview that lead to my job until the first
week of August. Principals need to fill positions and a lot
of times they don't get serious about it until the end of the
summer. With extended leaves, job transfers, etc, principals
don't always know what they will really have open until later
in the summer.
I'll leave you with this - it may put a smile on your face. I
knew a girl who wanted to teach in the town in which she lived
and student taught. Sometime after her interview, the girl
saw the superintendent's wife jogging in her neighborhood.
She flagged the woman down and asked if her husband had made
any decisions about the position yet. Can you believe it?! I
would NOT recommend her tactic, even though she eventually did
get hired in the district.
On 6/17/09, Hopeful Educator wrote:
> As I have been searching, applying, and burrying myself in
> the application process I have realized that it is going to
> take more than just submitting my resume to get an
> interview, let alone, a job. Since this is my first time
> applying for positions as an educator (I graduate in July),
> I am not sure of the proper/ right way to go about
> contacting employers, following up, etc. without being
> overbearing or annoying. As the 09-10 school year is
> rapidly approaching, I am becoming more and more nervous
> every day that I may not have my first classroom come fall.
> I pose the question....How much is too much. Where is the
> line between persistance and annoyance?
>
> Hopeful Educator
