Re: Application Etiquette (to O.P. this is long)
Posted by Miss J on 6/23/09

Seriously!! Thanks a million!! I am right on track with everything you have mentioned!! I
have everything electronically and a hard copy version ready to send at any time. I look
at everywhere I would teach, everday. I took a break last week becuase I was getting so
discouraged. For some reason I'm not getting calls though...I have wonderful letters of
rec., good grades, etc. I know that I will nail an interview if I could just get one!!
Everyone is telling my to be patient because most teachers are hired last minute. I can
only imagine with the big "E" that it's even more the case now.
Funny...I also have files and a list of all the schools that I applied to with the positions
applied for. I keep telling myself that the right opportunity will come my way. I am
already starting to line up a plan b. Perhaps to early to be doing since I am on the way
to being pretty discouraged. I'm hanging in there, and I truly appreciate all the advice
you've given me!! Helps to know I'm not the only one that had a loooong, rough, heart
renching summer after graduation!! :)

On 6/23/09, NJ/4th wrote:
> When I was looking for teaching position I ate, slept, and
> breathed the job search. I had to. I didn't have any contacts.
> I didn't have any family members in education. I had to make my
> own way. My thirteenth interview was the lucky one, and I've been
> in the same district ever since. Here are five tips, things that
> I did to help me land a job. :o)
>
> 1. Define parameters. I looked at a map and figured out how far
> I'd be willing to travel. I decided an hour was as far as I'd go.
> I ended up applying to districts in five surrounding counties! I
> live in NJ and ruled out all Abbott districts. I would not apply
> to them, regardless of the posting.
>
> 2. Keep organized. I created a coded spreadsheet. (I'm a very
> organized person!) I needed to keep track of where I applied, who
> I contacted, and the results. This kept me focused and helped
> prevent faux pas, such as forgetting the name of someone with whom
> I spoke. I divided my search into three categories: A, B, and C.
> "A" districts were my top picks, high end districts where I would
> LOVE to work. "C" districts were my "it's better than nothing"
> places that I could see myself working in for a year. All other
> districts - the majority - were in my "B" group.
>
> 3. Think input/output. I sent out between 8-10 applications a
> week...EVERY week. This generated about 1-3 calls for interviews
> each week. I usually just sent resumes and cover letters, but my
> "A" list places might have gotten the full package: transcripts,
> certs, e-portfolio, etc. Don't send the full package to every
> district. It's a waste of time and postage. I began sending out
> applications in March and re-sent a batch in June, and then in
> early August. You don't want to overdue it, but March, June, and
> August are key months.
>
> 4. Don't over analyze. Looking for a teaching position is a very
> emotional process! Excitement, sadness, frustration, joy are all
> normal feelings. The best thing to do is not to get your hopes up
> until you're signing paperwork. Leave an interview and go get an
> ice cream cone. Don't dissect the interview. There is often no
> rhyme or reason for getting/not getting "the call".
>
> 5. Develop a Plan B. By the end of July I started putting
> together a Plan B. What would I do if I didn't get a teaching
> job? I started to jot down ideas...substituting, applying to
> Catholic schools, temping, etc. What could I do if my dream job
> didn't come along? It was depressing to think about, but once I
> faced that possibility I wasn't afraid anymore.
>
> I'm a spiritual person, so I prayed a lot during this process. I
> know this seems like a lot, but when it came to looking for a job
> I took no prisoners. :o) Best of luck!
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> On 6/23/09, Hopeful Educator wrote:
>> Thanks!! That is really reassuring! I took a week of looking
> becuase I was getting
>> discouraged. Positions I applied for are closing before I even
> hear so much as an
>> interview. But sure enough I saw 5 positions open today. Now,
> they are an hour
>> away, but I want a classroom in 7 weeks!!
>> Is it ok to personally take my information to schools if it does
> not state on the
>> website not to?
>>
>>
>>
>> On 6/23/09, NJ/4th wrote:
>>> 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
>>

Posts on this thread, including this one

• Application Etiquette, 6/17/09, by Hopeful Educator.
• Re: Application Etiquette, 6/17/09, by abc.
• Re: Application Etiquette, 6/23/09, by NJ/4th.
• Re: Application Etiquette, 6/23/09, by Hopeful Educator.
• Re: Application Etiquette (to O.P. this is long), 6/23/09, by NJ/4th .
• Re: Application Etiquette (to O.P. this is long), 6/23/09, by Miss J.
• Re: Application Etiquette (to O.P. this is long), 6/23/09, by NJ/4th.