The vast majority of education grads are in the boat with you. The
only exception are those who "knew someone" or went through an
alternate route program and had contacts within the district.
One more piece of advice: make sure your resume and cover letter are
great. Being in the right place at the right time is only half the
battle. You have to make sure your paperwork is worth reading when
that golden opportunity arises. The story of how I got an interview,
that leads to my current position, is proof of that.
I had sent my application to the school district where I currently
work - a "B" category district. ;o) One of the principals was
waiting to speak to the superintendent in the admin office. My
application was sitting on the secretary's desk. While the principal
was waiting she picked up my cover letter and scanned through it.
Right before she went into the superintendent's office she told the
secretary to call me in for an interview. I interviewed the next day
and was hired two days later. It was the second week of August.
The superintendent's secretary was going through the alternate route
program and eventually got hired as a teacher in my school. Once we
got to know each other, she shared the above story with me.
On 6/23/09, Miss J wrote:
> 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
>>>
>
