Job Hunting Tips & Advice Blog

Career Corner

In this blog, members of the American Association for Employment in Education, a professional organization for college career-center directors and school district recruiters, provided career advice and discuss developments in the education job market. This blog is no longer being updated, but you can continue to explore these issues on edweek.org by visiting our related topic pages: career advice and job huntjob hunt.

Job Hunting Tips & Advice Opinion How to Find, Ask For, and Develop a Reference
When you are new to the job market, it can be a challenge to know how to obtain a reference for a job application. It is not a good idea to ask just anyone or to ask people at the last minute either. Whether you get that wonderful job will be based primarily on your own merits, but a shining recommendation that highlights your great credentials can be the tipping point between you and your competition.
AAEE, August 26, 2014
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3 min read
Job Hunting Tips & Advice Opinion Connecting the Dots--Telling Your Stories in an Interview
Congratulations!  You have made it to the interview!  Your application materials were successful and now they want to meet you.  How can you take your interview experience to the next level and get the job?  Since an interview means that you likely meet at least the minimum requirements of the job, interviews tend to be focused more on finding the right person for the job.  Knowing this, many employers tend to focus more on how you might fit with their team and the organization.  Expect open-ended questions such as:
AAEE, August 21, 2014
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2 min read
Job Hunting Tips & Advice Opinion Goal Setting for the Job Seeker
Congratulations! You have made it through college. You have passed all the testing and licensing. You are now ready to go! You are ready for your first "official" job as a teacher.  Yet, the job search can seem so... overwhelming.  
AAEE, August 12, 2014
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2 min read
Job Hunting Tips & Advice Opinion Master Resumes for the Serious Job Seeker
Employers today expect targeted job search documents and well-prepared job candidates. One generic resume and cover letter for all potential employers simply is not very effective in this tough job market. If you want to get serious about your job search, create a master resume with all the details.
AAEE, August 6, 2014
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3 min read
Job Hunting Tips & Advice Opinion Following Up Post-Interview
In the job search we find ourselves doing everything and anything possible to land an interview. We figure that if we land the interview and it goes well, then if the job is meant to be, it will be. However, even after you walk out of your interview, you continue to have the power to make an impact. How? Through the art of the thank you email. Here are some tips to keep in mind when you are ready to write yours.
AAEE, August 1, 2014
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2 min read
Job Hunting Tips & Advice Opinion Writing Values & Experience-Based Cover Letters
I recently sat in on an employer panel that included a CEO of a charter school here in Chicago. When asked about the importance of cover letters, he responded by saying, "If a cover letter isn't targeted to my school specifically, I won't read it."
AAEE, July 23, 2014
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2 min read
Job Hunting Tips & Advice Opinion Overcoming a Lull in Confidence
The joys and perils found within a job search during summer months are aplenty. I remember my undergrad days of ferociously searching for employment in the summer months just so I did not have to leave my new home, beautiful Chicago. The full time teacher job search during the summer, though, is likely a daunting or anxiety-filled experience given the strict timelines put out by school districts; unless you have one very important part of your candidacy figured out-- your confidence!
AAEE, July 17, 2014
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2 min read
Job Hunting Tips & Advice Opinion A Quick Resume Checklist to Keep You Going In Your Summer Job Search

  • Avoid using horizontal lines as the computerized applicant tracking systems that most school districts use may misread them as the end of the document so that your resume never even gets read. With this in mind, then, the entire document should have as simple formatting as possible.
AAEE, July 9, 2014
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1 min read
Job Hunting Tips & Advice Opinion How Long Does it Take?
I often get asked "What is the average time it takes to get a job?"  Now THAT's a loaded question!  Usually the real question behind it is "I've been searching for x weeks - is that a long time?  What's WRONG with me?"
AAEE, July 3, 2014
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1 min read
Job Hunting Tips & Advice Opinion Thinking about Teaching Internationally?
Many educators consider the possibility of teaching abroad, but at times it can feel like a daunting endeavor.  New teachers are excited by the opportunity to travel internationally and gain classroom experience.  If, you are considering this option investigate the following:
AAEE, June 25, 2014
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1 min read
Job Hunting Tips & Advice Opinion Be a Detective: Do Your Due Diligence When Preparing For Interviews
Think Sherlock Holmes or Carmen Sandiego!  An applicant needs to do more than simply know the school district's goals and mission - those should go unstated.  Employers across the board, regardless of industry area, note that new hires need to know more about their organization and demonstrate that they took the time to do research in advance of their interview.
AAEE, June 18, 2014
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2 min read
Teacher Preparation Opinion Encouraging Effective Listening Habits: Working with Co-Operative Instructors
How do you address a challenging working relationship with your co-op?  While student teaching is a learning experience, a student teacher is also providing an important service to a classroom and working closely with those institutions' students (as a principal once said, "the most prized possessions of parents").  I found it helpful to think about active listening skills that were shared with me by a previous professor when navigating tough conversations.
AAEE, June 9, 2014
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1 min read
Job Hunting Tips & Advice Opinion How To Show Employers Your Passion for Student Success
I recently heard the 2014 Teacher of the Year for Pennsylvania, Anthony Grisillo (West Chester University, '96), comment to a group of student teachers, "You are not teaching physics!  You are teaching students physics!"  This statement helped put my message to future educators in context with the comments of our education employers on our Career Center's Employer Advisory Board.
AAEE, June 5, 2014
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2 min read
Job Hunting Tips & Advice Opinion 7 Ways to Wreck Your Job Interview
I recently came across the article courtesy of Robert Half International, Inc. a global staffing firm and thought it might be useful during this busy interviewing time.
AAEE, May 28, 2014
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3 min read
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