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 This blog is no longer being updated, but you can continue to explore these issues on edweek.org by visiting our related topic pages: career advice and job huntjob hunt.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
Contracts: Considerations, Comparisons, and Concerns
You've been applying, interviewing, hoping and waiting. Finally...you have a job offer! All that hard work has paid off. The district is sending you a contract. What next? The immediate response is to accept the offer and end the job-search agony. Is that wise? Not without careful deliberation and scrutiny.
Job Hunting Tips & Advice
Opinion
Where to Teach: Making a Wise Job Decision
It's your life. You'll spend an average of 6-7 hours a day in the classroom - and that doesn't count the endless hours at home devoted to designing lesson plans, grading papers, and creating projects. Deciding where to look for a teaching job is critical - but it can be confusing, scary, and frustrating. Let's face it: you can't all teach where you grew up or where you student-taught. Realistically, you're probably going to have to look at where the openings exist, if you're serious about landing a job in your field.
Job Hunting Tips & Advice
Opinion
Summer Jobs to Enhance Teacher Marketability
In this competitive teaching market, success is all about separating yourself from the pack. You can't just be a candidate - you have to be the best candidate. A summer job that will complement what you have been learning in the classroom is a great way to increase your value as a job applicant. Summer jobs can be useful in multiple aspects of your job search. Some of those are listed below.
Job Hunting Tips & Advice
Opinion
Creating a "Stand-Out" Resume for the Job Search in Education
Recent reports predict the demise of the job resume and the rise of Twitter, LinkedIn accounts and video resumes - all in the service of expediency. Employers and job seekers may well be moving in that direction, but at this time, the professional resume is still required in most educational environments. Indeed, technology, such as the Appli-tracks job application system, is incorporated into the recruitment process. Within such systems, however, employers continue to request the professional resume. Consequently, job seekers benefit from focusing on how to make their resumes stand out among the possible 20, 200 or even 1,000 that are collected and reviewed by prospective employers for a limited number of positions.
Job Hunting Tips & Advice
Opinion
How to Make a Great Impression at the Job Fair
For years, I hit the road with other School District Hiring Directors as we conducted the 'Meet and Greet' Job Fair rotation. These are grueling days of candidates putting their best forward and Directors searching for the best candidates for their schools. In the past few months, I have attended a couple of Job Fairs representing my University as a volunteer, no longer in the frenetic foray of the Director conducting on-the-spot interviews. This has been a wonderful opportunity for me to watch and to learn what makes the difference.
Job Hunting Tips & Advice
Opinion
How Should I Prepare for an Interview?
Many pre-service teachers think they need to memorize the 'right answer' to interview questions or participate in many mock interviews. First of all the bad news: there is no 'right' answer. In addition, while the mock interview may help you calm down and feel more confident about an interview, the best preparation is to think deeply about your teaching career.
Job Hunting Tips & Advice
Opinion
What should I put in my resume?
Your resume is a very valuable piece of job search realty! Don's skimp on preparing this document. I recommend that you contact your university Career Center for assistance; often you can find resume samples on their websites. There are also free online resume builders that are worth investigating. Here are some general guidelines for education resumes:
Job Hunting Tips & Advice
Opinion
Start Your Job Search Long Before You End Your College Program
The time to begin thinking about your career in education is not as you are ordering your cap and gown! You need to be strategic throughout your program to best set yourself up for a successful job search.
The time to begin thinking about your career in education is not as you are ordering your cap and gown! You need to be strategic throughout your program to best set yourself up for a successful job search.
Job Hunting Tips & Advice
Opinion
Interviewing for an International Teaching Position via Skype
Skype is the most common way to interview for an international teaching position. It may sound like a relief to be able to interview from the comforts of your own home, but there are a few things you should remember:
Federal
Opinion
Begin Your Exciting International Adventure Now!
There are things that you can do ahead of time to prepare for the application process:
Federal
Opinion
Frequently Asked Questions about Teaching Overseas
Are there opportunities for first year teachers in international schools?
Federal
Opinion
International Teaching: Consider the Benefits!
If you could teach anywhere in the world, where would you go ... somewhere you know well or somewhere you've never been before?
Job Hunting Tips & Advice
Opinion
Conquering Virtual Career Fairs (Part II)
Continued from the previous post, find tips below relating to how to succeed on the day of the fair.
Job Hunting Tips & Advice
Opinion
Conquering Virtual Career Fairs (Part I)
Virtual career fairs are increasing in popularity. Virtual recruiting events can be very appealing for both employers and jobseekers. For employers, connecting virtually reduces travel related costs, printing costs for displays, and eliminates the cost for branded giveaways. For jobseekers, travel related costs are also eliminated, professional dress may not be required, and resumes can be shared electronically.