Job Hunting Tips & Advice

A mentor is a valuable resource in preparing for an interview. Most applicants dread the interview part of the job hunt, but a mentor is a person who can sit down and talk about what the important issues are that a hiring agent will ask about.

Summer is winding down and you'll soon be returning to your campus, reconnecting with friends and getting back to the college routine. Even if student teaching and graduation are a few semesters away, there are a number of things you can do to set yourself up for post-graduation success conveniently on your own campus!

There are endless possibilities for your education career, keep growing your personal story by adding to your "have you ever" story.

Our profession has become more and more competitive. Districts are on the hunt for the best and the brightest. Our children deserve no less! Candidates are competing for jobs with others from all over. We recognize the shortages in areas of math, science, special education and world languages.

We are more digitally connected than ever before. Because of that I have become more digitally paranoid than ever before and frankly, it is a paranoia that I have embraced because it comes from the horror stories of careers being derailed and professional reputations trashed through the many forms of social media.

Similar to football, if you are going to be victorious in the job search game, it is what you do with the time prior to applying and interviewing for a job that will be most influential to obtaining the job you want. It will hinge on your game plan. Below are a few critical item to consider when putting together a strong game plan:

School districts, charter schools and private schools are scrambling to fill their schools with qualified teachers, while the universities are producing fewer and fewer teachers. Over the last several years the candidate attendance at the fairs have been at a steady decline. Other locations across the country are even canceling fairs due to lack of job-seekers. Recruiters need to make the most of the dwindling number of job-seekers at career fairs.

When trying to figure out where to start your career or the next step in your career it is important to remember that reality does not always match perception.

Charles "Monty" Roessel had led the bureau since late 2013, but was stripped of his duties after investigators said he improperly used his influence to get others jobs.

If you've been interviewing and applying for positions but you still haven't found a teaching job, you might be overlooking some key elements that could impact the impression you are making on school districts.

Employment market can be overwhelming for candidates and employers. Before you begin looking, create a shopping list to identify opportunities that are a great fit.

Back in the early 90's when I was in college, my advisors and professors spent hours upon hours with us on job preparation. We were taught the correct resume format, what content was to be included and that the structure should be a nice, clean professional document. I specifically remember having specialists and members of the community come in and provide us with examples of various things related to topics centered on proper interview etiquette, body language and correct posture during the interview. We were told that our facial expressions and mannerisms could significantly affect the outcome of the interview and they provided tips on how to avoid some of the common miscues during this process. We had been dressed for success by some of the finest professors at the school and by the time we actually got to the interview we were all like robots trying to remember all of these things that we had been taught. Once that interview was finished we were to do just one more step and the process was to be complete, besides the waiting game of finding out if in fact you did get the position. It was time for the follow up. Now at the time, some 20 plus years ago, the hand written note that our professors just mentioned during our studies of the job search process was the absolute best way to follow up with that prospective employer. Fast forward to 2016, and guess what is being taught as the best way to follow up after the interview? you guessed it, the hand written note. Have times not changed? This cant still be the most effective way to seal the deal.  There wasn't a lot taught on this, what was the note to say? Was I supposed to get an answer to my note? How could I, everything I was coming up with to write on this note wasn't requiring anyone to respond to me. Was my note even reaching its intended person?

Strategies for Young Educators on Effective Time Management

At any point in your career in education, it is important to reflect upon your role within the school community, to understand how you can get more involved to enhance the experience for all.

Use these tips to help you make a positive first impression as you prepare for job fair and school-based interviews.