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Career Advice Opinion

What Do Employers Look For in a Candidate???

By AAEE — October 14, 2014 1 min read
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For some time now, expected graduates have been told that the market is very competitive for teachers, and how important various marketing tools are, i.e. resume. Of course an almost perfect resume is essential to gain interest from a perspective school district but what happens after you have secured the interview with your preferred district? What do employers look for?

CONFIDENCE


  • Eye contact
  • Firm handshake (remember this goes for both men and women)
  • Speak clearly (you will be in the classroom, show that you can handle speaking to a group)

APPEARANCE & PERSONALITY


  • Attire (dressing professionally says volumes about how seriously you take your job)
  • Grooming (this should be self-explanatory but is not always carried out)
  • SMILE (sometimes during career fairs and interviewing you can be overwhelmed and nervous but don’t forget to smile!!)
  • Stay calm (show the employer that you can be cool under pressure)

WORK ETHIC & TEAM PLAYER


  • Be early and on time
  • Be prepared (prepare early and be proactive, this shows you have excellent problem solving skills and initiative)
  • Be courteous to everyone you encounter (remember, the secretary is also a part of the interview); YOUR INTERVIEW STARTS WHEN YOU LEAVE YOUR HOME!!!

When searching for jobs, interviewing, and attending networking events, remember school district employers are seeking confident, enthusiastic and dedicated teachers. Remember to market yourself professionally and effectively in all settings. The interviewers must visualize you as a positive addition to their students.

Rosalyn Smith, Career Advisor

University of North Texas Career Center

The opinions expressed in Career Corner are strictly those of the author(s) and do not reflect the opinions or endorsement of Editorial Projects in Education, or any of its publications.