Career Corner

Spring is just around the corner and if you are a prospective teacher, you are probably well aware that spring is Educator Career Fair season. If you are planning on including career fairs in your job search, please consider that despite the often noisy, informal feel and the use of the word “fair,” these events are essentially job interviews. If you start from that point, you may already be thinking differently about what to wear and how to present yourself, but here are a number of less obvious steps you may also want to consider:

Preparation
Obtain a list of districts participating in the fairs you plan to attend and complete a web-search of those districts that most interest you. In completing this process, don’t forget to evaluate both the district and the surrounding community to ensure that you will be comfortable both working and living in the area. Once you have settled on a list of your top five or ten choices, write them down order of preference.

Create a portfolio containing your resume and personal/professional references, which you will then leave with potential employers. Select a portfolio style that has room to store the information you collect from the many school district booths you visit. This allows you to present yourself as an organized, professional, and confident person.

Create and rehearse a brief introductory speech that introduces you to the potential employer, tells them what sort of position you are looking for, lets them know that you know something about their district or area, and explains why they are of particular interest to you. Next, take the list of your top preferences and use it as a map to guide you through your day. Consider starting with your last choice first, as this gives you the opportunity to practice and hone your approach as you progress.

On the Day of the Fair
From the moment that you walk in the door, assume that you are being watched and evaluated. Many recruiters are highly skilled and are constantly watching and scanning for individuals who “stand out”. Take a walk around the entire fair and orient yourself to the layout and the location of your top choices. As you walk around, be deliberate in your manner and avoid the appearance of being lost or confused.

Wear clothing that is both professional and carry all of your interview packets in a briefcase or other similar container. When approaching a prospective employer, have nothing in hand except for a pen and a note pad. This will free up your hands for the next steps.

Time your approach to prospective employers so that they are engaged with other candidates at the time you approach their booth. Maintain a discrete distance that shows you respect privacy but at the same time, try to listen to what the recruiters are saying. This may help you to learn something useful about the district or the recruiters in particular.

When it is your turn, greet each prospective employer with a firm handshake but don’t over do it. They will shake many hands that day and you don’t want yours to be the one that annoys them. Establish eye contact and present your speech, and then allow the recruiter to respond. Listen attentively and take conversational cues from the recruiter. Remember, this is the interview so maintain a professional demeanor at all times. At the conclusion of the conversation, retrieve one of your portfolios and leave it with the recruiter. Also, be sure to obtain his/her business card.

After Each Interview
Find a quiet place to sit and write your thoughts about the interview. First, focus on what went well and second, on areas where you think you could improve. Adjust your strategy/speech and have a clear plan in place before proceeding to your next interview. You should also make notes about specific things you talked about during the interview so you can reference them later and then take all notes, business cards, and materials received from the interview and place them together in their own file or envelope.

After The Fair
Write a brief thank-you to the recruiter/district that interviewed you. E-mails are acceptable but letters are best.

Take all materials received and start a file system at home into which you can place further correspondence and other information. Ideally, you will be hearing back from multiple employers so it will be important that you have a means of keeping them straight. You should also keep a communication log for each employer which includes the date of the contact, whom you spoke with, what was discussed, and any actions you took as a result.

See you at the fair!

--Lori McStay,
Director of Personnel,
South Kitsap School District

Posted by AAEE at 11:25 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

In my neck of the woods, Northeastern Ohio, there is a consortium of twelve colleges and universities, some public, some private, that works collaboratively to sponsor a huge teacher education fair; The Northeast Ohio Teacher Education Day (NOTED). Every year, hundreds of students and alumnae from the participating schools show up at the crack of dawn (in April, that is around 6:00 a.m.) rain, shine or even snow, dressed in their suits and armed with folders full of resumes and. . . . .carefully crafted portfolios.

Portfolios of the educational journey toward licensure and employment in the teaching field serve as a critical part of the process. They help the student to reflect upon the learnings that have occurred as well as the direction s/he is considering for a future career. The portfolio also helps the student to articulate exactly what he or she has done to prepare for the teaching profession and to determine areas of strength, weakness or need for continuous improvement.

That said, is it absolutely necessary to lug these often cumbersome binders to job fairs where the goal is for the candidate to be invited to the district for the full interview process? The answer, according to representatives of the Ohio Association of School Personnel Administrators is a resounding "NO."

Those who are responsible for hiring the best teachers are not going to spend the limited time they have with you at a job fair looking at that portfolio. They want to review your resume, determine whether your philosophy of teaching matches that of the district and to see if there is a general fit. Once you are invited to the district, if you want to bring your portfolio as a resource, referring to specific sections that support your answers to questions you may be asked, that is fine. However, the recruiters are not expecting you to dump the portfolio on their desk and expect them to review the entire thing. Even if your portfolio is on a CD, you run the risk of a recruiter at a job fair not having the technology available to review it.

The bottom line is this; you want to use your portfolio as a resource to support your interview process and enhance and strengthen your candidacy. To do otherwise can prove costly to you in terms of conducting a successful job search.

---Gerri Sullivan
Director, Office of Counseling and Career Services
Ursuline College

Posted by AAEE at 12:57 PM | Permalink | Comments (3) | TrackBacks (0)

Occasionally, I get a résumé from an education candidate who believes that incorporating some cute graphics will demonstrate their ability to use technology to create inventive classroom projects. My advice is not to use your résumé for that purpose.

One excellent example was the elementary education candidate a couple of years ago who had inserted a border at the top and bottom of the résumé which resembled alphabet blocks. The candidate emailed the résumé to me, and when I printed it on my office printer, the border at the bottom of the résumé printed out on a different page. Somewhere in the translation process, as sometimes happens, the page broke at an awkward place.

I showed this example to an administrator and asked her opinion. She mentioned that she received résumés like this in her district and always advised against such things.

So do I. Stay away from graphics. Your résumé should be a summary of your education, your experiences, and your skills. It should not be a showcase of your creativity and inventiveness, unless, of course, you are in a creative field. As we have discussed in this forum before, educational institutions tend to be conservative, as do the hiring officials. For that reason, you want your résumé to be a businesslike, professional, somewhat conservative document.

Your creativity may come into play more in putting together a portfolio. We will talk about that more in this venue later. For now, keep the résumé simple, easy to scan, black print on white or off-white paper, and email it to yourself to see what may happen in that process.

Happy writing!

--Kent McAnally,
Director of Career Services,
Washburn University, on behalf of AAEE

Posted by AAEE at 5:56 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

When writing a resume and cover letter or putting together a portfolio, students tell us they often receive conflicting advice - from the career offices, from their faculty advisors, from their cooperating teacher, from their friends (some who have jobs, others who don't) and finally, from the people who actually do the hiring! Talk about too much information!

As a result of this information overload, it is easy to see why students would be confused as to which advice would be best to follow. When students ask me who they should listen to, I tell them they should take bits and pieces of most of the advice they get, and make it fit into what they are trying to accomplish, which is obtaining that first professional teaching job.

Having said that, the advice that is most worth heeding is that of the hiring personnel at the districts to which you have applied. In many cases, your career office has had the most contact with them, through job fairs and professional organization memberships, as do many of your faculty advisors (though, not everyone). The teacher who is supervising your student teaching experience can also be a good resource, particularly if he/she is fairly new to the teaching profession. If you are student teaching in the building where you are hoping to work, be sure to develop a professional network. It can open many doors to you.

Finally, while your family and friends may mean well, unless they are teaching professionals, they do not always have the best information for you in terms of what school personnel directors seek in a new hire. You can certainly listen to their opinions, but be sure and be discerning in terms of what you use in your job search.

When in doubt, take a trip to your career office on campus, The professionals there are ready to help you and can often connect you with resources of which you may have been unaware.

The bottom line is this - it is your job search and your resume, both of which are different for everyone. You need to market your skills, talents and abilities as an educator in ways that will assist the school and district in meeting its academic goals.

Good luck!

---Gerri Sullivan
Director, Office of Counseling and Career Services
Ursuline College

Posted by AAEE at 3:10 PM | Permalink | Comments (2) | TrackBacks (0)

It is imperative that every job seeker budget for the search. Money is the most obvious commodity, but the job search budget includes time as well as money. Finding the time while student teaching or working may be a challenge, but you can do it if you plan ahead.

All of the activities involved in a job search require time. Résumé writing and modification require time, not just for the writing itself, but to get opinions of others about the documents. Be sure to set aside some time to meet with your university’s career services office for an evaluation of your résumé and some advice on letters and job search activities. The more sets of eyes reviewing your materials, the better.

One of the most time-consuming activities in the education job search is preparing applications. Many, if not most, districts now have applications online, which can reduce or increase the time necessary for completion, depending on your situation. If you are completing mostly online applications, be sure to print or save each so that you have a record of where you have applied and when, as well as how you answered any questions that may be unique to each application. Having at least one saved application can also save time, as most applications will have similarities – a complete experience history, a breakdown of your college hours, questions about your licensure, and so forth. Once you have created a record of your answers to these questions, it is much easier to copy or cut and paste your responses to the next one. Be sure to proofread the online application before clicking "Send," just as you would a paper application before mailing.

Time for interviews can be considerable – much more than just the interview time itself. Travel is involved for almost all interviews. Even for interview days on college campuses, you must budget time to travel to the site and park. As most of us who work on campuses know, the parking process can be frustrating at best, so allow plenty of time for finding a parking place and getting to the interview site from your vehicle. A few years ago, I was in Los Angeles for an interview and was caught in the heavy morning business traffic. Fortunately, I had allowed plenty of time to travel from my hotel to the interview site. You will want to plan similarly.

Time for shopping is also important if you do not already have interview attire in the closet. For some, this will be a recreational activity, but for others of us it is a chore. In either case, allow plenty of time for seeking the type of suit you want and for comparing prices in several locations. As I said in a previous post, it is not necessary to pay $600 for a suit, but you will have to shop to find good quality attire for a good price. Ask other professionals in your area about where they find bargains.

Conducting a job search is a job, and finding and budgeting the time for it is essential. I will comment on the financial budget for a job search in a future post. Happy budgeting!

--Kent McAnally,
Director of Career Services,
Washburn University on behalf of AAEE

Posted by AAEE at 4:40 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Some years ago, I was told that the first thing employment recruiters do in an interview is look at your shoes. As a male, I knew that my black wingtips should be freshly polished to make the best impression. It was not necessary that shoes be new, but they should look new.

Maybe it's a cliche, but the way you accessorize and groom for an interview is important. Remember that schools in general, and school recruiters in particular, are somewhat conservative. The teachers they are recruiting are to be role models for the students in the district. I said last time that you don't want to be remembered for the big red flower in your hair (or on your dress or suit). You also don't want to be remembered as the candidate who wore sneakers to an interview, or the one who wore the chartreuse suit, etc., etc., ad infinitum. It's just like most of us were told as children: comb your hair, get your hair out of your eyes (haircut?), wash your face (and the rest of your body), clean your clothes, iron your wrinkles, polish your shoes, match belt and shoes, keep jewelry at a minimum, and so forth. No secrets.

Touchy items today are tattoos and piercings. I read recently that as many as 30% of new job candidates have tattoos. Personally, I am not opposed to tattoos nor piercings, but they do make an impression on recruiters - not usually a positive one. Keep the tattoos covered up - it's pretty simple. If you choose not to, your chances of being hired diminish significantly in most districts.

The rules for piercings are similar. Women, one pair of earrings in the lobe is acceptable. Eyebrow and lip jewelry are not. Men, piercings are not considered mainstream for education interviews (nor on the job in many districts), so remove the jewelry. A few years ago, I asked an elementary human resources administrator from a large suburban school district about the little studs that some of the women were wearing in their noses. The administrator wrinkled her face and shook her head. In short, only a single pair of earrings in the earlobes is best for women; piercing jewelry for men is not generally acceptable for the interview. After hiring, talk with peers and administrators about additions you'd like to make before doing so.

Interview appearance is important if you are serious about getting the job. Remember that it can make the difference between getting to the next step (or getting the job) and not being considered any further, especially if you are in one of those fields where there is not a shortage.

--Kent McAnally,
Director of Career Services,
Washburn University

Posted by AAEE at 2:36 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

A few years ago, at an interview day at a university, a school administrator commented to me that most candidates were dressed appropriately for interviews, but it appeared some visiting from another university had been advised to "dress like a teacher." Fifty years ago, that might have been a compliment, but with more relaxed dress in educational settings in the twenty-first century, interview wear should be dressier than "like a teacher."

When candidates ask me what they should wear for a teacher interview, my response is always the same: a suit. As in any career field, you want to make a positive impression on the interviewer. Or, more importantly with dress, you do not want to make a negative impression. Ask any recruiter about their interview stories, and you get an idea of what they remember about candidates. Almost without exception, they remember the outrageous violations of convention far more than those who made positive impressions.

The thought behind "dressing like a teacher" is that most PreK-12 educators rarely wear dress suits in the classroom, so wearing a suit for an interview is not necessary. To make the best impression, however, you want to dress conservatively and professionally – dressier than everyday attire for the position. Take into account what the interviewer is likely to be wearing. In educational settings, your interviewer will usually be wearing business attire, and so should you.

Look for sale racks in your favorite stores for bargains on dress attire. A decent interview suit need not cost $600. I shop for men’s separates, which are available in more and more places these days. Select classically-designed outfits; these tend to remain in style longer (or at least in the range of "in style"). Accessorize conservatively – you do not want to become part of interview lore because of the big red flower in your hair.

Think conservatively – gray, blue, black. Brown is still sometimes seen as a "weak" color, and is not as dressy. Black used to be considered too "powerful" for interviews, but it has become very popular. My father remarked in Washington, DC a couple of years ago that if he were a young person moving there, he would be sure that he had at least one black suit – everybody he saw, male and female, was wearing one.

I feel like I should not have to address grooming with prospective teachers, but I will in the next post. In the meantime, if you have not already done so, check those after-holiday sales for good buys on appropriate interview attire. For your interviews – and for job fairs – dress like a professional – a central office administrator!

--Kent McAnally,
Director of Career Services,
Washburn University

Posted by AAEE at 10:16 AM | Permalink | Comments (4) | TrackBacks (0)

It is tempting to spend all our time during the holidays eating and sleeping (at least it is tempting to me!). For the education job seeker, however, this is a time when you can do some things that might enhance your search. While I have a list of several, I will share only a couple.

First, if you are conducting a long-distance search, this might be a time for you to visit your potential new location. It takes a little bit of planning ahead and scheduling on your part, but it can certainly pay off, especially for the candidate who is currently a student. Keeping in mind that those of us in the “real world” (if there is such a thing) go back to work after New Year’s Day, the remaining two weeks or so that you are on break provide an opportunity for you to visit and scope out the area.

It is likely possible for you to set up some screening interviews with schools in your targeted area. When you have identified districts in which you wish to pursue employment, call the human resources offices, let them know when you will be in their area, and ask to set up an interview. Many will welcome the opportunity to meet a candidate, particularly if you teach in a field that is in demand in that locale.

Another thing to keep in mind is the after-holiday sale. Most of us could always use new professional attire, and the after-holiday sales present an opportunity to purchase clothing at bargain prices. Think about what you will need for your interviews and what you will need for the classroom. Most of us recommend that you interview in a suit (more on this another day) but you may want slightly more casual wear for teaching. The after-holiday sales provide an excellent opportunity for “wardrobe enhancement” in both areas.

Bon appétit!

--Kent McAnally,
Director of Career Services,
Washburn University

Posted by AAEE at 9:52 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

We continue to use the term "teacher shortage" to describe the job market in education. Certainly there are considerable shortages in areas such as mathematics, the sciences, special education, and bilingual education. Supply and demand research from the American Association for Employment in Education (AAEE) shows these fields with shortages nationwide.

What some of you find, however, is that the words "teacher shortage" do not apply equally across all education disciplines. Those of us who regularly visit with education recruiters hear stories about how many elementary, physical education, and social studies candidates they see. Indeed, AAEE research still shows that there are surpluses of candidates in these areas.

What can a candidate in an oversupplied field do to increase his or her chances of finding a position in the field of choice? First, be willing to "go where the job is." Often school districts in urban or rural areas have more difficulty filling positions than suburban areas. Geographical and socio-economic flexibility increases the number of opportunities.

Second, have perfect applications. In any employment field, when there is an oversupply of candidates those with less than stellar paperwork are eliminated early in the selection process. Proofread carefully before pressing the “submit” button or before putting the paper application in the envelope.

Third, be the best candidate. It is easy for to say that, and it takes some early preparation, but it really does help to have positive experience with leadership and youth and a good academic record. There is also some truth in the belief that social studies teachers willing to coach have a better chance of being hired.

Finally, practice interviewing. Most career centers offer the opportunity to do mock interviews with staff members or with school administrators. Take advantage of this service at your home institution. Use the positive experiences you have already had as examples in your interviews; "I did" is more powerful than "I would." You must also be able to SHOW that you truly care about children and youth; saying it is not enough.

Yes, I hear some of those hiring officials say they do not want to talk to any more elementary or social studies candidates – "We have enough." But with preparation you may be able to change their minds.

--Kent McAnally,
Director of Career Services,
Washburn University

Posted by AAEE at 3:03 PM | Permalink | Comments (6) | TrackBacks (0)

Near the end of an interview, candidates will have an opportunity to ask questions. You'll want to be sure your questions demonstrate the depth of your knowledge of the employer and the position.

Questions should be prepared in advance while researching the employer but also may be generated by information received during the interview. It's best have several questions in mind before you arrive for the interview. Be prepared but flexible. You may also take this opportunity to communicate a job-related qualification or other important item which had not been previously discussed. A few examples of appropriate questions follow:

•What are you looking for in a teacher?
•How does the teaching staff support new teachers?
•Are teachers encouraged to earn advanced degrees?
•What is the teacher/student ratio in your district?
•How supportive is the community?
•Do your schools use teacher aides or parent volunteers?
•What allowances are provided for supplies and materials?
•Does the administration encourage field trips for students?
•What textbooks does the district use in this subject area?
•How are teachers assigned to extra-curricular activities? Is compensation provided?
•Do teachers participate in curriculum review and change?
•What are prospects for future growth in this community and its schools?
•What support staff members are available to help students and teachers?

Diana Sanchez, Career Center, California State University San Marcos

Posted by AAEE at 8:11 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)