Career Corner

A thank-you/follow-up letter is the professional way to maintain contact with an employer. This letter will assure the Personnel Office of your continued interest in the position. Remember the purpose of the letter is to maintain contact, but make sure that you have a substantial reason for contacting the employer each time you write, such as:
•Thanking the employer for the opportunity to interview (preferably within 24 hours of the interview).
•Sending supportive materials, e.g., transcripts.
•Notifying the employer of a change of address or additional experience gained since submitting your application.

How to Write a Thank-you Note:
Thank-you notes should be sent as soon as possible after the interview and before the hiring decision is made. Well- written notes should say more than "thank you." There are many opinions about what to say; however, here are some elements to consider:

• Express Enthusiasm: Remind the interviewer that you are a good fit for the school or district and that you have continued interest in and enthusiasm for the position. It is one more chance to market yourself in a tangible way.

• Answer Unresolved Issues: Answer and expand upon any relevant questions raised in the interview. If you did not get a chance to mention certain points, you can now address those items. The thank-you note is your chance to expand on that positive 'first' impression.

• Express Sincerity: Be genuine and sincere in your gratitude. Comment on the importance of the meeting.

• Personalize It: Highlight a key point from your meeting that was unique and meaningful. This will refresh the interviewer's memory of you. Interviewers are typically impressed with proof that candidates listen and remember the conversation. If you met with several people, it may not be obvious who the real decision-makers are. Make sure you vary slightly the content of each thank-you note. No one likes to receive a carbon copy of a note that everyone else received. This will also force you to remember with whom you interviewed, which will make your follow-up more effective. Remember to ask for business cards before leaving the interview so that you have the correct spelling and title of your interviewers, and make some notes while your memory is fresh.

• Keep It Short: The "Rule of Three" says that the human mind can only remember three things about anything. If pushed to remember four, the mind will forget all four from overload. Choose three points you want to stress about yourself which might include skills, knowledge and personal traits. Ideally, these three points should be presented in the resume, reflected in the cover letter, discussed in the interview and then restated in the thank-you note.

Typed vs. Handwritten vs. E-mail:
For more conservative school districts, you may want to consider typed thank-you letters. Using a business letter format conveys that this meeting was important enough to take the time to present yourself in a professional manner. However, alumni (and people you know) may prefer a handwritten thank-you note. You must still prepare it carefully, write legibly and use tasteful stationery. If you want to add to one of the answers you gave at the interview, a more lengthy, typed letter directed toward the issue may be beneficial.

If the school district representative has an e-mail address on their business card or is a technology-based employer, then a well-written e-mail thank you note may be appropriate. A word of caution: do not make the message overly friendly (many people have a tendency to be less formal with e-mail). Also, try to keep your message to one screen length; employers appreciate brevity. Be aware that some employers may prefer the traditional approach. In addition, handwritten, hard copy thank-you notes typically get filed in an applicant's folder, whereas e-mail is typically read and deleted.

The Importance of Thank-you Notes:
A thank-you note can make a candidate stand out from the rest of the pool, by demonstrating your professionalism, follow-through and interest. And a little common courtesy couldn't hurt! In a tight job market, you need a competitive advantage over other candidates. You can increase your chances of being hired by writing thank you notes. Statistically, less than 10% of interviewees ever follow up with thank-you notes. Imagine how positively that 10% will be viewed.

--Diana Sanchez
Career Counselor, California State University San Marcos AND
Past-President, California Association for Employment in Education

Posted by AAEE at 6:02 PM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)

When I graduated from high school and first began looking for work, I used the only job search method I knew: searching the classified ads in the newspaper. Identifying possible options from those listings, I began submitting applications to employers. I had no idea how few jobs were actually advertised in the paper. Although I eventually landed a position, it was not until much later that I learned the value of networking and utilizing my contacts to locate opportunities.

I’ve found a similar job search method being used by the new teachers with whom I work. These candidates are familiar with the process of searching job listings -- online or other -- and applying to a school district. The district personnel department collects all necessary documents (application, resume, test scores, transcripts, clearances, etc.) and determines that all minimum qualifications are met. This office serves as a clearinghouse, matching eligible applicants with vacancies. But there is an additional strategy that can help open some doors.

Many job seekers are unaware of the truth to that old adage, “It’s not what you know, it’s who you know.” It’s human nature to be more comfortable and feel more secure hiring people you know or those who are familiar to your friends and colleagues. Even in the field of education, utilizing your professional and personal contacts is imperative to conducting a successful job search. Your network will provide not only leads to jobs, but also referrals to other sources of information. This is one of the reasons substitute and student teaching are valued for more than merely gaining experience. They also provide numerous opportunities to get to know people who are potential leads to positions. Tutoring and volunteering at schools are other ways to get your foot in the door and become known by the staff and administrators.

Candidates who are successfully using their networks often invite administrators to observe their teaching and request feedback. They also spend time in the faculty lounge getting to know other teachers at the site. They talk to everyone they know, from their mechanic to their children’s pediatrician to the barista at the local coffee house about their job search. One never knows what connections these acquaintances may have to the field of education. This acquaintance’s spouse or relative could be the principal at a growing school or the superintendent of personnel at the local district office. This contact may even serve on a school’s site council or PTA. The possibilities may astound you.

When we begin utilizing our network to its fullest, we realize what a small world we live in and how we are connected to so many people in the most unexpected ways. Now more than ever we have increased access to numerous networks, whether we connect in person or online (are you on LinkedIn or Facebook?) Take advantage of these rich resources available to you and you will discover the power of your network.

--Diana Sanchez
Career Counselor, California State University San Marcos AND
Past-President, California Association for Employment in Education

Posted by AAEE at 11:39 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

I was recently asked for advice on presenting teaching demonstrations during interviews. I do not consider myself to be an expert in this area, and I hope others will post comments and advice here as well. Let’s open up the discussion!

First find out how much time you’ll have to present, your intended audience, and the subject or lesson you’re expected to teach. If you aren’t given the specifics of what or to whom you be teaching, have a variety of options: lecture or small group, and a set of lessons or workshop topics you'd be willing to teach. You could give the interviewers some choices and watch them be impressed by your range and confidence!

Demonstrate your organizational skills. You’ll want to work from an outline, either in PowerPoint or on the board. Tell them what they’ll learn, teach it, and review. If you are using notes, be sure they are legible in dim lighting. Enthusiasm is a must. It’s best to not pretend to teach a hypothetical class. Instead treat the interviewers as actual students. There is a lot more energy in a real lesson than in a hypothetical one. Remember to use those public speaking skills: get their attention right away, modulate your voice, be aware of your facial expressions and body language, and use appropriate humor.

The best lessons seem to be interactive. Ask questions, and keep the students engaged. When you begin with a discussion, it lets students know that feedback is welcome. This can set the tone for the entire presentation. Be sure to allow time for questions both during and at the end of your presentation. When planning, you’ll want to be somewhat flexible and build in time for Q and A.

Multimedia can enhance your presentation but should be used with caution. If you are planning to use technology, make sure you have a back-up plan just in case the equipment malfunctions or the server is down. Don’t over-rely on PowerPoint, because no one wants to watch you read the slides. You can show images or video clips to illustrate your points and to initiate discussion. Music can also add an interesting element to your presentation and engage the audience, when appropriate. Handouts are always appreciated. Your aim is to ensure these teaching aids illustrate, rather than detract from, your presentation.

Finally: practice, practice, practice. Try recording your presentation and evaluate yourself. Rehearsing will allow you to give your best teaching demonstration. The end result? You will build confidence each time you present the lesson.

--Diana Sanchez
Career Counselor, California State University San Marcos,
Past-President, California Association for Employment in Education

Posted by AAEE at 7:54 PM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)

In these times of uncertainty, most new teachers entering the workforce are understandably concerned about their ability to obtain teaching positions. During the last decade or so it was fairly common for teachers to sign a contract right out of college, sometimes while they were still student teaching. More recently, however, many teachers are finding it necessary to “pay their dues” by working the “Sub Circuit.” As challenging as it may be, a positive substitute teaching experience may also lead to a permanent teaching position. When facing a sudden need to fill a position, most districts turn first to their loyal substitute teachers to meet those vacancies. Substitute teaching is an excellent way to become known by various colleagues and administrators, so it’s important to treat these opportunities as “pre-screening interviews.”

1. Always arrive early to prepare for the day.
2. Dress professionally. (Keep comfortable shoes on hand for PE or recess duty.)
3. Get acquainted with the secretary, custodian, staff members, and principal.
4. Follow the teacher’s lesson plans to the letter (if at all possible).
5. Be overly prepared and always have an alternate plan in your “bag of tricks.”
6. Know what the discipline standards are for the class and set down your expectations in the first two minutes. Be consistent.
7. Take the time after class to put things in order for the teacher’s return and leave a note for the teacher on the progress of the day.
8. At the end of your assignment, touch base with the secretary or principal.
9. Establish rapport and seek assistance from any instructional aide or assistant in the class. Get them on your side.
10. Seek information from your neighboring colleagues, if time permits, during breaks in the day.
11. It’s helpful to have business cards printed so you can leave them with the teachers you sub for. Leave a few extras so they can be distributed to other teachers.
12. No matter how challenging the assignment, keep a positive attitude!

--Diana Sanchez

Career Counselor, California State University San Marcos AND

Past-President, California Association for Employment in Education

Posted by AAEE at 11:59 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)