Messages to the weary:
The job hunt can be tiresome. Throughout July this blog will be speaking to those who are weary from the search. The intent is to join you in the struggle and to encourage you along the way. If you are not the one searching, perhaps you can use these words to encourage others.
Hello Again Soon-To-Be Teacher,
You have been at this job search for a while now. I hope that you have considered the last two blog posts. (If you haven’t read them, perhaps you should before you read on.) My goal is that you would find fresh wind for your sails. It is now the third week of July. You must take a deep breath. Exhale.
Now, it is time to focus in on your strategy. Here are a few things to consider:
- Refresh. You have been writing cover letters and tweaking résumés all summer. Take a minute to contact your classmates who have landed positions and ask what worked for them. Let them see your résumé and cover letter. Welcome their input. Make sure there are no spelling, grammatical, or formatting errors.
- Rewind. Think back to when you started this job search. Are there any contacts that it would be good to go back and revisit? A school that didn’t have opening but might now? A networking contact that you need to send a thank you note to? Classmates who have landed positions that might be able to recommend you to their new principal? A teacher who was on vacation but is now back and who might be helpful? A career service professional at your college? Make a list of these individuals. Stop and do this now.
- Refocus. It is time to gain a second wind and rekindle the flame of desire to go out and get that job. Remember, you have a good education, a love for kids, and something to offer. You can’t let the longevity of your search get you down. There are still plenty of jobs out there.
- Reconnect. Now, it’s time to tackle the list that you made in point 2 above. Start at the top and work your way through it.
- Remember. You have thought about your qualifications and how to answer common interview questions. You have probably heard it in your head 100 times or more. You are probably tired of thinking about it and, perhaps, tired of hearing yourself talk about it even if only on paper. But you have to remember that with every new opportunity, it is the FIRST time that they have heard you tell your story. You need to be disciplined to tell your story with energy each time. The first impression really matters.
Keep your head up! Good things await you on your journey!
Jeff Eads, Assistant Director
Career Center
Ball State University
Muncie, IN