Inside Secrets of Finding a Teaching Job: The Most Effective Search Methods for Both New and Experienced Educators

by Warner, Jack

• ISBN13: 9781593572952
• ISBN10: 1593572956
• Edition: 3rd
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2006-04-04
• Publisher: Jist Works

Summary

This handy resource covers researching job opportunities, preparing self-marketing materials, making good impressions in the interview, and more. New graduates of education programs, unemployed teachers, university-level teacher-education programs, and people entering the profession through non-traditional paths find this a must-have for job search success.

Table of Contents

ABOUT THIS BOOK	iv
PART 1 FINDING AND APPLYING FOR TEACHING JOBS	1	(108)
CHAPTER 1 Increasing Your Marketability	3	(20)
Assess Your Strengths and Weaknesses	3	(4)
Your Strengths	4	(2)
Your Weaknesses	6	(1)
Prepare a Mission Statement	7	(3)
One Teacher's Mission Statement	8	(1)
What Details Should My Mission Statement Include?	8	(2)
Benefits of Having a Mission Statement	10	(1)
Extras Count	10	(7)
Yes! I'll Pursue That Extra Credential or Certificate!	10	(2)
Yes! I'll Teach Any Grade Level!	12	(1)
Yes! I'll Teach at Any School!	13	(4)
Yes! I'll Consider a Half-Day Teaching Position!	17	(1)
Make a Demonstration Video	17	(2)
Showcase Your Best Performance	18	(1)
Distributing Your Video	19	(1)
Create a Teacher Portfolio	19	(4)
What Is the Purpose of a Portfolio?	19	(1)
What to Include in Your Portfolio	20	(2)
Presentation Hints	22	(1)
CHAPTER 2 Discovering Job Vacancies	23	(26)
University Career Placement Centers	23	(3)
Offering Workshops and Counseling	24	(1)
Establishing Your Placement File	24	(1)
Maintaining a Job-Related Reference Library	25	(1)
Maintaining Lists of Current Educational Job Vacancies	25	(1)
Hosting Recruitment Interviews	26	(1)
Sending Your Placement File to Appropriate School Districts	26	(1)
Job Fairs	26	(1)
Local and National Newspaper Advertisements	27	(1)
School Surveys	28	(12)
Make a List of the Schools and Districts That Interest You	29	(1)
Rank Your List	29	(8)
Set Up a Cold-Calling Schedule	37	(1)
Begin Making Your Calls	37	(1)
Keep Track of Your Contacts	38	(2)
Network, Network, Network!	40	(1)
Use the Internet	41	(8)
School District Web Sites	42	(2)
State Department of Education Web Sites	44	(1)
NEA State Affiliate Web Sites	45	(1)
Listservs	45	(1)
Job Web Sites	45	(1)
A Few Words of Advice About Job Searching Over the Internet	45	(4)
CHAPTER 3 Making the Paper Cut: Resumes, Cover Letters, Applications, and Letters of Reference	49	(42)
Screening Procedures	49	(1)
Teacher-Specific Resumes	50	(30)
Writing an Outstanding Resume	51	(7)
Sample Resumes	58	(22)
Impressive Cover Letters	80	(3)
Winning Applications	83	(6)
Gather the Information You Will Need	83	(2)
Completing the Application	85	(4)
Sterling References	89	(2)
Professional Reference Letters	89	(1)
Personal Reference Letters	89	(2)
CHAPTER 4 The Inside Track: Student Teaching, Volunteering, Subbing, and Temping	91	(8)
Be an Enthusiastic Student Teacher	91	(3)
Give Them Something Extra	92	(1)
Another Chance to Network	92	(1)
Get Good Letters of Reference	93	(1)
Become an Enthusiastic School Volunteer	94	(1)
Become an Enthusiastic Sub or Temp	95	(4)
Short-Term Subbing	95	(1)
Long-Term Subbing	96	(3)
CHAPTER 5 The Nontraditional Path: Help for Non-Education Majors and Those Returning to the Field	99	(10)
Why Do You Want to Be a Teacher?	99	(1)
School Districts Are Seeking Second-Career and Returning Teachers	100	(4)
Creative Incentives	101	(1)
Programs for Recruiting and Training New Teachers from Other Fields	102	(2)
A Teacher Needs Many Skills That You Probably Already Have	104	(1)
Marketing Your Related Life Experiences and Transferable Skills	104	(2)
In Your Cover Letter	105	(1)
On Your Resume	106	(1)
During the Interview	106	(1)
Career-Switcher Success Stories	106	(5)
Patrick from Silicon Valley	106	(1)
Nanette from Los Angeles	107	(1)
James from New York	107	(1)
Brent from Tucson	107	(2)
PART 2 INTERVIEWING FOR TEACHING JOBS	109	(57)
CHAPTER 6 Preparing for the Interview	111	(26)
Do Your Homework	111	(5)
Research the Community	111	(2)
Research the School District	113	(1)
Visit the School	114	(2)
Network with Other Teacher Candidates	116	(1)
Prepare Responses to Possible Interview Questions	117	(14)
The Top 21 Questions Asked During Interviews	118	(9)
Other Questions	127	(3)
A Few Final Words of Advice	130	(1)
A Word About Coaching	130	(1)
Rehearse Role-Playing and Hypotheticals	131	(3)
Some Common Hypotheticals and Role-Playing Scenarios	132	(1)
Practicing with Your Networking Group	133	(1)
Videotape Mock Interviews	134	(3)
The Rules	134	(1)
It's Difficult, But Worth It	135	(2)
CHAPTER 7 Sharpening Your Personal Appeal	137	(10)
Dress and Grooming	138	(3)
Colors	138	(1)
Shoes	139	(1)
Jewelry	140	(1)
Cleanliness	140	(1)
Hair	140	(1)
Makeup	140	(1)
Body Language	141	(4)
Eye Contact	141	(1)
Facial Expressions	142	(1)
The Handshake	142	(1)
Posture	143	(1)
Hand Gestures	143	(1)
Head Gestures	144	(1)
Foot and Leg Gestures	145	(1)
Voice and Speech	145	(2)
Speed of Speech	145	(1)
Patterns of Speech	146	(1)
CHAPTER 8 Your Conduct During the Interview	147	(14)
A Positive Attitude Is the Key	147	(1)
Questions You Should Ask	148	(3)
Ask Questions That Showcase Your Talents	149	(2)
Direct Your Questions Appropriately	151	(1)
Questions to Avoid	151	(2)
38 Ways to Turn Off an Interview Committee	153	(7)
1. Your Cell Phone	153	(1)
2. Tardiness	153	(1)
3. Inappropriate Clothing/Dress	153	(1)
4. Dangling Earrings or Long, Brightly Painted Fingernails	153	(1)
5. Body Piercing	154	(1)
6. Poor Personal Hygiene	154	(1)
7. Chewing Gum or Smoking During the Interview	154	(1)
8. Poor Social Skills	154	(1)
9. Giving Pat, Canned, or Insincere Answers	154	(1)
10. Telling the Committee What You Think They Want to Hear	155	(1)
11. An Attitude That Is Too Relaxed and Informal	155	(1)
12. Poor Communication of Ideas	155	(1)
13. Not Sticking to the Subject	155	(1)
14. Not Knowing When to Close or Stop Talking	155	(1)
15. Answers That Are Too Defensive or Aggressive	156	(1)
16. Negativity	156	(1)
17. Badmouthing	156	(1)
18. Being a Know-It-All	156	(1)
19. Indications That You Think Your Methods and Philosophies Are the Only Ones	156	(1)
20. Inflexibility	156	(1)
21. Haughty, Arrogant, or Superior Manner	156	(1)
22. Bragging; Going Beyond Reasonable Selling of Yourself: Flaunting Yourself	157	(1)
23. Lack of Membership in Professional Organizations	157	(1)
24. Not Knowing Current Educational Trends, Methods, and Issues	157	(1)
25. Candidates Who Think They Have Finished Learning Because They're Out of School	157	(1)
26. No Knowledge of the School or Community	157	(1)
27 Displaying Stupidity	158	(1)
28. Poor Grammar	158	(1)
29. Lack of Self-Confidence	158	(1)
30. Lackluster Performance	158	(1)
31. Negative Body Language	158	(1)
32. Being Unprepared	158	(1)
33. No Questions for the Interview Panel	159	(1)
34. Playing Politics	159	(1)
35. "Not My Job" Syndrome	159	(1)
36. Blaming Students for Their Failure to Do Well	159	(1)
37. More Interest in the Compensation Package Than the Kids	159	(1)
38. Lack of Passion for Kids and Teaching	159	(1)
At the End of the Interview	160	(1)
CHAPTER 9 Following Up After the Interview	161	(6)
The Thank-You Letter	161	(2)
Follow-Up Phone Calls	163	(1)
Be Patient and Positive	164	(2)
EPILOGUE	166	(1)
APPENDIX Educational Resources: Associations, State-Specific Contacts, and Overseas Opportunities	167	(22)
Educational Associations	167	(3)
State Departments of Education	170	(6)
State Offices of Teacher Certification	176	(6)
NEA State Affiliates	182	(5)
Opportunities for Overseas Employment	187	(2)
U.S. Territories	187	(1)
Additional Overseas Employment Resources	188	(1)
INDEX	189