Job Search Strategies For Teacher Candidates

1. Job Search Strategies For Teacher Candidates 617-552-3430 http://www.bc.edu/offices/careers/

2. Four keys to job search • Have confidence in yourself. • Look for the best match: • Your strengths, needs and wishes WITH the school/district environment. • Mentoring, management, collaboration. • Set yourself apart. • Expand job search geographically.

3. What are they looking for?Survey of nearly 150 school principals • Knowledgeable and up-to-date in the field • Hard worker with a strong work ethic. • Strong interpersonal skills • Caring, tactful, sense of humor, self-reflective.

4. What are they looking for?Survey, continued • Student versus self-focused: • Unwavering belief that all children can learn; • Truly respect and enjoy children. • Skilled communicator with adults & children.

5. What else are they looking for?Anecdotally, from administrators • Maturity. • Make sure that school makes annual progress - high-stakes testing. • Experience with inclusion classroom; classroom management; parents; collaboration.

6. How do you apply? • Usually to district, via website or snail mail. • Websites - home grown (e.g. Boston) or via a commercial site (SchoolSpring). • Usually resume, cover letter, transcript(s), 3 recommendations. • Can apply even if no current opening.

7. Resume, cover letters set you apart • Resume – your unique experiences as a teacher. • Cover letter that: • Shows you’ve researched district and school - why do you want to work there? • Highlights 2-3 key strengths, with examples.

8. Personal contact sets you apart – those you already know • Choosing practicums – will district likely have openings when you graduate? • Enhance your chances – do practicums in more than one district. • Have principal observe you. • Ask cooperating teachers for people to do informational interviews with.

9. Personal contact sets you apart – networking & informational interviewing • Networking = meeting with professionals, interviewing them about their career experiences. • Ask any question except “Can I have a job?” • TWO things to accomplish – gather information; establish rapport (so they can comfortably recommend you to other people)

10. Personal contact sets you apart - networking & informational interviewing • Face-to-face or phone is best. • Use email only for setting up meetings. • Mention these conversations in cover letter or follow-up letter. • Tell everyone you know that you’re job hunting. • Send thank you notes, AND keep your contacts up to date on your search.

11. BC Alumni Career Network • Networking overview, sample questions http://www.bc.edu/offices/careers/careers/networking.html • Student access to database is through AGORA • click on Career Services, then Alumni Career Network • Alumni access throughhttp://www.bc.edu/alumni/association/community.html • Search on industry and state only

12. Personal contact sets you apart – job fairs 4 keys to succeeding at job fairs: • Research the districts, have specific questions. • Be ready to talk about your strengths as a teacher - examples of each strength. • Start with a district that you’re less interested in. • Send thank you notes.

13. Personal contact sets you apart – job fairs • For job fair listingshttp://www.bc.edu/offices/careers/events/soe.html • To identify out-of-state job fairs, use Google search: “teacher job fair georgia” – no quotation marks

14. Personal contact sets you apart – school visits • School visits: Drop-in, to find out about vacancies before posted and to get sense of the school. OR • School visits - Call to set up informational interview with someone who has hiring power.

15. Other ways to set yourself apart • Done something unusual? Bring that to light. • Send separate cover letter and resume to principals. • Research and preparation for interviews. • Research school & district • Practice interview, Career Center – 617-552-3430 • Attend a Teacher Interview Workshop and look at our online materials

16. Be willing to expand search geographically • Boston-area job market very competitive. • Many good districts within commute of BC. • Good site to identify districts: • http://profiles.doe.mass.edu/search/map.aspx • Ask networking contacts for good districts. • Consider moving to another region OR teaching in an urban or rural area.

17. Teacher supply and demand • Nationally, surplus of teachers ONLY in elementary (primary), social studies, PE. • Large variations between regions. • SE, SW, some Rockies states have shortages • Large variations within regions. • AAEE “Job Search Handbook for Educators” has complete data on regions.

18. Wash your Facebook • Some employers WILL look at your page. • No photos of or references to drug or alcohol use; no physically revealing photos. • Clean up your page AND photos of you on friends’ pages. • Be careful what you write.

19. Timing • Start looking Feb; many jobs open May-Aug. • Some openings early fall and mid-year. • Teacher Job Search Timeline: • http://www.bc.edu/offices/careers/meta-elements/pdf/teachertimeline.pdf • Applied, haven’t heard by July, call. • Substituting, especially “long-term,” a plus.

20. $$$ • Don’t ask about $$ or benefits in interview. • Salary is usually non-negotiable. • Salary “schedule” available on district website or by request. • AAEE Handbook - starting, average, and highest salaries for cities and states.

21. Sources of job openings • BostonWorks.com (Boston Globe) • http://bostonworks.boston.com/browse/jobs/ • Campus recruiting through EagleLink. • Resume Books online – starting in May • http://www.bc.edu/offices/careers/jobs/recruiting.html • Check individual districts’ web sites • http://profiles.doe.mass.edu/search/map.aspx • More job links at: • http://www.bc.edu/offices/careers/resourcesfor/soeresources/search.htm

22. Job openings – charter schools • Mission-driven. • Greater freedom to set school’s goals, create curriculum. • Often offer strong mentoring of new teachers. • Salary generally same as the local district. • http://www.bc.edu/offices/careers/resourcesfor/soeresources/charter.html

23. Job openings – independent schools • Much earlier schedule – apply Jan/Feb. • Use teacher placement agencies. • Buy Everyone's Guide to Job Searching in Private Schools by Laurence B. Boggess • http://www.bc.edu/offices/careers/careers/careerfields/edprivate.html

24. Summary • Have confidence in yourself. • Articulate – for yourself – what you want from your first teaching job. • Set yourself apart through personal contact and targeted job search documents. • Expand your search geographically. • Ask for help.

25. Career Center Services38 Commonwealth Ave, - 617-552-3430 (just up the street from St. Ignatius Church)http://www.bc.edu/offices/careers/ • Drop-In Question Hours, in Career Center: • Mon-Fri, 1:00-4:00 PM; Tues/Wed, 5:00-7:30 PM • Drop-In Question Hours, Campion (call for hours) • Appointments with a Career Advisor

26. Services, cont’d • Events & workshops for education students -http://www.bc.edu/offices/careers/events/soe.html • Resume and cover letter critiques; practice interviews; job search advice; career counseling • All our public school teaching pages: http://www.bc.edu/offices/careers/resourcesfor/soeresources.html