The WeAreTeachers HELPLINE has been abuzz with discussions about job hunting, interviewing and getting hired. Spring is hiring season, and our vets and newbies alike are on the prowl!
The discussions inspired this post: a compilation of all of WeAreTeachers’s job-related posts, from getting noticed to acing your interview to starting off your new job on the right foot. We also asked some administrators for their dos and don’ts of the job hunt. So whether you’ve been part of our community from day one or you’re just joining the conversation now, the best of our advice is at your fingertips!
How to Get Noticed
From our archives:
1. 7 Tips for Teacher Job Fairs
2. 9 Job-Hunting Tips From Teachers Who’ve Landed Their Dream Positions
3. 12 Educator Discount Programs (for getting new interview threads on the cheap!)
Administrator advice:
– Mr. Brian Ross, supervisor of English, New Jersey: “Construct your résumé judiciously by selecting the most relevant items in your work and educational history. Include only those things that truly matter. Be sure to proofread your cover letter before sending it, and anticipate the questions so that you can prepare succinct answers that convey your experience and qualifications.”
– Dr. Carol Rosevear, former superintendent, New Jersey: “To stand out at a job fair, look nice, neat, and together, and smile! Your first impression is important. Anticipate questions and rehearse your answers so you can speak confidently. Being articulate is just as important as having great credentials.”
Your Best Interview
From our archives:
1. Do I Actually Need a Teaching Portfolio?
2. Best Ways to Organize a Teaching Portfolio – Teachers Weigh In
3. What to Ask the Hiring Team at Your Next Teacher Interview
Administrator advice:
– BR: “Be on time for your interview, bring extra copies of everything, ask questions that demonstrate that you have done your research, and don’t forget to write a thank-you.”
– CR: “Talk about your experiences, your successes and what you’d be able to contribute to the school beyond the classroom. It’s important to show that you’re engaged, enthusiastic and reflective.”
Score! You Got the Job! Now What?
From our archives:
1. I Just Landed My First Teaching Job! Any Advice?
2. 20 Things New Teachers Really, Really Need to Know (According to the Vets)
3. U.S. Teacher Salary Report
4. 5 Frustrating Things That Will Happen to New Teachers (and Sometimes Vets Too!)
5. Dear First-Year Teacher: A Love Letter
6. The Teacher Report: The Best Advice for New Teachers
In the Meantime …
Whether you’re subbing, student teaching or just trying to earn some money while you look for your first (or next!) real teaching job, we’ve got you covered.
From our archives:
1. What Are Some Ways to Earn Post-Holiday Supplemental Income?
2. How Can Teachers Make Extra Money?
3. Ways Teachers Can Make Extra Money
4. How Can I Thank My Mentor Teacher?
5. 7 Habits of Amazing Student Teachers
Administrator advice:
– CR: “Remain active in your discipline, whether you’re a social studies teacher volunteering as a museum docent, an English teacher writing and publishing, or a science teacher subscribing to and reading a wide variety of scientific journals. Having a demonstrated interest in your field beyond the college transcript will help you stand out!”
