applying for jobs in education

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applying for jobs in education

• Keith Munson
• Career Specialist
• Fall 2010

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Agenda
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Tips for preparing materials

• It takes time!
• 6-9 months to find a job
• Searching is like a full-time job
• Need to create unique tailored materials

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Job Search Process
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A note about credential files

• Self managed
• Include
• Education Credentials Cover Sheet
• Standard cover letter/letter of application
• Resume
• Application
• Copies of letters of recommendation (usually 3)
• Student teaching evaluations
• Copy of teaching license (if available)
• Copy of official transcript (available from
  Registrars Office for a nominal fee)
• Every district may have different instructions on
  how to submit-FOLLOW DIRECTIONS
• Every district may have different definition of
  Credential File-FOLLOW DIRECTIONS?.

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RESUMES
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Purpose of a Resume?

• To promote yourself is your marketing tool to
  school districts
• Generate interest in talking with you.
• The purpose of a resume is NOT to get you a job
  but to get you an INTERVIEW!!!!
• NOT the whole story.

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Resume Tips

• Invest the time and energy
• Have it critiqued
• Create something that represents you
• Sell your skills!
• Continuous process
• Keep the audience in mind
• Use formatting to make important information
  stand out

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Section Headings
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Personal Information/Heading

• Full Name should be displayed boldly and larger
  than the rest of the text
• Include full address, phone number and email
  address
• Should spell out all abbreviated words
• Use a professional email address and have
  professional message on your phone

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Education

• Include your degree, college major, expected
  graduation as well as the city and state of your
  college
• Can include GPA, Honors and Awards, Study Abroad,
  and any relevant coursework in this section if
  you wish
• Include any other post-high school experiences if
  you received a degree from that school

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Licensure

• This comes after the Education Section because
  schools will want to see it
• They will know you will not have it yet just
  put when it is expected or that it is pending

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Student Teaching

• Most relevant, so it comes next
• Include grade level, school name, city, state and
  the dates

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Write Effective Skill Phrases

• Skill phrases are action statements that describe
  your experiences.
• Components of a skill phrase
• Bullet point
• Action verbs in the past-tense
• Specific skill that was learned or honed
• Results of your work, or how or why you did the
  work.
• Avoid personal pronouns when writing skill phrases

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Skill Phrase Example

• Fair
• Created lesson plans
• Better
• Created original lesson plans surrounding the
  book The Giver
• Best
• Created constructivist lesson plans that utilized
  cooperative learning to discuss concepts in Lois
  Lowrys book, The Giver

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Important Topics to Cover

• Implementing your own lesson plans
• Working with different learning styles and
  diverse students
• Collaborating with parents and managing student
  behavior
• Curriculum development

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Related Teaching Experience

• Same format as student teaching
• Describe additional experience working with
  childrento teaching

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Classroom Skills

• List any special skills you have that could add
  to your teaching and classroom experience
• Examples computer skills, languages, musical
  skills, art skills, and coaching

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Other Sections

• You will want to add any other sections that
  highlight your well-rounded abilities and
  interests
• Examples Volunteer Experiences, Additional
  Involvement, and Other Work Experience

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Final Tips
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Create a Professional Image

• Be honestno lying or exaggerations
• Use easy to read fonts and layouts
• Avoid too many graphics, fancy fonts,
  self-portraits
• Be consistent
• Look at it from an employers perspective, is it
  visually appealing and professional?
• 1 full page or 1.5-2 full pages
• Print on white or neutral colored resume paper

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Cover Letters
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What is a Cover Letter?

• A marketing piece that highlights your most
  important qualifications AS THEY RELATE TO THAT
  SPECIFIC POSITION OR DISTRICT
• Tool to get the employer to read your resume
• Demonstrates your writing ability

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Cover Letter Tips

• Tailor to each position NO GENERIC LETTERS
• Make them feel like you care about their district
  and the job
• Really answer the question-why should I hire you?
• Remember back to your English classes
• Have it critiqued! Spelling/grammatical errors
  will get you in the no pile

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Basic Guidelines

• Should always accompany a resume even when not
  requested
• Needs to be well-written and in a professional
  tone
• Do not start all of your sentences with I
• Customize each letter with a job description of
  the organization you are applying for

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Heading

• Can/should match heading on resume
• Your address, date, employer address
• Salutation

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Opening

• Indicate the position you are applying for and
  how you came to learn about the position
• State why you are interested in the position
• Why this organization?
• Demonstrates genuine interest
• Catches their attention

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Middle Section

• Highlight your experience as it relates to the
  position
• Provide them with the key skills you have that
  are mentioned in the job description
• Be specific about how your achievements and
  education have prepared you for the position

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Closing

• Reiterate your interest in the position and thank
  them
• Ask for an interview
• State YOUR follow up

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Final Tips
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FINDING OPPORTUNITIES
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Tips to Effective Networking

• Its all about making connections
• Remember that it is win-win
• Need to follow up and keep in touch!
• Obtain 2-3 referrals from each contact
• Send a thank-you note
• Make networking a life-long activity

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Whos in your Network?

• Family friends, friend of family
• Student/Cooperating Teachers
• Faculty/professors
• Classmates
• Employers/co-workers
• Contacts from professional organizations, church,
  or social clubs
• Contacts from career fairs

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Finding Jobs Online

• Augpost
• www.mnlandit.org
• http//www1.stcloudstate.edu/joblistings/edpost/
  (Ed Post)
• http//www.schoolspring.com/
• http//www.teachers-teachers.com/
• http//www.usreap.net/
• http//services.education.wisc.edu/wecan/ (WECAN,
  WI)

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Quick Tips to Online Job Searching

• Find school districts you are interested in
• Bookmark them right to the HR page
• Check 1 or 2 times per week for new openings
• OR
• Set up job search agents
• A lot of websites have these

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ApplicationTips
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District Applications

• Devote the time to your application (hours)
• Start with districts you are most interested
• Answer genuinely/Put thought into the questions
  that you answer
• Do not put See Resume or simply repeat info in
  resume
• Can send follow-up letter and resume later if
  position becomes available
• Follow-up is key!
• Utilize jargon throughout to ensure you get
  pulled in a keyword search (read the job
  description)
• Save it all in a word doc and copy and paste in
  if you can
• Check your spelling!

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Interviewing
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Interviewing

• Be prepared!
• Behaviorally Based and Hypothetical Questions
• Provide concrete, professional examples
• Attend Interviewing Workshop
• Practice with a Career Specialist

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Interview Stream
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Portfolio

• Documented evidence of teaching skills and
  achievements
• Hard copy works best in an interview
• Use as an aid
• Lesson plans, evaluations, resume, cover letter,
  activities, and awards

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Final Thoughts on Standing Out

• Check and recheck materials
• Complete applications entirely and on time
• Highlight experiences that make you different
• Avoid templates
• Passion and energy in materials/interviews
• Letters of reference/recommendation
• Involvement in other activities
• Tailor all materials to each position-RESEARCH

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Professional Image A small note

• Facebook
• MySpace
• Twitter
• Youtube
• Voicemail
• Roommates
• Networking

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MN Education Job Fair

• Monday
• April 11, 2011
• Minneapolis Convention Center1301 Second Avenue
  SouthMinneapolis, MN  55403

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2011 Ed Fair

• Materials and website later in the year
• http//www.mcusa.org/mnedfair/
• Early registration earns price break!
• 15.00 early registration
• 30.00 at the door
• 89 Districts attended in 2010
• On site interviews and district boothes

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QUESTIONS?
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Write these down.......

• http//cswl.pbworks.com
• munsonk_at_augsburg.edu