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Preparing for a Job Search in Education As your formal education comes to an end you need to begin contemplating what lies ahead - a teaching career. Before this can occur, a job search is usually necessary. In a sense, marketing yourself is similar to taking a course. Generally, the more planning and preparation involved, the more successful you are. We recommend that you start preparing for your job search by visiting the Career Planning and Placement Center on campus. Find out from a career counselor in the placement office when and how to begin developing a credential file. These papers will provide prospective employers with important data about your teaching qualifications. Included will be such forms as a personal data sheet, a listing of courses taken and grades earned, and several recommendations. This file should be kept current since principals and superintendents need up-to-date information for decision-making. If you plan to secure employment within the next six months, it is also a good idea to register with your placement office for access to educational vacancies. Vacancies may be posted online or available through mailings. Some colleges and universities offer such services as eRecruiting which allows you to login to access their database and even submit your resume to employers electronically. There is often a small fee for this service, but it will become one of your primary sources for job vacancy information in education. Register now! We also suggest you ask one or two professors from your major field, who know you well, to write recommendations on your behalf. These should be placed in your credential file to support your candidacy for a teaching position. School administrators are always concerned about a candidate's academic performance, especially in one's major field of study. If you have completed your student teaching assignment, make certain you have both your University Student Teaching Coordinator and your Cooperating Teacher write recommendations for you. It will be difficult to obtain any teaching position without fairly strong recommendations from both individuals. Forms are often supplied by the university or college for this purpose. When asking someone to write a recommendation we suggest you provide the writer with an outline of your experiences and accomplishments. Include information about activities or organizations in which you participated, your major and minor, the date you expect to graduate, your grade point average, any honors or awards received, and your career goal. If your resume is now finished, this would serve the purpose well. Such facts help the writer be more thorough in describing your overall qualifications. In addition, you should provide your evaluator with a pre-addressed and stamped envelope. Many university placement services also have pre-printed forms on which recommendations can be written. Request some. Your aim is to make it convenient for the writer to complete the recommendation. Become acquainted with the career counselor who handles educational placements at your college or university. Your employment preferences should be discussed with this individual. Often the counselors are asked by school administrators for names of candidates possessing certain credentials or backgrounds. Career counselors can be helpful to you in your job search. It is imperative that all credential file forms be completed in a professional manner (typed, accurate, and thorough). Proof read everything! Administrators often get their first impressions of you when they review your placement file. A poor first impression usually means you will not get a chance to make a second one. Finally, let professors in your education classes know your employment goals and that you are beginning to look for a position. Make a special point to inform those who also teach in the graduate school division since they may have school administrators in these classes who might ask for names of good teacher candidates. We have interviewed many teachers because of university or college personnel contacts. In summary, use these primary resources to the best of your ability. Many jobs are landed by word of mouth. Let key people know you are in the job market. Windsor, R., & Rowland, W., (2005). Employment strategies for prospective teachers: a guide (8th ed.). Lisle, Illinois: The Advantage Press. |