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Effective Job Search Strategies for Educators

 

Step 1 – Conduct a self-assessment and identify your:

  • Skills and abilities
  • Interests
  • Values
  • Experience
  • Strengths and limitations

    Step 2 – Set your career goals:

  • Clarify and be able to articulate what kind(s) of position(s) you prefer, what kind of setting you would like to work in and where you want to be geographically
  • Determine what additional education is needed to meet your goals

    Step 3 – Organize your search:

  • Have your resume and cover letter critiqued
  • Participate in a mock interview
  • Develop a teaching portfolio
  • Determine certification testing requirements in your state(s) of interest
  • Identify other certification requirements (fingerprinting, applications)
  • Establish your placement file (letters of recommendation) and consider including your unofficial transcripts

    Step 4 – Develop and conduct your job search campaign:
  • Join career related professional organizations and community groups
  • Network with family, friends, professors, past employers, and neighbors
  • Utilize the Career Services web site for job listings
  • Utilize the internet and visit school district web sites for hiring processes and materials
  • Attend job fairs and participate in recruiting events
  • Read the newspaper classifieds
  • Send resumes, cover letters, school district applications and placement file to target employers
  • Research your potential employers
  • Interview with organizations of interest to you and send thank you notes
  • Consider substituting opportunities
  • Track your activity carefully

    Step 5 – Rate your job offers:

  • Understand that rejection is part of the process
  • Accept an offer that is best for you
  • The ethical path is to stop interviewing once you have accepted an offer
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