As your student teaching practicum begins to wind down, the reality of finding your ideal teaching job may hit you like a ton of bricks. Or perhaps the quest for finding a job has been on your mind for months. In either case, looking for the perfect teaching position will take time and effort. You must be ready to put yourself out there and be open to possibilities. Flexibility is the name of the game.
During my student teaching, I began my job search in March and was not hired until the middle of July. I watched as many of my peers obtained letters of intent months before we even graduated. I tried not to compare myself to others but a sense of urgency took over as I immediately felt behind the curve. I quickly realized that waiting until my practicum was over to look for employment was not feasible. Searching for a job while you are student teaching can feel overwhelming but there are some proactive steps you can take to ease the stress.
I watched as many of my peers obtained letters of intent months before we even graduated. I tried not to compare myself to others but a sense of urgency took over as I immediately felt behind the curve.
Preparation
This may sound cliche, but preparation really is the key to success. If you are not sure where to start, turn to the people in your network (Read Pathway to Teaching for networking ideas). When I began my job search, I reached out to my mentor teacher because I was hoping to work for the district where I was completing my practicum. She connected me with several new teachers in the building who had just gone through the application and hiring process. They shared their resumes and cover letters, and met with me to discuss the interview process. This was immensely helpful in understanding what recruiters and hiring committees are looking for in job candidates. If you don’t feel comfortable reaching out to your mentor teacher or others in your building, start by connecting with a career counselor in your university program or even a trusted professor.
Interviewing
Once I had perfected my resume, I started applying for any and all jobs I was interested in. Within about a week, I received the call for my first ever teacher interview. I was so excited and incredibly nervous. I remembered thinking that even though I had never interviewed for a teaching position before I had tons of other job experience and always did really well when talking to people. I glanced over some sample interview questions and I thought “oh yeah, I got this.”
Well, I completely bombed my first interview.
Feeling defeated and worried about throwing away another opportunity, I reached out to the principal at the building where I was student teaching. She agreed to meet with me and gave me some valuable insights, including the four main areas that are always brought up in an interview: classroom management, communication with families, recognizing diversity, and differentiation techniques. Armed with this new information, I began to write out my interview responses so I could frame them in a way that was clear and concise (See the article on How To Frame Your Response to Interview Questions). I then practiced my responses in front of the mirror until I felt confident with my answers.
Practice and Attend Job Fairs
A great way to get more real-life interview practice is by attending a job fair. Truth be told, I was not a huge fan of job fairs because I always felt intimidated by the crowds. However, they can be a great resource for getting yourself out there, rehearsing interview questions, and networking. My district of interest was holding several job fairs that hiring season and I went to all of them. Each time I talked with a different recruiter thereby getting multiple chances to practice different interview questions. The first time I was incredibly nervous but by the third time I had started to get into a rhythm. Plus, they made a note in my file that I had come and spoke with recruiters multiple times.
After attending these job fairs, I was called in for two more interviews. I did not get picked for either position, but I felt proud of how far I had come in just a few weeks. I left each interview knowing I answered the questions thoroughly and to the best of my ability.
Keeping an Open Mind
Lastly, you must keep an open mind on where you may teach and at what grade-level (or subject). Despite all of the job fairs and interviews, I left my practicum without a job lined up for the fall. I felt discouraged but I knew I had to expand my options. I began applying for jobs in locations and grade levels that weren’t ideal, but I could live with. In July, I got a call to interview for a first-grade position. The school and the grade-level (first grade) were not my top preferences, but I went ahead with the interview.
As I walked into the main office, I didn’t feel the familiar dread and nerves I'd had at every other interview, rather I felt a sense of calm and belonging. My interviewees were kind and they put me at ease right away. I left feeling like it wasn’t the greatest interview, but I still had a good feeling about it. Two days later, they called and offered me the position. I am now completing my second year teaching first grade, and while I’ve had some days of uncertainty, there is nowhere else I'd rather be teaching. Preparation, practice, and keeping your mind open will put you in a better position to recognize a good fit and the right opportunity when it comes along.