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©2010
©2010
Dr. Invernizzi served as a: Teacher, Coach, Principal, School Superintendent, College Faculty Member Sponsored Links
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Other pages of interest:
How to Get that Teaching Job
Your college advisor and/or profs should be able to tell you the requirements for certification in your state (or the state you are applying to) and what Praxis tests you need to take. The Praxis site list the state's requirement. Be aware of your states requirements and clearances to teach, e.g., in PA you need Act 34, 151 and a FBI Act 114 fingerprint clearance.
Also, I will assume that you have taken advantage of your college or university placement office. Go to the websites of the school districts that you want to work at: to see job postings, to get the actual (real) names of the people you send the materials to ("Mr. Smith, Principal" is better than "Dear Mr. Principal"), and to learn about the district.
Interviews, Creating Résumés and Cover Letters
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Some of the employment authors provide the job seeker with some basic ideas about résumé writing, general questions that almost all interviewers ask, and how to dress for an interview. Look at the background of the author. Was this person an HR person (human resources) or an educator? Did this person ever work in a school district? Did this person ever work in a position that involved interviewing applicants and asking questions about teaching, administration or general school questions, e.g., curriculum, grouping, individualization? Or does the author just give you the standard "what do you see yourself doing in five years" type questions?
These questions serve a purpose for business, and can serve a purpose in education, i.e., you should know what you plan on doing a few years down the road! But education differs from the business models (see my article on Leaders and Leadership in the Schools on this website). Some of the appropriate responses for the business and the corporate world might seem a little mismatched when answering a question in an educational setting. In one, the focus is on making money. In the other, the focus is on working with young human beings.
Educators are not making widgets or doo-hickies! You not only need to show the interviewers that you have an excellent knowledge base about the subject(s) that you will be teaching, but also that you are an excellent people person! Repeat this: I love working with students! Say it again: I love working with students! Again. If you don't mean this, don't bother applying for the job.
Another thing to consider is that some things are out of your control. You can control your: grades, Praxis scores, cover letter and résumé, interview question/answer preparation, grooming, demeanor, portfolio. You cannot control: whether you will get an interview based upon your cover letter and résumé, whether people will like you as a person and/or your responses to interview questions.
These questions serve a purpose for business, and can serve a purpose in education, i.e., you should know what you plan on doing a few years down the road! But education differs from the business models (see my article on Leaders and Leadership in the Schools on this website). Some of the appropriate responses for the business and the corporate world might seem a little mismatched when answering a question in an educational setting. In one, the focus is on making money. In the other, the focus is on working with young human beings.
Educators are not making widgets or doo-hickies! You not only need to show the interviewers that you have an excellent knowledge base about the subject(s) that you will be teaching, but also that you are an excellent people person! Repeat this: I love working with students! Say it again: I love working with students! Again. If you don't mean this, don't bother applying for the job.
Another thing to consider is that some things are out of your control. You can control your: grades, Praxis scores, cover letter and résumé, interview question/answer preparation, grooming, demeanor, portfolio. You cannot control: whether you will get an interview based upon your cover letter and résumé, whether people will like you as a person and/or your responses to interview questions.
Do read several articles on interviewing, creating résumés and cover letters. I do recommend that you review several authors' ideas about obtaining employment. Also, I have résumé and cover letter samples on this website, but look at others to compare and find a style you like that represents YOU!
APA Style: Invernizzi, J. (2010). "Teaching Job in a School District." Retrieved May 1, 2012, from EducationDx, USA. Web site: http://www.educationdx.com/teaching-job.html. (Updated May 1, 2012)