Job Searching for Teachers

1. Job Searching for Teachers Presented by: Kim Meredith, LPC, NCC Assistant Director, Career Counselor (678) 547-6584 meredith_kc@mercer.edu

2. Provided by the Mercer Career Services Office Teacher Recruitment Fair Thursday, February 13, 2014Mercer macon campus university center9:30 a.m.Sign-up not requiredProfessional attire and Résumé required

3. Optional Event www.GISA-schools.org SUNDAY, MARCH 23, 2014Mercer atlanta campusAACC Building1:00 – 4:30 p.m. Sign-up is not required *This event is open to the public. Mercer participants are given a chance to talk to recruiters first, from 1:00-1:30, before the event opens to the public at 1:30 p.m.

4. Resumes A Marketing & Sales Tool.

5. Your Résumé Must Be: • Crisp • Concise • Compelling • High Impact

6. Resumes • Should showcase your achievements or contributions, not just list your past jobs • Should tell the results or impact of your work • Should consider the needs of the employer (from researching) and tailor what you have to offer around their needs • Should use educational jargon

7. What is a High-Q / HQ Teacher? • Teachers are considered to be highly qualified if they have: • a bachelor’s degree 2) full State certification 3) demonstrated competence in • subject knowledge • teaching skills From the Georgia Professional Standards

8. Resumes Should Stress That You Are High-Q! TOP of your resume: High-Q Definition a Bachelor’s Degree Full State Certification demonstrated competence in… subject knowledge And teaching skills • List Your Bachelor’s Degree • Name of Degree • “Expected Month/Year” • Name of Granting Institution: Mercer University • GPA (if above 3.0) • Honors / Societies • Not Certified Yet, But List these: • “Passed GACE Content Exam, Month/Year” • T4 Early Childhood • T4 Middle Grades: “Math & Science” • Sell Your Competence! • Consider these sections: • “Qualifications” • “Strengths” • “Profile”

9. Sample Top ½ of a Resume - Shows Critical Selling Points! Mercer A. Student 1001 Atlanta Drive ♦ Atlanta, GA 30341 ♦ 404-222-0000 Mercerstudent@hotmail.com ♦ www.mercerstudent.com SPECIAL EDUCATION TEACHER Passion and proven track record for teaching SWD to excel! QUALIFICATIONS • Experience in teaching collaborative classes during my student teaching which included students with EBD, SLD, ADHD, and OHI • Focused teaching strategies to meet the needs of SWD - resulted in a 30% increase in mastery of GP standards in writing during student teaching • Researched effective strategies to teach writing and reading comprehension to SWD for my Adolescent Development and Learning, Teaching Exceptional Learners, and Research classes at Mercer University • Awarded Teacher of the Month during student teaching for my commitment to helping students achieve mastery of GP standards for reading comprehension and writing • Received the following praise for my Analysis of Student Learning: “This is one of the best Analysis of Student Learning that I have ever received. You were very thorough with supporting details and you actually learned from the experience. Fantastic job.” Somebody Here, University Supervisor Georgia T4 Teaching Certificate - Expected May 2011 Early Childhood and Special Education General Curriculum Consultative (P-12) EDUCATION Bachelor of Science in Education (BSED) Expected May 2011 Mercer University, Atlanta, GA GPA: 3.71

10. Classic Clichés to Avoid on Your Resume • “Planned, created, and instructed lessons” • “Assisted in the classroom instruction” • “Took attendance roll” • “Met with parents in conferences” These are too VAGUE!

11. Two Ways to Customize Your Teacher Résumé! (and avoid those clichés!) Use the PSRV exercise to help you write your contributions and achievements Deconstruct the job description and use language from it to capture the reader

12. How to…Get to Your Contributions/Achievements • PSRV Exercise: (just an exercise to get your thoughts rolling) • Problem/Issue/Challenge/Situation • Solution • Result • Value Let’s Try PSRV Now!

13. How to…Consider the Needs of the Employer • Deconstruct the Job Description (JD) • This means analyze the JD thoroughly. • Highlight key words and phrases. • Make a list of the top three things that the employer is looking for. • Some JD’s are short and not very informative Dig deeper.

14. You Must Study the Employer’s Web Site!Learn enough that you could deliver a thoughtful, fact-filled presentation to the employer, about themselves. It’s just not optional… If you want to compete.

15. Let’s think of some Educational Jargon… Here’s a great web site to help you create powerful phrases using educational jargon: http://www.sciencegeek.net/lingo.html

16. Which Style Resume? Conservative Creative

17. Move Education to Top

19. Resumes Tips for Career Changers • Use the “Rule of Relevance” to decide whether to include the experience in your resume • First, determine if your experience is in the Education field or outside the field (non-education) • Ask yourself if the experience in your past is relevant to your new teaching career. Yes! Sell this in your resume! Yes! Sell this in your resume! List in the employment history, but de-emphasize it by shortening the content.

20. #1 Turn-off for recruiters… Poor writing skills. • Poorly written email to the recruiter • Mistakes in grammar or typos in any of your communication • Unprofessional looking in format • Being informal – use of lowercase, jargon, chat/text talk, etc. You will be disqualified!

21. Your Job Search A positive outlook!

22. Job Outlook for Teachers Source:O Net web site

23. Elementary Teachers Middle School Teachers • TeachGeorgia.org currently has 270 openings posted.

24. 100 Best Jobs of 2013(U.S. News & World Report) • School Pyschologist - #13 • Speech-Language Pathologist - #28 • High School Teacher - #38 • Elementary School Teacher - #45 • Middle School Teacher - #52 • Pre-School Teacher - #55 • School Counselor - #59

25. Leverage Your Job Search by Becoming Involved in a Professional Organization! • GAE – Georgia Association of Educators • www.gae2.org • PAGE – Professional Association of Georgia Educators • www.pageinc.org

26. References • Select your people wisely. • Ask their permission and keep them abreast of your search at all times! • A reference that’s not strong can hurt you. (Despite having superior quality resume, cover letter and appearance.)

27. References List • Should match font and overall look of Résumé • 3 people is enough • Only those who can attest to your strengths as a Teacher! • Separate document from Résumé • Usually not needed at a fair

28. References FORM • Required by School System

29. Georgia’s Official Recruitment Clearinghouse • A web-based resource tool for educators in Georgia • Apply for teaching jobs in Georgia school systems in one place • Announces job fairs, information sessions and upcoming events www.TeachGeorgia.org Set up a profile today!

30. Be attentive to the fact that some counties prefer their own application system rather than the TeachGA application.

31. What the Recruiters Say • For ECSP graduates: they are very interested in your dual certification! • For MIGR graduates: Math and Science are highly sought! • For all: Special Education Teachers are needed! • Principals have access to search through the applicants • They can see your resume, references, cover letters…everything! • Human Resources professionals are usually not knowledgeable about LiveText • But, principals might be. • You MUST Build Relationships with People! Network! • Student teaching in the county is seen as a plus

32. Job Search Resources Check out the articles below: • 50 Great Questions for Teacher InterviewsThe questions principals ask during interviews are key to drawing out the personalities of applicants and selecting the right people. Prepare for your next interview by learning the questions principals might ask! • The Interview: Principals Share 30 Favorite Questions for Future TeachersEducation World's "Principal Files" principals share 30 of their favorite questions to ask applicants. • Character(istics) Count! -- What Principals Look for When Hiring New TeachersA recent article on Teaching for Excellence discusses what school principals look for in the new teachers they hire. Which of 15 "can-do" characteristics is most important? Education World asks the Principal Files principals. • From the Principal Files: Principals Offer Advice to Job SeekersHave a plan, a portfolio, and a good attitude! That's just some of the advice Education World's Principal Files principals have for soon-to-be college grads looking for their first teaching positions. • Are You Ready for That Job Interview?It's that time of year -- school districts are recruiting for fall teaching vacancies. If you dread the interview process, here are some tips that can help you prepare and boost your self-assurance. • What Qualities Do Principals Look for in a New Teacher? What do school principals look for in the new teachers they hire? Principals' responses to that question might help others -- principals and teaching candidates -- as they focus their thoughts on the interviews ahead.

33. Consider Relocating!

34. Consider Other Employment! Certified Teachers are needed by other employers. Develop a List of 10-20 “non-School System” Target Employers For a list of ideas, see document entitled “Alternate Employment for Certified Teachers” (provided by Career Counselor)

35. Job Search Advice • Job search through Google • For example, this site was found: • Search professional organizations • When using engines, use keywords other than “teacher” • Education • Adolescent • Mentor/tutor • Coach • Training • Continuing Education • Curriculum • Advisor • Instruction or Instructor

37. Can your attire hurt your teaching career? Hello Recruiter, My name is…

38. What do I wear? Wear an interview suit to recruitment fairs!(and interviews)

39. Teachers Are Professionals Showing up at the Recruitment Fair looking like a polished professional will empower you and give you confidence!

40. Interview Suit • Women • Matching two-piece suit (pant or skirt suit) • Tailored fit (not too tight) • Color: navy, grey, taupe, dark brown, tan, olive or black • Skirt should be knee-length with no inappropriate slits • Wear hosiery with a skirt!

41. Interview Suit These are all great!

42. NO! These are unsuitable for career wear.

43. Interview Shoes for Women Do not wear worn-out shoes

44. NOT These Shoes! Heel too high.

45. No! Cleavage is Not Appropriate.

46. Interview Suit Men • A two piece matched suit • Solid or pin-striped • Tailored fit, including pants length. • Navy, dark grey, dark brown, olive or black • Briefcase or portfolio instead of backpack

48. Crisp Neat Clean Well-Pressed Sloppy Lack of Neatness

49. Interview Shoes for Men Not:

50. Details of Grooming