Step into your career with resources, tips, examples, and job s you can find at KDP Online and its education partners. |
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| • | Do You Need Help with a Résumé? |
| • | Will Your Cover Letter Get You Noticed? |
| • | What’s in Your Portfolio? |
| • | Are You Prepared for the Interview? |
| Enhance Your Marketability in the Field
Whether you currently are a preservice educator or a recent graduate, you are probably aware that finding teaching positions can be challenging these days. You may be wondering how to increase your opportunities for employment in education or whether you should seek other opportunities. Obtaining certification in the high-need areas of teaching, such as secondary science, special education, and mathematics, is a great asset. Research is the key. Finding a district in which you would like to work and then identifying the teaching positions in demand will focus your educational path. Keep in mind that some districts pay a sign-on bonus when a teacher chooses to teach in a certain geographical region (e.g., inner-city schools) or subject area where there are teacher shortages (e.g., high school math and science or special education). Furthermore, applying to substitute teach at a few select schools can help you get known in a district, probably more so than working as a paraprofessional in only one building. As a substitute, you gain recognition and increase the opportunities for meeting principals and teachers who may know of open positions. Also, substituting allows you to demonstrate your classroom management skills . To make the most of your role as a substitute teacher, be the ultimate professional. What if you find work as a paraprofessional? Paraprofessionals can gain experience and skills in working with specific student populations, such as children who have autism or learning difficulties. This knowledge can be invaluable on a résumé and for future teaching positions. Documenting your experience, work with students, and co-teaching successes is important for your résumé and teaching portfolio. |
| Additional Resources Interview Preparation Principals’ 30 Favorite Interview Questions Education World’s principal panel shares a compilation of questions that members of this panel like to ask teacher candidates. Questions often relate to what they seek for a particular position. The Game Has Changed Interviewers, whether principals or business executives, often use behavior-based approaches when interviewing potential employees. Read this KDP Record article for an explanation of this interviewing style and the type of questions typically asked. What Principals Want and More What Principals Want Get insights on skills and traits that principals look for in job candidates through these two New Teacher Advocate articles. Paper & Forms & Decisions, Oh My! Congratulations on your first teaching position! Now you can get your room ready, plan lessons, and meet your colleagues . . . right after the orientation that is . . . and all the paperwork to fill out. Do you know which insurance options you want and what all the paperwork is? Get a head’s up with this article from New Teacher Advocate. |