Inside Secrets of Finding a Teaching Job: The Most Effective Search Methods for Both New and Experienced Educators, 3rd Edition

Cover......Page 1
Contents......Page 8
PART 1 - FINDING AND APPLYING FOR TEACHING OPPORTUNITIES......Page 14
Assessing Your Strengths and Weaknesses......Page 15
Your Strengths......Page 16
Your Weaknesses......Page 18
Prepare a Mission Statement......Page 19
What Details Should My Mission Statement Include?......Page 20
Yes! I'll Pursue That Extra Credential or Certificate!......Page 22
Yes! I'll Teach Any Grade Level......Page 24
Yes! I'll Teach at Any School!......Page 25
Showcase Your Best Performance......Page 29
Distributing Your Video......Page 30
What Is the Purpose of a Portfolio?......Page 31
What to Include in Your Portfolio......Page 32
Presentation Hints......Page 33
University Career Placement Centers......Page 35
Establishing Your Placement File......Page 36
Maintaining Lists of Current Educational Job Vacancies......Page 37
Job Fairs......Page 38
Local and National Newspaper Advertisements......Page 40
Make a List of the Schools and Districts That Interest You......Page 41
Rank Your List......Page 42
Begin Making Your Calls......Page 47
Keep Track of Your Contacts......Page 48
Network! Network! Network!......Page 50
Use the Internet......Page 51
School District Web Sites......Page 52
State Department of Education Web Sites......Page 55
A Few Words of Advice About Job-Searching Over the Internet......Page 56
Screening Procedures......Page 59
Teacher-Specific Resumes......Page 60
Writing Outstanding Resumes......Page 61
Sample Resumes......Page 68
Impressive Cover Letters......Page 89
Gather the Information You Will Need......Page 92
Completing the Application......Page 94
Personal Reference Letters......Page 98
Be an Enthusiastic Student Teacher......Page 100
Another Chance to Network......Page 101
Get Good Reference Letters......Page 102
Become an Enthusiastic School Volunteer......Page 103
Short-Term Subbing......Page 104
Long-Term Subbing......Page 106
So Why Do You Want to Be a Teacher?......Page 107
School Districts Are Seeking Second-Career and Returning Teachers......Page 108
Creative Incentives......Page 109
Programs for Recruiting and Training New Teachers from Other Fields......Page 110
A Teacher Needs Many Skills That You Probably Already Have......Page 111
In Your Cover Letter......Page 112
During the Interview......Page 113
Nanette from Los Angeles......Page 114
Brent from Tucson......Page 115
PART 2 - INTERVIEWING FOR TEACHING JOBS......Page 117
Research the Community......Page 118
Research the School District......Page 120
Visit the School......Page 121
Network with Other Teacher Candidates......Page 123
Prepare Responses to Possible Interview Questions......Page 124
The Top 21 Questions Asked During Interviews......Page 125
Other Frequently Asked Questions......Page 134
A Word About Coaching......Page 138
Rehearse Role-Playing and Hypotheticals......Page 139
Some Common Hypotheticals and Role-Playing Scenarios......Page 140
Practicing with Your Networking Group......Page 141
The Rules......Page 142
It's Painful, but Worth It......Page 143
CHAPTER 7 - Sharpening Your Personal Appeal......Page 145
Colors......Page 146
Hair......Page 147
Eye Contact......Page 148
The Handshake......Page 149
Hand Gestures......Page 151
Feet and Leg Gestures......Page 152
Patterns of Speech......Page 153
A Positive Attitude Is the Key......Page 154
Questions You Should Ask......Page 155
Ask Questions That Showcase Your Talents......Page 156
Questions to Avoid......Page 158
4  Blaming Students for Their Failure to Do Well......Page 160
9  Dangling Earrings or Long, Brightly Painted Fingernails......Page 161
15  Badmouthing......Page 162
21  Lackluster Performance......Page 163
27  Inflexibility......Page 164
31  Haughty, Arrogant, or Superior Manner......Page 165
37  Poor Social Skills......Page 166
At the End of the Interview......Page 167
The Thank-You Letter......Page 168
Follow-Up Phone Calls......Page 169
Be Patient and Positive......Page 171
EPILOGUE......Page 172
APPENDIX - Educational Resources: Associations, State-Specific Contacts, and Overseas Opportunities......Page 173
INDEX......Page 195