THE FIRST YEAR OF TEACHING

Graduation Day: Your career is beginning……

The magical day has finally arrived. Graduation Day is here! Four years of hard work is over, and you about to start your career. You have always wanted to be a teacher. From the time you were a child, you visualized yourself in front of a classroom, and now you are ready to take that leap from being a student to  being a teacher. (We will explore why you want to teach in another article) You have taken all of the required courses, passed all of your required certification exams, and you have completed a wonderfully exciting and fulfilling internship period. You now want your own classroom. Now  get a job. Sadly, many times this is easier said than done.

Depending upon where you live or where you are willing to relocate to, will determine how easy this process will be. It is not uncommon in many parts of the country, when an elementary teaching position exists, that the district will receive several hundred applications for that one position. Yet, if you are a certified High School Chemistry Teacher, most likely, you can have your pick of multiple positions in multiple districts.

In all likelihood, you will have to apply for a position in many districts until a match is found. Let’s pause and take a look at this a bit further before any applications are sent out. “Know thyself.” This will be the first piece of advice I will share with you. You must have a full understanding of who you are, what skill set you possess, and where will you be afforded the best chance for success. Not conducting this self-reflection will be a tremendous disservice to both you and the students that you will encounter.  A good fit is essential. I need to dispel a myth. Not everyone can teach everywhere. Very few people can, especially a novice teacher. So think long and hard about where you will be successful? Can you accept the challenges of being an urban educator? Can you accept a very different set of challenges of an educator in a wealthy high achieving district? I am not suggesting one is any easier than the other but both present clearly unique challenges and rewards. Once you have an idea of where you will fit, start your application process. Understand the importance of a good fit going into the process with your eyes wide open. Finding a job is hard work and basically a full time job that will require planning, organization, flexibility, and commitment.

Your first priority must be to secure an interview. I must now perhaps dispel another myth that might be part of your mindset. Namely, that the vacant teaching position will be filled by the most qualified candidate. While this may be true some of the time, I know it is not true all of the time. I will argue that the reality of procuring a position many times is based upon who you know and what connection you have to that person. It is imperative that you work every possible resource  to make this process play in your favor. This may be very hard because you are graduating with a degree of hope and altruism that teaching positions go to those that are most qualified. You must become an expert at networking!  Jobs will go to the people that get invited for an interview and then have the opportunity to sell themselves. So it is critical that you get over any anxiety that you may have about this. For example, your aunt is the secretary in the Superintendent’s office ask her to pass along your resume with a good word. Your neighbor is on the local Board of Education. Implore her to pass along your resume to the boss. You see a distant relative at a family event  who has a connection somewhere; network. Start a conversation and don’t leave until that person is willing to speak up on your behalf. You have to be aggressive and pushy! Remember, if you can’t get in the door, you cannot sell yourself and show everyone that you are a remarkable teacher and would be a great addition to any school.

The Superintendent receives your resume and passes it to the principal who may be the hiring party with the his/her suggestion to give you an interview. Now it is up to you. Many times although no overt pressure is applied,  the suggestion to give you a chance can be subtle and implied. Once again, it is now up to you to sell yourself! I do not believe any administrator will hire an ill-suited candidate.

Let’s back up a bit. Ensure that your resume is perfect. No typographical or spelling errors. It must be professional. You have conducted some preliminary research about the district. (We will talk about that aspect in another article) Please make sure that you do not address any letter blindly. Dear Sir, To Whom It May Concern, Dear Colleague or the like doesn’t cut it. Personalize the letter to the correct person spelling all names and districts correctly. When I was hiring, I would eliminate those resumes and letters of candidates that did not take the time to do their homework. Also, if you use a template of some sort make sure the names and the districts are coordinated. It is embarrassing and fatal for you to send a letter and resume addressed to a different superintendent in an adjacent district that may have had a similar opening.

You may say that these aforementioned items are common sense. You are right.  Yet you would be surprised as to how many resumes and letters are submitted in these careless manners. Finally, you must be able to communicate what else you can do for the school in addition to being a great classroom teacher. For example, a high school principal interviews 10 candidates for an English teaching position. They are all very solid candidates. However, you were able to communicate, either in your resume or interview that you have the skill set and desire to become involved with the yearbook production. You just got the job because you are able to fill a very difficult position.  Every principal knows that the life of a student activities program is many times carried on the back of the new staff. You must be able to contribute to the life of a school by coaching, perhaps numerous sports, and advising, perhaps many different activities. You have to be too valuable not to hire.

Good luck in your quest. I will explore the interview process in the next article. Kudos to you for choosing a very noble profession!