ana eliason, career & internship specialist strommen career & internship center

The Education Job Search

Ana Eliason, Career & Internship SpecialistStrommen Career & Internship Center

Ana Eliason Strommen Career & Internship Center Augsburg College 612.330.1148 [email protected]

Agenda

• Job Search Process

• Tips for Success

• Minnesota Education Fair

• Q and A


Tips for preparing materials

It takes time! 6-9 months to find a job Searching is like a full-time job Need to create unique tailored materials


Job Search Process

Resume/Cover Letter

Credential File

Finding Opportunitie

s

District ApplicationsInterviewingPortfolio

TEACHING JOB

Resumes


Purpose of a Resume

To promote yourself – is your marketing tool to school districts

Generate interest in talking with you. The purpose of a resume is NOT to get

you a job… but to get you an INTERVIEW!!!!

NOT the whole story.


Resume Tips Invest the time and energy Have it critiqued Create something that represents you Sell your skills! Continuous process Keep the audience in mind Use formatting to make important

information stand out


Section HeadingsR

eq

uir

ed

HeadingEducationLicensure

Student Teaching Experience

Related Teaching ExperienceO

pti

onal Objective/Summary

Honor and AwardsAdditional

InvolvementLeadership/Activities

Classroom SkillsOther Work ExperienceVolunteer

Experience


Personal Information/Heading

Full Name should be displayed boldly and larger than the rest of the text

Include full address, phone number and email address

Should spell out all abbreviated words Use a professional email address and have

professional message on your phone


Education Include your degree, college major, expected

graduation as well as the city and state of your college Can include GPA, Honors and Awards, Study Abroad,

and any relevant coursework in this section if you wish Include any other post-high school experiences if you

received a degree from that school


Licensure This comes after the Education Section because

schools will want to see it They will know you will not have it yet – just put

when it is expected or that it is pending


Student Teaching Most relevant, so it comes next Include grade level, school name, city,

state and the dates


Write Effective Skill Phrases

Skill phrases are action statements that describe your experiences.

Components of a skill phraseo Bullet pointo Action verbs in the past-tenseo Specific skill that was learned or honedo Results of your work, or how or why you

did the work.

Avoid personal pronouns when writing skill phrases


Skill Phrase Example

Fairo Created lesson plans

Bettero Created original lesson plans surrounding

the book “The Giver”

Besto Created constructivist lesson plans that

utilized cooperative learning to discuss concepts in Lois Lowry’s book, “The Giver”


Important Topics to Cover:

Implementing your own lesson plans Working with different learning styles and diverse

students Collaborating with parents and managing student

behavior Curriculum development


Related Teaching Experience

Same format as student teaching Describe additional experience working with children to

teaching


Classroom Skills List any special skills you have that could add to

your teaching and classroom experience Examples:

o Computer skillso Languageso Musical skillso Art skillso Coaching


Other Sections You will want to add any other sections that

highlight your well-rounded abilities and interests Examples:

o Volunteer Experienceso Additional Involvement o Other Work Experience


Create a Professional Image

Be honest—no lying or exaggerations Use easy to read fonts and layouts Avoid too many graphics, fancy fonts, self-

portraits Be consistent Look at it from an employer’s perspective, is it

visually appealing and professional? 1 full page or 1.5-2 full pages Print on white or neutral colored resume paper


Final Tips

Do not use “I” or “my” statements

PROOFREAD, PROOFREAD, PROOFREAD!!!!

Write in the ACTIVE VOICE

Do not put references on the resume

Cover Letters


What is a Cover Letter A marketing piece that highlights your

most important qualifications AS THEY RELATE TO THAT SPECIFIC POSITION OR DISTRICT

Tool to get the employer to read your resume

Demonstrates your writing ability


Cover Letter Tips Tailor to each position; NO GENERIC

LETTERS Make them feel like you care about their

district and the job Really answer the question-why should I

hire you? Remember back to your English classes Have it critiqued! Spelling/grammatical

errors will get you in the “no” pile


Basic Guidelines Should always accompany a resume even

when not requested Needs to be well-written and in a

professional tone Do not start all of your sentences with “I” Customize each letter with a job

description of the organization you are applying for


Heading

Can/should match heading on resume Your address, date, employer address Salutation (avoid “to whom it may

concern”)Kathy Teacher

4960 Bloomington Avenue ~ Minneapolis, MN 55454 952-555-5555 ~ [email protected]

2/15/2012 Ms. Jane Johnson Principal Seward Montessori 2309 28th Avenue South Minneapolis, MN 55406 Dear Ms. Johnson:


Opening

Indicate the position you are applying for and how you came to learn about the position

State why you are interested in the position

Why this organization?o Demonstrates genuine interesto Catches their attention


Middle Section Highlight your experience as it relates to

the position Provide them with the key skills you have

that are mentioned in the job description Be specific about how your achievements

and education have prepared you for the position

Options to use bullet points or paragraphs


Closing Reiterate your interest in the position and

thank them Ask for an interview State YOUR follow up


Final Tips

Sign your letter with “sincerely” and your signature

Do your research on the employer

PROOFREAD!

Use the same font and paper as your resume

Credential Files


A Note about Credential Files

Self managed Include:

o Education Credentials Cover Sheeto Standard cover letter/letter of applicationo Resumeo Applicationo Copies of letters of recommendation (usually 3)o Student teaching evaluationso Copy of teaching license (if available)o Copy of official transcript (available from Registrar’s Office

for a nominal fee) Every district may have different instructions on how to

submit-FOLLOW DIRECTIONS Every district may have different definition of “Credential

File”-FOLLOW DIRECTIONS.

Finding Opportunities


Tips to Effective Networking

It’s all about making connections Remember that it is win-win Need to follow up and keep in touch! Obtain 2-3 referrals from each contact Send a thank-you note Make networking a life-long activity


Who’s in your Network?

Family & friends, friend of family Student/Cooperating Teachers Faculty/professors Classmates Employers/co-workers Contacts from professional organizations,

church, or social clubs Contacts from career fairs

Let everyone know you are looking!


Finding Jobs Online Strommen Career & Internship Center Resources

o Wiki website: http://cswl.pbworks.com o Augposto Education Majors Links

Other online resourceso www.mnlandit.org\o www.mnasa.org o http://www1.stcloudstate.edu/joblistings/edpost/ (Ed Post)o http://www.schoolspring.com/o http://www.teachers-teachers.com/o http://www.usreap.net/o http://services.education.wisc.edu/wecan/ (WECAN, WI)

http://cswl.pbworks.com/



https://augsburg-csm.symplicity.com/students/

http://cswl.pbworks.com/w/page/6687508/Education%20Majors

http://www.mnlandit.org/

http://www.mnasa.org/

http://www1.stcloudstate.edu/joblistings/edpost/

http://www.schoolspring.com/

http://www.teachers-teachers.com/

http://www.usreap.net/

http://services.education.wisc.edu/wecan/


Quick Tips to Online Job Searching

Find school districts you are interested in Bookmark them right to the HR page Check 1 or 2 times per week for new openings

OR

Set up job search agents A lot of websites have these

Don’t forget to record where and which positions you have applied for!

Application Tips


District Applications

Devote the time to your application (hours…) Start with districts you are most interested Answer genuinely/Put thought into the questions that you

answer Do not put “See Resume” or simply repeat info in resume Can send follow-up letter and resume later if position

becomes available Follow-up is key! Utilize jargon throughout to ensure you get pulled in a

keyword search (read the job description) Save it all in a word doc and copy and paste in if you can Check your spelling!

Interviewing


Interviewing Be prepared! Behaviorally Based and Hypothetical

Questions Provide concrete, professional examples

o Tell me about yourself.o Tell about a classroom management plan that you have

used which worked well.o How have you differentiated your instruction to meet the

needs of all students?”

Answers are specific to the district/schools Practice with a Career Specialist


Portfolio

Documented evidence of teaching skills and achievements

Hard copy works best in an interviewo Use as an aido Lesson plans, evaluations, resume, cover

letter, activities, and awards

Tips for Success


Standing Out Check and recheck materials Complete applications entirely and on time Highlight experiences that make you different Avoid templates Passion and energy in materials/interviews Letters of reference/recommendation Involvement in other activities Tailor all materials to each position-RESEARCH


Professional Image

Facebook MySpace Twitter Youtube Voicemail Roommates Networking

Education Fairs


MN Education Job Fair


2012 Ed Fair Fair Set Up

o On site interviews and district boothso 88 Districts attended in 2011

How to registero Early registration earns price break!

• $20.00 early registration by April 19th ($30.00 at the door)o Register in the Strommen Career & Internship Center

Attend an Ed Fair Prep Session:o Thursday, March 29th from 5:30-7:00 pm, Oren Gateway, Room

114 o Friday, April 13th from 1:00-2:30 pm, Oren Gateway, Room 112

More Information: http://www.mcusa.org/mnedfair/

http://www.mcusa.org/mnedfair/

http://www.mcusa.org/mnedfair/


Special Education Open House

Minneapolis Public Schoolso Wednesday, February 22nd 2012 from 9:00 am - 5:00 pm

Requirementso Must be licensed in Special Educationo Must be May 2012 graduate

Apply online by Thursday February 16th, 2012 (TOMORROW)o www.mpls.k12.mn.us o Once application is completed, schedule an interview

with Jessica Noon.

http://www.mpls.k12.mn.us/


QUESTIONS?


Write these down....... http://cswl.pbworks.com [email protected]


mailto:[email protected]

ana eliason, career & internship specialist strommen career & internship center

Documents

school slide

phone slide

college major

dates slide

job searching

education section

school districts

job search processtips