Job Market

I decided to start this blog in order to organize and share my ideas about teaching. I am a recent graduate and I am really going to miss academia. I am not currently employed in a school district. I thrive on communicating and sharing ideas with my fellow students and teachers. For this time, between being the student and being the teacher, I wanted to create a forum where I can share my ideas. I hope that my friends and fellow teachers will also use this site to share their views, experiences, and opinions. I look forward to hearing from everyone.

In order to stay busy, and get the job search ball rolling, I attended an event at school hosted by its career center. There was a presentation from an OLAS representative. She explained how to use their site. I have already registered with this NYS job search site. There is so much paperwork required from any education job application. I found out I am missing one letter of recommendation (three required) that I thought was coming my way (time to be a pest and go to plan B). I also have to wait for my degree to be listed on my transcript (required) and of course I'm waiting for my certification (required). It's kind of like being in professional limbo right now.

The event also featured a principal from a local school district and an area superintendent. They had good advice about interviewing. Some of it was interviewing 101, more appropriate for kids right out of undergraduate school. The useful basics were presented like researching the district and school you are interviewing in and the sorts of interview questions a committee would ask of a teacher candidate. But, the superintendent shared an interesting idea from when he was first starting his career. He suggested that after our first interview we write down as many of the interview questions as we can remember. Then, take the time afterward to craft our ideal answers. This will enable us to prepare for future interviews. This is just the sort of organized and thoughtful approach that will work well for my own preparation.

Of course, the state of our economy and how it is effecting the school districts was also discussed. The job market for elementary school teachers in this area has always been competitive. Now it is even more challenging to find a job. But, there are always going to be students in our public schools that need teachers. People resign and retire every year. One of my fears is that applying to jobs cold, without knowing someone that can directly recommend that I receive an interview, will be like throwing my needle into the haystack. The area principal assured me that 1. the amount of resumes for every opening is not nearly as high as urban legend would have it and 2. He has found outstanding resumes in those haystacks and called those candidates for interviews. I was very relieved to hear this. For every person that makes the job market sound hopeless there is someone else that says that with persistence and passion I will find my job.

This is a scary, but exciting time in my life. I know I will have a career as a teacher. I have never been so sure of anything in my life. I just can't wait to meet my students!