Congratulations! It is likely that you recently obtained your teaching certification and are in the process of finding your first teaching job. However, it is also possible that you have been out of the workforce for a period of time and are looking to obtain a new teaching position. Regardless of your reason, the following tips are intended to assist you in the process of finding teaching jobs.

Getting Your Foot In The Door

One of the best ways to get your foot in the door with any school system is by working as a substitute teacher until there is a full time position you can apply for. This provides the opportunity to network with administrators and form relationships with fellow teachers that may be able to offer advice. Additionally, it allows you to demonstrate just how great a teacher you can be. Finally, it is a terrific way to continue developing your teaching style and skills in the interim.

Don’t wait on schools to call you. Make certain you are networking with teaching friends and acquaintances. Make others aware that you are looking for a teaching position and would appreciate any leads they may have to offer. Check job boards frequently as well as social media sites. There are several school systems that have begun advertising open teaching positions on Twitter.

Organize your portfolio to ensure that it reflects your attention to detail and professionalism. If you are applying for your first teaching position, you will have little teaching experience to discuss. Instead gather recommendations, certifications, transcripts, work you completed while you were student teaching, Praxis results, and anything else that will help you stand out as an applicant. Sell yourself and impress the hiring committee with your personality and organizational skills.

Prepare Yourself For The Interview For Teaching Position

You need to make sure that you are fully prepared for your interview. Research and find out all the information you can about the school where you will be interviewing. This information includes their student population, standardized test scores, and anything else relevant. Make sure you are confident during the interview. If you appear timid or exceptionally anxious, the hiring committee may question how you will perform in front of a classroom full of students. Additionally, be prepared to answer questions regarding lesson planning, how you will use technology in the classroom, differentiated instruction, lesson planning, and your philosophy for classroom management. However, do not memorize specific answers because they may very well sound rehearsed during your interview.

Finally, if all else fails and it is feasible in your present situation, move to an area that is experiencing a teacher shortage. The U.S. Department of Education prepares a report detailing what areas have a shortage as well as the specific grade and subjects that are most in demand.

There is little doubt that the process of finding a teaching position can be difficult, but it can be done with hard work and diligence. Apply these tips to your job hunt, and success will follow.

Good luck!

Post written by: bestpracticesforteachers.com