The teacher job fair season is starting! In fact, I'll be at the Virginia Association of School Personnel Administrators fair on December 11, 2013 in Williamsburg, VA - If you're in Virginia, come say hello to recruiters from all across the Commonwealth. Information on the VASPA fair can be found here.
This article will help teacher candidates prepare for job fairs - kind of a 'how to' if you will.
Feel free to ask any questions or share your experiences in the comments section.
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????: What kind of job were you
seeking?
April: Ideally I was seeking a 10th grade
Biology position. However I was open to teach any classes that I could with my
credential! My credential allows me to teach 7th-8th grade science and any high
school Biology/Life or Earth and Planetary Science classes.
????: How did you find out about the
job fair?
April: I found out about the job fair by seeing
it under "Recruitment Events" on California's job posting site,
www.edjoin.org. The posting had a link that redirected me to CAEE's (California
Association for Employment in Education) website where I found out more details
about the fair.
????: Did you have to register for the job
fair? What did the registration entail?
April: I didn't have to register ahead however
there was an application that I had to print off the web page and bring to the
fair. The registration form had me include my basic contact information and
also my credentialing. The website also gave me a list of schools that were
going to be participating in the fair.
????: What did you wear?
April: I wore a blue cardigan, white long sleeve
button down shirt, long dark gray dress pants, black belt, black dressy heels,
and a pearl bracelet. I also brought a nice leather brief case with a shoulder
strap so that I wouldn't be bombarded with holding things! The briefcase had a
opening on top that easily retrieve resume packets and put away information I
collected from the schools, also I wouldn't have to bring a purse too since
there was room for my keys and wallet!
????: What did you bring with you?
April: I brought my brief case loaded with all
the interview essentials! I put together 20 interview packets since I knew
there would be several schools there and I didn't want to run out! These
packets consisted of my cover letter, resume, 3 letters of reference, CBEST and
CSET test results (since I did not have my credential finished at that ????e).
All the papers were color copies and held together by
colorful metal clips (the type that has prongs that bend forward then snap
back). I also brought my interview portfolio which ???? suggests making in this
book!!! I also knew the list of participating school districts ahead of ????e
so I did my research on the ones which I knew I definitely wanted to talk to
first. I made notes about the different school districts so that I would have a
game plan and reviewed them the morning of the job fair!
I also brought two friends of mine since they too were
looking for teaching positions. Bringing friends could be a big negative when
looking for a job if you cling to each other, potential employers could be
turned off immediately and think you aren't serious so be careful if you decide
to go with friends.
????: What did you observe when you
first walked in?
April: The fair was from 9am-12noon, I arrived
at 9:30am. There was a long line of about 100 people waiting outside of the
fair site. There was a registration table where I handed in the paper that I
printed from online. There was supposed to be a $5 entry fee however when I got
there they told me that the fee would be waived since some of the districts did
not show up. I received a paper with the school districts which showed up and
were located inside the building. I also received a ticket with a number and
was told that I had to wait in the line and wait for my number to be called
since there were too many people still inside.
While waiting in line I looked around at the other
applicants around me to see what they were wearing. Most everyone was dressed
nicely but it was very surprising to see some people wearing jeans! I think
that jeans are inappropriate when a person is job searching, no matter how nice
the jeans look! Also, I was shocked that some people didn't have anything with
them (resumes) to hand out to the different schools. After waiting for about 30
minutes outside a group containing my ticket number was called.
We were lead into a conference room where we were instructed
to write our name and credential on a name tag (there were different color name
tags blue for Single Subject, red for Multiple Subjects, and gold for Special
Education). As soon as we filled out our name tag we could walk over to where
the schools had tables. The schools/districts were split into two large
conference rooms. A list of what organizations were in each room was posted on
the door, I took a look at which group seemed more desirable and then walked
inside.
There were 8 schools/tables set up around the walls of the
conference room. Each table had a table cloth or banner largely displaying the
name of the school or district and a large spread of papers for information on
their district. There were very long lines (30 plus people) waiting to speak to
each organization's representatives.
Since I did come with two friends, this is where I was at an
advantage since we immediately split up and stood in different lines. When we
finished talking to a school district we told each other if that district
mentioned they were hiring for science, math, etc. With this information I
prioritized which tables I should visit and in what order so that I would not
run out of ????e. There were some elementary districts so I knew that they
would not be available for me to talk with, there were also some out of state
and religious schools which I did not have interest in working for so these
were also crossed off my mental list.
The conference rooms were very noisy and people were
aimlessly wandering around, some were sitting down filling out paper
applications they picked up from districts, while others were waiting in lines
like myself for the opportunity to meet with these schools. While waiting in
line I struck up conversations with other candidates to keep from becoming
bored and this also help to keep my energy up for when I got to the front of
the line!
????: Approximately many school
districts were there? Since you were looking for science jobs, was it
hard to find schools that were hiring for your particular subject area?
April: Approximately there were 15
schools/districts with tables at the fair. Some were individual schools with
the Principal or VP at the table from a particular district, but majority were
school districts with a HR person at their table. From the schools that did
have 7-12th grade available in their district, it was not difficult to spark
their interest when I mentioned that I was a science teacher. The impression I
got was that they needed science teachers and that science jobs would probably
become available once they found out their budget and which teachers were
returning for the next year. The tables didn't have their openings posted on
signs so I had to talk to each one to find out if a science teacher was a
subject area they needed.
????: When you found districts you
liked, how were you instructed to apply?
April: Some did have paper applications on hand
to fill out. However most of the tables directed me to fill out an application
online through either their districts website or on www.edjoin.org (where
California education jobs are posted). I think due to the ????e of year, school
districts were still unsure of the openings so they were at the fair looking
for people to add to their applicant eligibility pool. Knowing that many
couldn't for sure tell me whether they had a science opening was somewhat
frustrating however I still gave out my resume packets and filled out their
applications.
????: Were they doing any on-site
interviews?
April: Not many districts we doing on-site
interviews. Most of them were taking your information (resume) and letting you
know about their district. However there was one district that was conducting
on-site interviews and of course their table had the longest line. I knew that
this was my best shot to secure a job lead or further interview so I waited and
waited!
When I got up to the front of the line the ????e for the
fair to be over was nearing so the Director of HR for that specific district
told a group of 8 to come up around his table while he spoke with all of us. He
collected our resumes and my packet definitely stood out since it was in color
and had a clip which made it thicker than the average one sheeted resume. The
Dir. of HR asked us to introduce ourselves and then tell him what our
credential area was. Then he proceeded to talk about the district for a few
minutes, then he stopped and said "Does anybody have any
questions?"...people just looked around and said nothing until I chimed in
and said "I know there is a high population of English learners in your
area, what sort of special development programs are offered at the high school
level?" He replied "that's a great question, we have..." Then he
asked if there were any other questions, again, nobody said anything so I asked
another question since I wanted to let him know I was very interested, I asked "what
different technology and resources are available within your school's science
labs" By that ????e he and I were in a one-on-one conversation and he
shook hands and said good-bye to everyone else standing around the table. When
everyone had left, he pulled my packet back out of his pile of resumes and
started to flip through it, he said that he was very intrigued by some of the
things that he saw (variety of science field credential authorizations and
tutoring experience). We made small talk about the area I currently live in and
then he said "you know what, I think you're spectacular and I really want
to do another interview and I know that you live so far away and are still
student teaching so I could meet up with you on a weekend, I'll have my
secretary contact you to set up an interview date." Of course I was
overjoyed, took down his contact information, then thanked him.
I followed up by sending him an email a few days later
letting him know it was a pleasure meeting him and that I look forward to
learning more about his district when I come in for my interview. Long story
short I have had two interviews in that district due to speaking up and
standing out at this job fair!
????: How long were you at the job
fair?
April: I was at the job fair from 9:30am-12:30pm
(some schools stayed past the intended end ????e). I was inside talking to
schools from 10am-12:30pm, this was enough ????e to visit all the schools that
I was interested in talking with.
????: Were there any people,
situations, or procedures at the job fair that made you uncomfortable or
nervous?
April: It was awkward talking to my first
school. I was trying to listen to what other people were saying to this
particular Principal and trying to think of something different so that I would
stand out. When I got up to the front the Principal was very unfriendly and
didn't provide room to for me to introduce myself. She started off by saying
"Do you have a resume for me?" as I walked up to her table, I replied
"yes, oh I see you're school is located close to where I went to college,
I love that area" and handed her my resume packet. She didn't even glance
at it, she simply threw it onto of a stack of others and then said "what
subject do you teach?" I said "Biology and Geoscience", she
replied "well, here's the thing, I'm not sure if I'll be hiring a science
teacher this year, but I'll keep your resume just in case...NEEEEXT." I
couldn't believe how the Principal completely controlled the conversation, I
knew that I had to do better at the next tables or else I would be wasting this
opportunity!
Also, it did make me nervous to see the hundreds of
applicants at the fair that were eagerly trying to find a job just like me! But
I felt calm knowing that "Guide to Getting the Teaching Job of Your
Dreams" was my secret weapon that had prepared me in ways that would give
me a competitive advantage over all the other people!
????: Were you able to follow up on any
of your job fair leads?
April: Yes, I was able to follow up. All the
school districts had paper information flyers, business cards, brochures, etc
so I collected all these and then wrote emails to follow up with the school
that were of interest to myself. I also emailed that one particular school
district Director of HR who said he wanted to set up an interview ????e. This
was the email I sent...
Mr./Ms. ______________,
It was very nice meeting you at
the CAEE Teacher Recruitment
Fair this past Saturday. I
enjoyed our conversation regarding the
science teaching positions which
may be available through your
district and setting up an
interview ????e!
Feel free to contact me any ????e
on my cell phone _____ or by
email _____ for additional
information you may need.
I look forward to hearing from
you soon.
April H.
????: What advice do you have for
someone who is planning to attend a teacher job fair?
April: Have a game plan and strategy to make the
most out of your ????e at the job fair. Many people waste their ????e be simply
walking up to a school's table and handing their resume, collecting a business
card, and then walking away to the next table. If you go with friends, don't
cling to them, branch out and go outside of your comfort zone! Have thoughtful
intelligent questions already in your mind to ask these school districts so
that you have something to talk about once you get in front of a principal or
HR personnel! Don't get discouraged if you feel like none of the schools are
hiring for your specific specialty, if you're a good networker and leave a
positive impression then you never know, these contacts could direct you to
schools that need a teacher like yourself! Stand out by having something
intelligent and interesting to say, you don't want to blend into the other
100's of people they talked to that day! Make your cover letter and resume
stand out and flawless!!! I got many compliments on how mine were color and had
bulk to them, they stood out in a positive way. These schools are there for a
reason, they want to find good teachers like yourself!
????: Anything else you'd like to share
about your experience?
April: I was very surprised that many
schools/school districts did not know what openings they had for the next
school year. Many of them simply wanted to add to their eligibility pool so
they would have a good selection when it came ????e to interviewing candidates
months later. I found this frustrating since I wanted to feel like I was making
progress towards securing a job. I believe that going to job fairs can be
a great way shake off nerves before going into the interview of your dreams.
Good luck!!
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