The Employment Search

Networking:  The Key to Employment

Network With People

	Administrators in the school and/or the school district/conference.
	Become acquainted with your building principal at your student teaching site to gain advice about the job search.
	Personal networks - who do you know?  Who do your friends, family, professors, supervising teachers know?
	Review all the people you know who may have a "connection" to a school.  Call to find out where the jobs are and ask whether they will give you a positive word.

Network with Readings & Resources

	Visit the Career Planning and Placement Office located in the Student Center.
	Read the recent issue of ASCUS ANNUAL:  A Job Search Handbook for Educators, published by the Association for School, College, and University   Staffing, 301 South Swift Road, Addison, IL  60101.
	Read the want ads in the local newspapers.
	Read the classifieds in the SDA Union papers such as The Lake Union Herald.
	Teacher job fairs at larger universities such as Western Michigan University and Michigan State University (check their web sites for dates of teacher fairs)

Network with Technology

	Specific school district web sites have job postings either by school or by district.
	The North American Division's web site has job postings for many schools and/or conferences in the Adventist school system.
	Several Intermediate School Districts have job postings for the different schools and/or districts which they serve.
	Career Planning web sites of larger universities.  Check for university postings in areas you would like to live.

Discussion:  On the discussion page please share with your fellow student teachers the networking strategies that you have been using or plan to use in the near future.  What types of success have you had up to this point, if any?

Tips For Successful Cover Letters

	Personalize the letter
	Use the name of the district/school and person who is doing the hiring
	Proofread
	One Page in length
	Include your permanent address, phone, and e-mail
	Refer to your portfolio

Sample Outline for a Cover Letter

Paragraph 1

	Why you are writing this letter
	What you already know about the school/district via the Internet or other connection and why it is a match for you

Paragraph 2

	Your interest in becoming a teacher
	Brief statement of your beliefs about teaching

Paragraph 3

Teacher preparation program, qualifications, and student teaching experience

Paragraph 4

	Request for an interview, refer to enclosed resume, refer to portfolio available at interview
	Thank you

Resume

	Two pages MAX
	White or off-white paper
	Uncluttered, easy to read format
	Clear and concise - not wordy
	Create white space, but not huge gaps
	Review sample copies of resumes from career planning and placement and other sources
	Share resume with your fellow student teachers

Tips for Preparing for the Interview - Interviewers will be looking for teachers who will fit into an existing culture, who will be enthusiastic about teaching, who will go the extra mile for students, who can relate to parents and other teachers, who will be contributing members of the school.  Remember to:

	Be enthusiastic
	Be on time
	Dress Professionally
	Shake hands firmly
	Make eye contact
	Be yourself
	Listen carefully
	Ask for clarification
	Bring your portfolio

Reflection and Web-CT Discussion Questions: Reflect upon and respond to the following questions on the Web-CT discussion page.  Give advice to your fellow student teachers.

	What potential positions are you applying for?  Why?
	How will you go about applying for these positions?
	How are you going to prepare for the Interview?
	How are you going to choose if you have more than one job offer?
	How do you know what is in a contract before you sign it?
	What are you most nervous about in this process?  Why?

	How can your cooperating teacher assist in your job search?
	How can your university supervisors assist?
	What are you most excited about?  Why?