Writing resumes and applying for jobs can be a long, and often exhausting process. In order to improve your chances of getting to interview there are a few things that are crucial for your application.
Explicitly address each selection criteria
This is where most teachers miss the mark in their applications. Each selection criteria is important and it has been included for a reason. Make sure that you thoroughly address each of the components showing your suitability for each.
Give equal attention to each selection criteria
It is easy to give more attention to the components that you feel most comfortable with. Your resume must be equally weighted and addresses each section independently.
Project yourself into the role
As an employee of your prospective school how will you contribute to the school community, how will you interact with parents and stakeholders, and how will you implement quality education programs? Projecting yourself into the role not only shows your suitability for the position but also helps to show that you are confident in your abilities.
Ask for feedback
If you don’t make it to interview, or even if you do, ask the school principal what you can do to improve your resume. As part of the application process schools are required to give you feedback on your application. Take some time to implement the changes that they suggest. It probably took twenty ‘I regret to inform you…’ letters and countless phone calls to principals for me to get to my first interview. It is important that you continually fine-tune your application.
Remember that applying for a job is a complex progress. Some of you will get through to an interview on your first attempt. For most of you, like me, it will be a process of learning and reworking your approach.
Don’t be discouraged just because you get knocked back, keep asking for constructive criticism and keep adapting.
What tips and ideas do you have to add? Share your experiences, good and bad, with other teachers on the I’m a New Teacher blog.