Step 1 - Make sure you have the right credentials.
Depending on where you are planning to teach, you will need to have different credentials and meet various requirements. In the United States, contact your state's Department of Education and find out what you need to apply for a job. Some states, California for instance, also have something called Emergency Credentials. With this process, you do not need to be fully credentialed in order to teach because the state is so desperate for educators. But, there are still many requirements that you will need to meet. Outside of the U.S., you should contact your local Department of Education for requirements and guidelines.Step 2 - Get Your Resume Out There.
OK, so nobody likes doing their resume. But, there's no way around it if you want to find a job. So, open your word processing program and give it the best you've got! Use Resume Writing resources from around the web to refine your work, print it on nice paper, and send it out.Some districts hire at the district level, so you only need to send them one resume and they will distribute it to the schools that are looking for teachers. Other districts, like mine, hire at the site level. In this case, you would need to send one copy to each school to the principal's attention. Again, the web can make your job a little bit easier if you find the district's home page and get each school's address and principal's name for your records. You can also use various web sites to read online job postings that might fit what you're looking for.
Step 3 - Design a Professional Portfolio.
Teaching Portfolios are an easy and effective way to showcase your work to prospective employers. As you wait to hear if you have an interview, gather together photos, certificates, letters of recommendation, and anything else you want to show off. This can actually be a lot of fun because it gives you a chance to review and organize all of your hard work and accomplishments in an attractive package.Step 4 - Wait, worry, and whittle your words.
Here comes the hardest part. Unfortunately, you'll have to be patient as you wait for calls about prospective jobs. I always heard that principals and districts make hiring decisions at the last minute, but I didn't believe it until it happened to me. Prior to my first year of teaching, I didn't know what grade I would be teaching (Kindergarten vs. 3rd grade!) until 4 days before school started. It drove me crazy! But, everything turned out OK and I'm willing to bet everything will work out for you, too. Principals have to wait for veteran teachers to officially retire, budgets to be finalized, and other important things to be settled before they know how many teachers they will need for the upcoming year. Unfortunately, teachers have to bear the brunt of this problem. I've heard countless stories of last-minute hires in the days before school starts.So, if you don't have a job by June, don't worry! It's perfectly normal to interview and receive offers until the first days of the school year, after school has already started! Until then, get ready for possible Interview Questions! Figure out how you're going to communicate your most unique and irresistible traits and decide where you need to bone up on your lingo and knowledge. This is time well spent as you wait for the phone to ring.
Step 5 - If nothing works out, get creative!
So, school's started and you don't have a job. Don't just settle into the couch for countless hours of Oprah and Dr. Phil! You're much better than that, and there are children out there who need your enthusiasm and expertise! Sign up to be a Substitute Teacher and you'll open up many more windows of opportunity as you make professional contacts and find out what you like and don't like about various schools, districts, and grade levels.As I mentioned earlier, look into teaching with an Emergency Credential, if your region offers this type of employment. Let local districts and/or principals know that you are available to help them with any of their hiring needs as the year goes on. Who knows? They may have a part-time job, maternity leave, or mid-year enrollment increase with your name all over it!
Step 6 - Take a deep breath.
Whether you find your dream job or not, above all, don't forget why you became an educator in the first place. You have something special to offer the next generation and you will find a way to make a difference with children. The job search process can be long and full of bumps in the road, but it's all worth it when you show up for work on the first day and see the smiling faces of "your" children. Teaching is the ultimate adventure, every day of the year! The profession needs you, so smile, take a deep breath, and get ready to meet the future! I wish you all the best and I hope that this site can be here to help you with all of your K-6 education needs.Don't forget to use our Elementary Education Message Board to ask questions, make connections with other teachers or just vent about what's going on with your career.
