Networking for the Right Teaching Position

You have selected a major and entered the field of education with the hopes of changing young lives and making a difference for children. In my opinion, there are few careers nobler than teaching. If you really think about it, some of the greatest individuals in history were actually teachers. There are specific benefits to entering the teaching profession. First of all, you have one of the greatest opportunities to influence and impact students and generations to come. Secondly, most school systems offer great medical and dental benefits with a steady and decent income. Finally, once you get a job, you generally can keep it if you do your work and stay out of trouble. Likewise, you have summers off to travel, continue your education, or spend time with family. In today's economy, however, actually getting a job can be more of a challenge than it was just a few years ago. Many individuals outside of education have taken to the education field to find meaningful employment and new opportunities. With this added competition, how does one successfully gain an edge and obtain the highly acclaimed first teaching position? My advice is to network for the right teaching position. Networking is the key. Gone are the days that you, as a new education graduate, can walk into a college job fair and walk out with the perfect teaching job offer. You will have to network. You will have to know people who can help you. We have all heard the maxim that it is all about who you know. Well, there is truth to that adage. The following are some key guidelines that will help you in networking for the right teaching position.

Start Early

Time is always of the essence. If has been stated that college days swiftly pass, imbued with fond memories. Before you know it, your undergraduate days of learning and fun will be behind you. Begin your job preparation and planning early. By the fall of your senior year, you need to have developed a solid resume, attended a fall job fair, printed student business cards, and started with the steps below. Make certain that you have passed or have signed up to take all the necessary examinations and teacher certification tests. Double check your criminal background record and make sure no errors are present. Make sure that you have researched school systems. All school systems are not the same. Be certain to examine the dynamics of the community in which you will work. An inner city school system will be vastly different from a rural setting. Each system has advantages and disadvantages. Do not depend on college recruiters to tell you the negatives of working in their school system. Do your own thorough investigations. The most important thing is getting started. You absolutely cannot wait until the spring of your graduation year to network and secure your teaching position. All the best positions will be taken. You need to be extremely proactive in getting a jump on the vacancies even before they exist.

Letters and Resumes

Beginning in October of your senior year, select ten to twenty school systems where you would be interested in working. Find out the names of principals and the human resources director in each system. Mail them an introductory cover letter and a resume. Request a visit to the school or school system. You will be surprised at how many principals or human resources directors will be more than happy to accommodate your wishes if you do this in the fall. If nothing else, you have established contact and have opened the door to communication.

Visit School Districts

While your college schedule may be scattered with a million and one things to do, take the time to go and visit at least five school districts between November and January during your senior year. Do it early so as not to interrupt your student teaching internship or experience. Get information about the district from the main school system office, but be certain to visit two or three schools in each district at the level where you want to teach. Dress to impress since it will be the first time that most people will see you. Speak kindly to everyone you meet and smile as much as possible. Try to stay long enough to observe some classes in session and acquire knowledge about the specific school you are visiting. Bring along resumes and business cards. Leave your resume and card with every teacher you visit. Ask the teachers if you may e-mail them with questions and ask for advice. Most will be shocked yet very excited to help you. In some smaller school districts, you may get the lucky chance to meet the system school superintendent. Take full advantage of this if you can. The objective of the school visit is to get noticed and establish a bond with a few key people who can provide you with an inside track to getting what you ultimately want. Doing these things can set you apart and show genuine interest in that the school system will notice. Moreover, you will establish yourself as a serious candidate while your competition will not likely have this advantage.

Follow-Up Contacts

Once you return to campus from all your school district visits, compile all your e-mail addresses that you have collected and take the time to stay in touch with individuals in the districts. The first contact, however, should be a hand written thank you letter or note. Send a personalized note to each and everyone that you made contact with on your visit. This will keep you on the mind of the principal, teacher, district-level employee, and even the secretary. Never underestimate the importance of anyone you meet and can stay in touch with along the way.

In short, networking for the right teaching position is not a difficult task to accomplish. It simply requires time and dedication to reaching out and getting to know people in the education field who can help you achieve your goals. If you do some very simple things, you can actually reap numerous job offers and have a multitude of excellent choices to begin your teaching career.