How to Land a Teaching Job

Anyone, who has ever looked for a teaching job, can tell you that getting a job in teaching can be a very difficult task.  There are a finite number of teaching jobs available in most districts but once a job has been filled, it frequently remains this way for up to 30 years.  With the job market being as tight as it currently is, everyone is trying to hang onto their jobs. This makes landing a teaching job increasingly difficult for newly graduated teachers.

If you want to get a teaching job, you need to make sure you are an impeccably prepared and well-rounded candidate.  There are a few things that you can do to help increase your likelihood of being selected for a teaching position, and these are as follows:

• Write a Quality Resume
With teaching jobs being so hard to come by, you will often find yourself up against hundreds or even thousands of other candidates eager to fill one vacant position.  Because there are so many applications, there is no way that everyone can be granted an interview.  This means that your resume has to stand out among the rest. You need to make sure that you have a clear, organized, and concise resume to recommend you for the position. You should also check and double-check your spelling and grammar. Teaching resumes or cover letters with spelling and grammar errors will usually find their way to the wastebasket.

• Look Professional
Teachers are a reflection of the school for which they work.  When a school is looking to hire new teachers, they want people who will represent them well. Make sure that you look neat and professional.  Always wear a suit to a teaching interview; even though this is not required as daily attire in most schools. A suit conveys professionalism and authority. These are two qualities that are present in a quality teaching candidate.

• Behave Maturely
If you are just leaving college and you are planning to work at a high school, it is very possible that you will teach students who are only a few years younger than you.  Make sure that you show the school hiring committee that you will be able to keep a clear distinction between yourself and your students.  Schools do not want to hire young teachers who are going to buddy up to their students and flout school policy for the sake of popularity.  If you are a young looking new teacher, try your best to dress in a manner that makes you look more mature.  Looking too young is a common reason why newer teachers are not strong candidates for teaching positions.

• Be Knowledgeable
As a teacher, you are expected to be an expert in your subject area.  Ensure that you demonstrate your knowledge during your interview.  You will find that selection committees will often ask you subject specific questions and, at times, you may even be asked to teach sample lessons.  If you appear unconfident about your subject area, you will greatly hurt your chances of being hired.

While they are sometimes difficult to come by, teaching jobs are not impossible to find.  People retire, leave the profession, or transfer every year.  If you work hard to locate teaching jobs and impress administrators with your knowledge and professionalism, you will be a desirable candidate to fill a vacant position. If they offer you a substitute or assistant teaching position, don’t be alarmed. Accept the position. It will only be temporary. Many schools will do this with applicants first, to ensure they will be able to adapt to the policies, position and students. They want to make sure the person they hire will fit their needs.