The 21st-century approach to education job searching remains current with changes in your school district and your target teaching area. Continue to advance your education, read relevant books, journals, and research, and keep up on the latest education technology.
I can’t stress this enough: to compete in today’s market against other skilled candidates, you must know yourself and the current job market – both inside and outside your present school or school district.
Make job searching an everyday ritual, not just something you do only when you want to change jobs. Conduct it informally all the time to stay sharp in your present teaching position and be aware of new changes on the horizon for your age group, state, province, geographic region, or subject area.
Research to Know the Trends
You should always be aware of factors that may adversely affect your present job security. Don’t expect your school principal to tell you that the school, or your specific grade or subject area, is about to be a victim of budget cuts. Be ready when change comes.
One way to do this is to follow the local, state, and national legislative news concerning education. If you know that there are proposed budget cuts at the state level, you can anticipate that they will trickle down to the district level and possibly affect staffing and hiring decisions. Please take advantage of the change to move your teaching career in the direction you want it to go.
Don’t Get Complacent.
In today’s world, many people job hunt virtually all the time. I know many people who plan to stay with their school but have an updated resume ready to distribute if and when the time comes. They believe an up-to-date resume is necessary – even though they have been working at the same school for several years and have no plans to leave!
You never know when an ideal role for your skills, interests, and expertise will come along, and you don’t want to waste time trying to find the best way to describe your previous accomplishments when that time comes.
Having an updated resume that you can tweak to fit each job description’s language allows you to be flexible if a new opportunity comes along or if you are affected by budget cuts, a change in administration, or other factors that might accelerate your need to find a new job.
Job searching does not necessarily mean you want to change jobs now. Maybe your next job change is a few years down the road. Or maybe someone will change your job for you without asking. If this happens, will you be ready for your next move?
Long and Short Term Career Strategy
It is important to plan your career transitions: don’t have them forced upon you. It is also essential to constantly ask yourself, “What job is right for me?” “What do I do well?” “What gives me the most satisfaction in my job?”
The answers to these questions will help you assess your present job situation. Don’t leave your job for another equally unsatisfying one. You’ll be searching again before you know it. This is inadvisable for two reasons:
- Your goal is to find a position where you can be happy for the long term and continue to grow as a professional.
- You don’t want to develop a reputation as a person who hops from job to job frequently.
Career changes can also be initiated by organizational changes, such as budget cuts or school closures. You and your goals can also initiate a career change.
What if your spouse suddenly gets transferred to another city or state? What if your department gets eliminated by budget cuts? What if your style clashes with that of a newly hired principal or department head?
Stay on top of your job searching skills and prepare your job search documents ahead of time if a change occurs when you least expect it.
Hire a professional Career Coach to help you get on the right path and ensure a successful job search. Remember, finding the right job doesn’t have to be stressful.
