Have you considered writing and sending networking letters to find job leads? As you may know, many teaching job opportunities are gained through the hidden job market, not through advertised positions.
Due to this modern and effective job search method, using networking letters to make connections with other education professionals and expand your network of contacts can make a huge difference in your teacher job search’s success.
Of course, there are other job search steps to secure the perfect education position. Diversify your job hunt to make the best of your time and energy. Attending a career fair for teachers can be a goldmine of opportunity to network.
Networking Letters – Benefits and Tips on Using One
One productive tool for finding career opportunities in the hidden job market is a networking letter—sent networking letters to several situations. If you cannot make contact with a school principal in person or by phone, a written message may be an option. Remember, though, that meeting a potential principal face-to-face is the ideal situation.
An in-person meeting should help the school principal to remember you rather than sending a piece of paper. So in the letter, express your desire for a face-to-face meeting.
After the initial phone or face-to-face contact, send networking letters as a means of follow-up. It can be an efficient way of reinforcing your qualifications and thanking the principal for their time. Either way, this letter is a written record of your contact with them.
The most popular use of the networking letter is to get your foot in the door of a school or district. Networking with a personal or professional contact who works for the organization or school district you’d like to work for may have inside information on future hiring and the positions that will be up for grabs.
A networking letter allows you to write to this contact asking about possible opportunities, career advice, referrals, and introductions. Additionally, you can send your networking letter to the potential school principal, mentioning your contact’s name, if appropriate.
The purpose of the networking letter is not to ask outright for a position; its goal is to ask for assistance in your job search by connecting you with people within a school or by providing you with job leads within their school or district.
When writing your networking letter, remember to keep it brief and specifically mention how you know your connection or bring up your recent conversation or visit. Especially if you don’t know the person well, it’s helpful to remind them of your relationship.
While thanking your connection for their support, note any specific assistance you wish your contact to take on your behalf. It doesn’t hurt to remind your connections of your current job and career interests and aspirations. Provide specific information about your education and related teaching experience related to the education position of interest. While ensuring your letter remains concise, remember to bring up your most significant achievements as these are the value that you can bring to their school.
Lastly, mention any actions you plan to take, such as communicating your commitment to making a follow-up call.
Keeping track of your job search steps and progress is vital to keep your sanity, avoid mistakes, and optimize your time.
Don’t expect the receiver of your letter to contact you. The ball is still in your court to follow-up with them at a later date. Let the receiver of your message know the time frame you will call them, and then stick to the timeline you mentioned. Inform the contact that you will keep them up-to-date, and most importantly, remember to keep the tone of your letter professional, confident, yet friendly.
If you keep all these tips for writing and using network letters in mind, you should produce a useful networking letter and increase potential job leads.
Do you need help crafting your networking letter or any other career search document? Contact Candace — who has been helping job seekers just like you for 16 years — call today – 1 877 738-8052.
