Factors to Consider in Obtaining a Teaching Job

1. Great student teaching reports go a long way.
   
2. Don't lock yourself into a specific geographical area unless absolutely necessary.
   
3. When filling out applications, be honest, correct, and complete.
   
4. You must actively search for and apply for teaching positions.
   
5. Twenty seconds is all you have to sell yourself with a resume according to one newspaper article.
   
6. Verbal skills is the most impressive quality a candidate can have for a job interview other than the ability and desire to do the job.
   
7. Thirty-five percent of personnel hired by school districts come from unsolicited requests by candidates.
   
8. Know what sets you apart from any other candidate applying for the job.
   
9. Present yourself well to the prospective employer in person and on paper.
   
10. What you have done doesn't matter if you can't convey it to an interviewer.
    
11. Common mistakes in interviewing: talking too much, no enthusiasm, and lack of interviewing skills.
    
12. All teachers must have some computer skills.
    
13. Real life teaching experience will make you a better teacher.
    
14. The best parts of the country for teaching jobs are the Southwest, South-central, and Southeast.
    
15. Having more than one area of certification will help greatly in finding jobs.
    
16. Substitute teaching can be a way to get your foot in the door.
    
17. Substitute teachers can represent up to 6% of those teaching on an average school day.
    
18. Be willing to be involved in extracurricular activities.
    
19. Be prepared for background checks. They are common nowadays.
    
20. Major job market factors are: retirement, finances, and enrollment.
    
21. According to one survey 44% of new hires by districts are teachers with no experience.
    
22. Studies show June, July, and August to be the heaviest hiring months.
    
23. Portfolios are being used by more districts as part of the hiring decision.
    
24. Recruiting Trends 1995-96 lists these factors as reasons for new teachers failing: "Lack of Classroom control, poor interpersonal and communication skills, and lack of academic preparation."