Some districts are laying off senior staff. Others are begging for applicants. This guide describes how to assess which district is which, prepare paperwork--including credentials, applications, references, résumés, portfolios and videos--and get in the classroom door through successful interviews and alternate means such as volunteering, substituting, or working as a temp. The authors include a chapter of resources on teaching jobs, and results of surveys on how others have approached the job market. Annotation ©2004 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com) Distributed by Syndetic Solutions, Inc.

Jack Warner served as an elementary school teacher for 35 years, as well as Supervisor of Student Teachers for Chapman University. He holds a master's degree in educational media and has a general elementary life credential
Clyde Bryan, a former principal and school superintendent, has taught students in all levels of K-12. His credentials include general elementary, general secondary, and general administrative
Diane Warner is the author of 19 "how-to" books for adults. She also writes for magazines, newspapers, and several Web sites Distributed by Syndetic Solutions, Inc.

Part 1 Finding and Applying for Teaching Opportunities	p. 1
Chapter 1 Increasing Your Marketability	p. 2
Assessing Your Strengths and Weaknesses	p. 2
Your Strengths	p. 3
Your Weaknesses	p. 5
Prepare a Mission Statement	p. 6
One Teacher's Mission Statement	p. 7
What Details Should My Mission Statement Include?	p. 7
The Benefits of Having a Mission Statement	p. 9
Extras Count	p. 9
Yes! I'll Pursue That Extra Credential or Certificate!	p. 9
Yes! I'll Teach Any Grade Level	p. 11
Yes! I'll Teach at Any School!	p. 12
Make a Demonstration Video	p. 16
Showcase Your Best Performance	p. 16
Distributing Your Video	p. 17
Create a Teacher Portfolio	p. 18
What Is the Purpose of a Portfolio?	p. 18
What to Include in Your Portfolio	p. 19
Presentation Hints	p. 20
Chapter 2 Discovering Job Vacancies	p. 22
University Career Placement Centers	p. 22
Offering Workshops and Counseling	p. 23
Establishing Your Placement File	p. 23
Maintaining a Job-Related Reference Library	p. 24
Maintaining Lists of Current Educational Job Vacancies	p. 24
Hosting Recruitment Interviews	p. 25
Sending Your Placement File to Appropriate School Districts	p. 25
Job Fairs	p. 25
Local and National Newspaper Advertisements	p. 27
School Surveys	p. 28
Make a List of the Schools and Districts That Interest You	p. 28
Rank Your List	p. 29
Set Up a Cold-Calling Schedule	p. 34
Begin Making Your Calls	p. 34
Keep Track of Your Contacts	p. 35
Network! Network! Network!	p. 37
Use the Internet	p. 38
School District Web Sites	p. 39
State Department of Education Web Sites	p. 42
NEA State Affiliate Web Sites	p. 43
Listservs	p. 43
Job Web Sites	p. 43
A Few Words of Advice About Job-Searching Over the Internet	p. 43
Chapter 3 Making the Paper Cut: Resumes, Cover Letters, Applications, and Letters of Reference	p. 46
Screening Procedures	p. 46
Teacher-Specific Resumes	p. 47
Writing Outstanding Resumes	p. 48
Sample Resumes	p. 55
Impressive Cover Letters	p. 75
Winning Applications	p. 78
Gather the Information You Will Need	p. 78
Completing the Application	p. 80
Sterling References	p. 84
Professional Reference Letters	p. 84
Personal Reference Letters	p. 84
Chapter 4 The Inside Track: Student Teaching, Volunteering, Subbing, and Temping	p. 86
Be an Enthusiastic Student Teacher	p. 86
Give Them Something Extra	p. 87
Another Chance to Network	p. 87
Get Good Reference Letters	p. 88
Become an Enthusiastic School Volunteer	p. 89
Become an Enthusiastic Sub or Temp	p. 90
Short-Term Subbing	p. 90
Long-Term Subbing	p. 92
Chapter 5 The Nontraditional Path: Help for Non-Education Majors and Those Returning to the Field	p. 93
So Why Do You Want to Be a Teacher?	p. 93
School Districts Are Seeking Second-Career and Returning Teachers	p. 94
Creative Incentives	p. 95
Programs for Recruiting and Training New Teachers from Other Fields	p. 96
A Teacher Needs Many Skills That You Probably Already Have	p. 97
Marketing Your Related Life Experiences and Transferable Skills	p. 98
In Your Cover Letter	p. 98
On Your Resume	p. 99
During the Interview	p. 99
Career-Switcher Success Stories	p. 100
Patrick from Silicon Valley	p. 100
Nanette from Los Angeles	p. 100
James from New York	p. 101
Brent from Tucson	p. 101
Part 2 Interviewing for Teaching Jobs	p. 103
Chapter 6 Preparing for the Interview	p. 104
Do Your Homework	p. 104
Research the Community	p. 104
Research the School District	p. 106
Visit the School	p. 107
Network with Other Teacher Candidates	p. 109
Prepare Responses to Possible Interview Questions	p. 110
The Top 21 Questions Asked During Interviews	p. 111
Other Frequently Asked Questions	p. 120
A Few Final Words of Advice	p. 124
A Word About Coaching	p. 124
Rehearse Role-Playing and Hypotheticals	p. 125
Some Common Hypotheticals and Role-Playing Scenarios	p. 126
Practicing with Your Networking Group	p. 127
Videotape Mock Interviews	p. 128
The Rules	p. 128
It's Painful, but Worth It	p. 129
Chapter 7 Sharpening Your Personal Appeal	p. 131
Dress and Grooming	p. 132
Colors	p. 132
Shoes	p. 133
Jewelry	p. 133
Cleanliness	p. 133
Hair	p. 133
Makeup	p. 134
Body Language	p. 134
Eye Contact	p. 134
Facial Expressions	p. 135
The Handshake	p. 135
Posture	p. 137
Hand Gestures	p. 137
Head Gestures	p. 138
Feet and Leg Gestures	p. 138
Voice and Speech	p. 139
Speed of Speech	p. 139
Patterns of Speech	p. 139
Chapter 8 Your Conduct During the Interview	p. 140
A Positive Attitude Is the Key	p. 140
Questions Your Should Ask	p. 141
Ask Questions That Showcase Your Talents	p. 142
Direct Your Questions Appropriately	p. 144
Questions to Avoid	p. 144
37 Ways to Turn Off an Interview Committee	p. 146
1. Inappropriate Clothing/Dress	p. 146
2. Giving Pat, Canned, or Insincere Answers	p. 146
3. Poor Communication of Ideas	p. 146
4. Blaming Students for Their Failure to Do Well	p. 146
5. Not Knowing When to Close or to Stop Talking	p. 147
6. Chewing Gum or Smoking During the Interview	p. 147
7. An Attitude That Is Too Relaxed and Informal	p. 147
8. Answers That Are Too Defensive or Aggressive	p. 147
9. Dangling Earrings or Long, Brightly Painted Fingernails	p. 147
10. Being a Know-It-All	p. 148
11. Indications That You Think Your Methods and Philosophies Are the Only Ones	p. 148
12. Lack of Membership in Professional Organizations	p. 148
13. Candidates Who Think They Have Finished Learning Because They're Out of School	p. 148
14. Bragging; Going Beyond Reasonable Selling of Yourself; Flaunting Yourself	p. 148
15. Badmouthing	p. 148
16. Not Knowing Current Educational Trends, Methods, and Issues	p. 149
17. No Knowledge of the School or Community	p. 149
18. Displaying Stupidity in Questions Asked and Responses Given	p. 149
19. Poor Grammar	p. 149
20. Poor Personal Hygiene	p. 149
21. Lackluster Performance	p. 149
22. Negative Body Language	p. 150
23. Being Unprepared	p. 150
24. No Questions for the Interview Panel	p. 150
25. Negativity by the Candidate	p. 150
26. Body Piercing	p. 150
27. Inflexibility	p. 150
28. Lack of Self-Confidence	p. 151
29. Tardiness	p. 151
30. Playing Politics	p. 151
31. Haughty, Arrogant, or Superior Manner	p. 151
32. More Interest in the Compensation Package Than the Kids	p. 152
33. "Not My Job" Syndrome	p. 152
34. Telling the Committee What You Think They Want to Hear	p. 152
35. Not Sticking to the Subject	p. 152
36. Lack of Passion for Kids and Teaching	p. 152
37. Poor Social Skills	p. 152
At the End of the Interview	p. 153
Chapter 9 After the Interview	p. 154
The Thank-You Letter	p. 154
Follow-Up Phone Calls	p. 155
Be Patient and Positive	p. 157
Epilogue	p. 158
Appendix Educational Resources: Associations, State-Specific Contacts, and Overseas Opportunities	p. 159
Index	p. 181

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