how to find a job in british columbia's public schools | unbc | make a future
DESCRIPTION
Employment in British Columbia's public schools is managed by 60 individual school district employers. Because each school district hires its own staff, understanding how to apply for a job and where to look can be a confusing and challenging experience. Make a Future was invited to present to students enrolled in the University of Northern British Columbia's teacher education program to help elucidate the job application and hiring process of BC school districts. Over the course of this Skyped presentation, students learned about the current state of employment in BC schools, how to search and apply for jobs, and how to answer interview questions.TRANSCRIPT
UNIVERSITY OF NORTHERN
BRITISH COLUMBIA, 2014
Teaching inBritish Columbia’s Public Schools
BC public schools are as diverse as the communities they serve
BC Public Education Overview
• 60 school district employers• 73,000 employees• 33,000 unionized educators• Rural & urban opportunities• Teachers certified by TRB• Teachers belong to the BCTF
Source: http://www.workbc.ca/Job-Seekers/Industry-Profiles/5#section-employment
Labour Market Demand
Projected increase in labour demand
Employment Outlook for Teachers
(by job postings)
Primary Teachers
Secondary Teachers
Sources:http://www.workbc.ca/Navigator/occupations/4142http://www.workbc.ca/Navigator/occupations/4141
Some new positions created in districts with expanding enrollment, but most jobs will be from replacement
Growth Rate of Employment by British Columbia Region
Sources:http://www.workbc.ca/Navigator/occupations/4142 | http://www.workbc.ca/Navigator/occupations/4141
July
August
Septem
ber
October
November
Decem
ber
January
February
March
AprilMay
June
# Jo
b Po
sting
sHiring Trends
Expect the most job opportunities in May/June and August/September
Source: Makeafuture.ca, 2013.
Growth Opportunities
Superintendent Deputy Superintendent
Assistant Superintendent
Director of Instruction
District Principal
Principal/Vice Principal
Psychologist Counsellor Librarian
Salary and Benefits• $42,802 - $83,489 (depends on TQS category, and varies from one district to another)
• Extended health and dental• Life insurance, pension, long-term disability• Professional development• Professional mentoring• Generous vacation & sick leave• Rural & remote allowances
Applying for Jobs
What can I teach?• Generally, it depends on your qualifications,
and...– experience teaching that particular subject?– experience/training working with that age group?– 300/400 level undergraduate courses completed
or a BA in the subject area?– Fluency in languages?
Application Checklist Gather your documents:
Resume and cover letter Practicum evaluation reports Two letters of references & list of referees University transcripts TQS card and BC teaching certificate
Application Checklist Apply for a BC teaching certificate (TRB) Apply for a TQS card
Set-up an application on Makeafuture.ca Set-up Job alerts Follow @MakeaFuture & Like Make a Future
Search and apply for jobs on Makeafuture.ca
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zE-NQAu_qRU&feature=player_embedded
Writing Resumes
Write Targeted Cover Letters
• Tailor cover letters to your audience• Personalize it with concrete examples • Explain “why you are the best candidate?”• Use action verbs to describe your work experience
and achievements (e.g. Collaborated; Assessed)• Do not write “To Whom It May Concern”• Spell Check and Proof Read!
Ask For A Good Reference• Get references from those
who’ve observed you teach• Ask for a reference letter • Give your references a
heads-up
Searching & Applying for Jobs on Makeafuture.ca
Discover the latest career opportunities
Search for jobs by
employer
Create job alerts
Learn more about your future employer
Compare salaries
Interviewing for the Job
Interviews gather information about a candidate’s skills and qualifications, and compares it to pre-determined selection criteria.
What is HR looking for?1. Subject Matter Knowledge2. Planning Skills3. Instructional Skills4. Assessment Strategies5. Classroom Management Skills6. Development as a Professional Educator
Interview QuestionsOpen-ended questions• Tell me about yourself• What is your teaching
philosophy?• Why do you want to work
for our district?• What books are you reading
right now?
Behavioral Questions• Describe a unit you recently completed with
your students and explain the process you used in its planning.
• Describe strategies you have used to evaluate your students’ academic progress.
• Describe specific management strategies you have used in your classroom.
• Tell stories & describe real-life scenarios
COMMON BEHAVIOURAL-BASED INTERVIEW QUESTIONSWhat questions to expect and how to answer them
Demonstrate that: You were thoughtful in preparing your units while considering a
variety of resources and your student composition
Describe how you plan your units Ask yourself:
What resources did you consult? Did you ask for help? Did you look at the composition of your class?
Tell us about your teaching style Tell a story and consider:
What strategies have you used for instruction How you presented the material How you engaged learners
What’s important is that: You demonstrated the use of diverse strategies to styles
and types of learners
What’s important is that: Describe a variety of assessments used Describe how you used the assessment results for student
learning
How do you assess & evaluate students? Tell a story and describe:
Examples of methods you used to evaluate and assess student outcomes
What did you do with the assessment results
It is important is that: You demonstrated and employed a variety tactics The effect on the classroom was a net positive
Describe a scenario when you encountered conflict in the classroom Describe:
A challenging scenario where there was conflict or a behavioural issue, and how you dealt with it
Describe how: You have demonstrated professional responsibility inside and
outside of the classroom You are a reflective practitioner
It is important is that: You are active in the educational community in building
relationships, sharing knowledge, and growing in the profession
How are you growing as a professional educator?
Interviewing Tips• Reflect on your best lessons,
and accomplishments• Use a portfolio to show off
your accomplishments • Frame answers with the
STAR technique• Practice, practice, practice
Job Search Resources• Resumes & Digital
Portfolios LinkedIn.com CVmkr.com VisualCV.com Pathbrite.com
• Interviews & Cover Letters Quintcareers.com
• Job Search Huntsy.com
• Pro D Teacher Mentorship BC Pita.ca
Now What?• Figure out where you want to work • Find out who is responsible for hiring
at the district• Sign-up for job alerts on
Makeafuture.ca• Like/Follow MAF on Facebook and
Twitter• Clean-up your social media footprint• Create an online portfolio
Stay in touch www.makeafuture.ca [email protected] www.twitter.com/makeafuture www.facebook.com/makeafuture www.makeafuture.ca/subscribe