keith munson career specialist fall 2010. strommen career & internship center...

Keith Munson

Career Specialist

Fall 2010

Strommen Career & Internship [email protected] • 612-330-1167

http://cswl.pbworks.com/

Agenda



Tips for preparing materials It takes time! 6-9 months to find a job Searching is like a full-time job Need to create unique tailored materials



Job Search Process



A note about credential files:

Self managed Include:

Education Credentials Cover Sheet Standard cover letter/letter of application Resume Application Copies of letters of recommendation (usually 3) Student teaching evaluations Copy of teaching license (if available) Copy of official transcript (available from Registrar’s

Office for a nominal fee) Every district may have different instructions on how to

submit-FOLLOW DIRECTIONS Every district may have different definition of “Credential

File”-FOLLOW DIRECTIONS.



Purpose of a Resume?

To promote yourself – is your marketing tool to school districts

Generate interest in talking with you. The purpose of a resume is NOT to get you a

job… but to get you an INTERVIEW!!!! NOT the whole story.



Resume Tips Invest the time and energy Have it critiqued Create something that represents you Sell your skills! Continuous process Keep the audience in mind Use formatting to make important information

stand out



Section Headings



Personal Information/Heading

Full Name should be displayed boldly and larger than the rest of the text

Include full address, phone number and email address

Should spell out all abbreviated words Use a professional email address and have

professional message on your phone



Education

Include your degree, college major, expected graduation as well as the city and state of your college

Can include GPA, Honors and Awards, Study Abroad, and any relevant coursework in this section if you wish

Include any other post-high school experiences if you received a degree from that school



Licensure

This comes after the Education Section because schools will want to see it

They will know you will not have it yet – just put when it is expected or that it is pending



Student Teaching

Most relevant, so it comes next Include grade level, school name, city, state and

the dates



Write Effective Skill Phrases

Skill phrases are action statements that describe your experiences.

Components of a skill phraseBullet pointAction verbs in the past-tenseSpecific skill that was learned or honedResults of your work, or how or why you did the work.

Avoid personal pronouns when writing skill phrases



Skill Phrase Example

FairCreated lesson plans

BetterCreated original lesson plans surrounding the book

“The Giver”

BestCreated constructivist lesson plans that utilized

cooperative learning to discuss concepts in Lois Lowry’s book, “The Giver”



Important Topics to Cover:

Implementing your own lesson plans Working with different learning styles and diverse

students Collaborating with parents and managing student

behavior Curriculum development



Related Teaching Experience

Same format as student teaching Describe additional experience working with

childrento teaching



Classroom Skills

List any special skills you have that could add to your teaching and classroom experience

Examples: computer skills, languages, musical skills, art skills, and coaching



Other Sections

You will want to add any other sections that highlight your well-rounded abilities and interests

Examples: Volunteer Experiences, Additional Involvement, and Other Work Experience



Final Tips



Create a Professional Image

Be honest—no lying or exaggerations

Use easy to read fonts and layouts

Avoid too many graphics, fancy fonts, self-portraits

Be consistent

Look at it from an employer’s perspective, is it

visually appealing and professional?

1 full page or 1.5-2 full pages

Print on white or neutral colored resume paper



What is a Cover Letter?

A marketing piece that highlights your most important qualifications AS THEY RELATE TO THAT SPECIFIC POSITION OR DISTRICT

Tool to get the employer to read your resume

Demonstrates your writing ability



Cover Letter Tips Tailor to each position; NO GENERIC LETTERS Make them feel like you care about their district

and the job Really answer the question-why should I hire you? Remember back to your English classes Have it critiqued! Spelling/grammatical errors will

get you in the “no” pile



Basic Guidelines

Should always accompany a resume even when not requested

Needs to be well-written and in a professional tone

Do not start all of your sentences with “I” Customize each letter with a job description of

the organization you are applying for



Heading Can/should match heading on resume Your address, date, employer address Salutation



Opening Indicate the position you are applying for and

how you came to learn about the position State why you are interested in the position Why this organization?

Demonstrates genuine interest Catches their attention



Middle Section Highlight your experience as it relates to the position Provide them with the key skills you have that are

mentioned in the job description Be specific about how your achievements and

education have prepared you for the position



Closing

Reiterate your interest in the position and thank them Ask for an interview State YOUR follow up



Final Tips



It’s all about making connections Remember that it is win-win Need to follow up and keep in touch! Obtain 2-3 referrals from each contact Send a thank-you note Make networking a life-long activity

Tips to Effective Networking



Who’s in your Network? Family & friends, friend of family Student/Cooperating Teachers Faculty/professors Classmates Employers/co-workers Contacts from professional organizations, church, or

social clubs Contacts from career fairs



Finding Jobs Online Augpost www.mnlandit.org http://www1.stcloudstate.edu/joblistings/edpost/

(Ed Post) http://www.schoolspring.com/ http://www.teachers-teachers.com/ http://www.usreap.net/ http://services.education.wisc.edu/wecan/

(WECAN, WI)



Quick Tips to Online Job Searching Find school districts you are interested in Bookmark them right to the HR page Check 1 or 2 times per week for new openings

OR

Set up job search agents A lot of websites have these



District Applications

Devote the time to your application (hours…) Start with districts you are most interested Answer genuinely/Put thought into the questions that

you answer Do not put “See Resume” or simply repeat info in

resume Can send follow-up letter and resume later if position

becomes available Follow-up is key! Utilize jargon throughout to ensure you get pulled in a

keyword search (read the job description) Save it all in a word doc and copy and paste in if you

can Check your spelling!



Interviewing

Be prepared! Behaviorally Based and Hypothetical Questions Provide concrete, professional examples Attend Interviewing Workshop Practice with a Career Specialist



Interview Stream



Portfolio

Documented evidence of teaching skills and achievements

Hard copy works best in an interviewUse as an aidLesson plans, evaluations, resume, cover letter,

activities, and awards



Final Thoughts on Standing Out

Check and recheck materials Complete applications entirely and on time Highlight experiences that make you different Avoid templates Passion and energy in materials/interviews Letters of reference/recommendation Involvement in other activities Tailor all materials to each position-

RESEARCH



Professional Image A small note…

Facebook MySpace Twitter Youtube Voicemail Roommates Networking



MN Education Job Fair

MondayApril 11, 2011

Minneapolis Convention Center1301 Second Avenue South

Minneapolis, MN 55403



2011 Ed Fair Materials and website later in the year http://www.mcusa.org/mnedfair/ Early registration earns price break!

$15.00 early registration$30.00 at the door

89 Districts attended in 2010 On site interviews and district boothes



QUESTIONS?



Write these down....... http://cswl.pbworks.com [email protected]

keith munson career specialist fall 2010. strommen career & internship center...

Documents

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professional email address

education section

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credential files

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