A Successful Entry into the Teaching Profession

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A Successful Entry into the Teaching Profession

• This workshop is offered to
• Nipissing University
• Bachelor of Education candidates

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AGENDA

• Resumé
• Cover Letter
• Interview Process

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CREATING YOUR RESUMÉ the professional you on
paper
A resumé is a biographical summary of the
qualifications that have prepared you for
successful employment.
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FIRST IMPRESSIONS The importance of visual impact
The hiring team will begin by eliminating those
resumés that do not impress. Consider the
following important points
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Focus on theEMPLOYERS NEEDS

• What are they?
• Website
• Mission Statement

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PARTS OF A RESUMÉ

• Personal Information
• Career Objective (optional)
• Education
• Career (or Teaching) Related Experience
• Other Experience
• Areas of Ability, Special Skills, Expertise
• Professional Affiliations or Volunteer
• References
• Practice Teaching Reports

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Personal Information
Your letterhead should appear on the first page
of your resumé and your name on each subsequent
page.
Connor Jones 27 Hollyhock Lane Bracebridge,
Ontario P1L 1T5 Work [phone] Home (705)
497-6650 Fax [phone] Email
connorj_at_student1.nipissingu.ca
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Inappropriate Information

• Age
• Height
• Weight
• Social insurance number
• State of health
• Marital status
• Citizenship
• Religion

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YOUR LICENSE TO TEACH!

• After personal information, indicate that your

Ontario College of Teachers registration is
pending in the Spring of 2008
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Career Objective (optional)

• The following are examples only.
• Applicants should take some time to formulate
  one unique statement
• To apply newly acquired teaching skills in a
  classroom setting with the _____________
  District School Board.
• To create an environment that allows each child
  to become a self-directed, self-motivated,
  confident learner.
• To use creative teaching strategies and effective
  assessment techniques that help students learn.

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Education

• In reverse chronological order, list the
  certificates or degrees you will have earned by
  August, 2008 (Do not abbreviate!)
• Include teachable subjects and additional options
  you are taking
• List the name and location of the relevant
  educational institutions you attended since high
  school
• Indicate that you are in the iTeach Laptop
  Learning Program

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• May 2007 BACHELOR OF EDUCATION
• Nipissing University, North Bay,
  Ontario
• ___________ Division (If J/I or
  I/S), include teachable
• subject(s)
• Include any additional option
  courses that will be completed
• before you start
  teaching
• iTeach Laptop Learning Program
• June 2006 BACHELOR OF ARTS
• Guelph University, Guelph,
  Ontario
• Sociology Major
• Include High School if in the same location that
  you are applying in

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Career Related Experience

• In reverse chronological order, list the dates,
  job title, place of employment, duties, and what
  you learned. Begin with practice teaching
  placements.
• Your future employer wants to know what you
  learned and what you are able to do as a result
  of your employment experiences.
• Emphasize transferable skills (communication,
  team work, problem-solving, decision-making,
  creativity)

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• Fall 2006 GRADE FOUR PRE-SERVICE TEACHER
• John Smith Public School,
  Guelph, Ontario
• -Planned, implemented, and analyzed lessons in a
  grade
• four classroom
• September - FRONTIER COLLEGE STUDENTS FOR
• March 2004 LITERACY PROGRAM VOLUNTEER
• Centennial Public School,
  Guelph, Ontario
• -Tutored students in
  the resource room to help with
• reading strategies
  and homework completion
• Spring 2003 VOLUNTEER CLASSROOM ASSISTANT
• Centennial Public School, Guelph, Ontario
• -Observed teachers
  teaching and assessment strategies
• as well as their
  management techniques in the
• classroom
• -Supervised and
  interacted with students
• -Helped correct
  student work

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Other ExperienceIf you have
roomin reverse chronological order, itemize
other positions you have held (be selective
showing transferable skills and positions of
progressive responsibility)
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Areas of Ability, Special Skills, Awards,
Expertise

• Computer Skills, particularly educational
  software
• Awards
• Additional Courses, other than AQ and ABQ which
  should appear under the Education heading
• Training Seminars, Workshops
• Extracurricular Activities

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• Computer Skills
• Working knowledge of Microsoft Word and Power
  Point
• Familiar with the Ontario Curriculum Unit
  Planner, Hyperstudio 4, Kid Pix Deluxe 3, Ontario
  Report Cards Program, Microsoft Front Page,
  Storybook Weaver, Music Ace 2
• Training Workshops
• Curriculum Unit Planner Workshop, Nipissing
  University, January 2007
• Interests
• Reading, drama, canoeing, swimming, camping,
  hiking, rollerblading

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Professional or Volunteer Affiliations

• What might you include here that would be
  important to your future employer?
• Peer tutor/helper
• Frosh leader
• Coach
• Girl Guides / Boy Scouts Leader

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References

• Providing references on your resumé will not hurt
  you, but failing to provide them may!
• Carefully choose 3
• (Check the school boards requirements)
• Ask permission
• Provide the name, position, company, address, and
  contact numbers (telephone, email remove
  hyperlink)
• Give permission for references to be contacted

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REFERENCES Mrs. Elaine Jones, Teacher
Centennial Public School 14 Green Lane Guelph,
ON N1E 4L7 Phone [phone] Email
jones.elaine_at_cent.ca Mr. Doug Smith,
Teacher John Smith Public School Guelph, Ontario
N1E 5J6 Phone [phone], ext. 4345 Email
smith.d_at_jsps.ca Ms. Gillian Spencer, Program
Coordinator Frontier College Students for
Literacy Program 16 Squirrel Place, Guelph, ON
N1E 3Z7 Phone [phone] Email
spencer.gillian_at_fcslp.ca ______________________
(Your signature) Permission is granted for my
references to be contacted
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Practice Teaching ReportsandLetters of Reference

• Submit copies of your practice teaching reports
• If possible, enclose letters of reference when
  requested
• Catholic School Boards usually request a
  Faith Reference Form
• If you do not receive a letter of acknowledgement
  within three weeks, it is appropriate to call and
  inquire about the status of your application

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Employers Pet Peeves About Resumés!

• More than 2 pages long
• Colored paper that does not copy well for the
  interview team, e.g. marbled paper
• Grammatical errors
• Repetition
• Attempts to inflate responsibilities
• Fancy graphics
• Poor quality paper
• Photocopies of photocopies

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COVER LETTER
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The Six Cs of the Cover Letter

• clear
• concise
• coherent
• correct
• complete
• courteous

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Components of a Cover Letter

• Initial Contact
• Evidence
• Action

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The Warm-up Session Psyching Yourself Up to
Write the Letter

• Always keep in mind what the employer is looking
  for... that being an excellent teacher
• Make sure your letter is not dull, unsympathetic,
  disorganized, wishy-washy
• Your letter must be interesting, well-planned and
  assertive
• Do as much research as you can about the board
  you are applying to

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The Actual Writing ProcessParagraph 1 Initial
ContactState the reason for writing

• State the title of the position for which you are
  applying.
• Quote the competition number if there is one.
• State the source and date of the advertisement
• State the divisions you are qualified to teach
  and the source of those qualifications.
• Indicate if you plan to take an ABQ in another
  division in the spring or summer.

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Paragraph 2 Solid Evidence

• Indicate if you plan on taking other courses in
  the future.
• Indicate why you are one of the best candidates
  for the job.
• Write about your career related experience.

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Paragraph 3 Your Beliefs

• Share your beliefs about what teaching is all
  about and relate them to the boards mission
  statement.Phrases you might use
• Teachers must address the range of knowledge,
  skills, attitudes and values essential for
  todays students OR
• Teachers must use a variety of methods to meet
  the different learning styles of students OR
• Teachers must encourage students to ask questions
  and make connections OR
• Teachers must encourage students to apply what
  they learn in school to everyday life.
  

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• Share your beliefs about what learning is all
  about...Phrases you might use
• Learning involves nurturing values and skills as
  well as knowledge OR
• Students learn in different ways and at different
  rates OR
• Students learn by asking questions and making
  connections OR
• Learning requires effort and self-discipline OR
• Students must see the relevance of what they are
  learning.

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• Share your beliefs about what curriculum is all
  about...Phrases you might use
• The curriculum must reflect the diversity of
  Canadian Society.
• Curriculum must accommodate the strengths, needs,
  and backgrounds of individuals in the classroom.
• The curriculum must guide students to make
  connections through constant inquiry.
• The curriculum includes all the experiences, both
  inside and outside the classroom, that contribute
  to our students achieving the stated outcomes or
  expectations.
• The curriculum must demonstrate connections
  (interactions) among people, ideas, events to
  prepare students for a changing world.

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Paragraph 4 Action

• The employer is getting to the end of your
  letter. You must be action-oriented. Consider the
  following
• Invite the employer to contact your references.
• Close with a strong statement of confidence in
  your abilities.
• Express your willingness to attend an interview
  and provide contact information.
• Thank the employer for considering you and ask
  for an interview at his/her
  earliest convenience.
• Provide a telephone number where you can be
  reached, or where a message can be left.

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The Cool Down Period

• Youve spent a lot of time and effort getting
  your letter of application written but its not
  over yet.
• Ask some people (friend, colleague, advisor) to
  proofread your letter. Listen to all their
  comments without being defensive. If possible,
  put their comments in writing.
• Reflect on what has been shared with you. (Let
  it steep for a period of time).
• You make the decision on what the final version
  will be.
• Mail or deliver the letter of application, the
  resumé and any other enclosures to the
  appropriate individual.

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INTERVIEW PROCESS
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Before the Interview

• Learn about the organization to which you are
  applying
• Learn about the specific job for which you are
  applying
• Plan to sell yourself
• Prepare answers to questions you may be asked
• Prepare two or three relevant success stories
  that describe your skills, education,
  experience, or personal qualities
• Bring a duplicate application package to the
  interview
• Present a professional image to your potential
  employer
• Arrive at the interview fifteen or twenty minutes
  early

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During the Interview

• Shake hands firmly
• Establish and maintain eye contact
• Avoid criticizing previous employers or others
• Keep the interview focused on your strengths
• Describe past jobs...dont evaluate them
• Ask relevant, meaningful questions. Do you have
  a mentoring program? Are Board
  curriculum documents readily available?
• Conclude the interview by summarizing your
  strongest qualifications

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Coping With Inappropriate Questions

• Sample 1 Inappropriate Question
• I understand that you have three children. Are
  your family responsibilities going to interfere
  with your work?
• Sample 1 Deflecting Answer
• Ive made arrangements for excellent child care,
  and a backup plan has already been worked out
  with my caregiver, so there wont be a problem.

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• Sample 2 Inappropriate Question
• You have applied to teach primary/junior/intermedi
  ate/senior students. You are so young and
  petite. Arent you afraid that youll have
  discipline problems with this age group?
• Sample 2 Deflecting Answer
• I have practice taught in numerous
  primary/junior/intermediate/senior classes and
  had no problem with discipline in the absence of
  the associate teacher. I believe discipline
  based on mutual respect will be effective
  regardless of age or gender of the students.

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• Sample 3 Inappropriate Question
• You have young children at home. Wont you find
  it difficult to do your share of extracurricular
  activities after school?
• Sample 3 Deflecting Answer
• My resumé shows that I have been successfully
  involved in work with choirs and volleyball
  coaching outside my regular hours at the Faculty
  of Education last year.
• My child care arrangements are excellent. I will
  simply arrange an extension of my caregivers
  hours in order to participate in extracurricular
  events, school meetings, parent interviews, or
  any other school related occasions.

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After the Interview

• Consider writing a letter thanking the
  interviewer.
• Be prepared for a follow-up telephone call
  seeking clarification. (Prepare your family
  and/or roommates for the incoming call.)
• As you acquire more practice teaching reports,
  mail copies OR take them into the school or board
  office.

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REMEMBER...

• The interview is never over...
• even when they say its over!

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Good LuckIn Your Job Search!Special thanks
toMary Ann Jack Joneswho spent much time in
the preparation of theoriginal version of this
presentation