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New Teacher Survival Guide
Ten Tips for an Effective
Job Application
Tip 2: It’s a Test! Tip 7: Consistency
Read through the entire application Double-check that the information
before responding. Follow instructions on your résumé is the same as the
as if you were taking an exam. information on your job application.
Make sure that dates, titles, names,
Tip 3: Fill in All the Blanks and other information are consistent
Be as thorough as you can. Do not between the two documents. Inconsis-
leave blanks without an explanation. tency is a red flag to the reader.
A simple “NA” for not applicable is
sufficient if a question does not apply Tip 8: References
to you. This response will let a poten- If asked, provide a list of references.
tial employer know that you did not It is important that you first seek
overlook a question. permission from your references to
include them on your résumé and
Tip 4: Honesty Counts application. Your university instruc-
Be absolutely honest. There is no need tors, a cooperating teacher, and
to stretch the truth or bend the facts. previous employers are appropriate
If you feel compelled to be less than references.
honest in order to secure a job, ask
yourself what the consequences will Tip 9: Skills and Strengths
be. Look for any opportunity to highlight
your specific skills and strengths. For
Tip 5: Neatness example, if you are asked to explain
Pam Stephens
W
If the application is in hard copy, com- your teaching style, respond with an
hat exactly is a job plete it with blue or black ink unless explanation of how you teach rather
application and how otherwise requested. Carefully write than with a list of strategies. Dem-
is it used in the hiring your responses in a legible manner; onstrate that you are more qualified
process? Job applica- after all, teachers need to have hand- than other applicants through your
tions are a method of standardizing writing that their students can read. response to open-ended questions.
and sorting information obtained from Do not fold the application. Submit
job seekers. They frequently provide the application in a large manila enve- Tip 10: Edit
those who are in charge of hiring with lope. Nobody expects you to be perfect,
a way of determining which candi- If the application is electronic, but it is imperative that your applica-
dates are offered interviews. Bear in there is little that you can do to tion be checked for misspelled words,
mind that your application is likely ensure neatness other than to check punctuation, grammar, and typo-
one of many. Making your applica- for misspellings or other errors. graphical errors. If the application is
tion stand apart from others is vital in completed online, ask someone else to
obtaining your first teaching job. This Tip 6: Keep it Active and Positive read and edit it before submitting. If
month’s column provides some tips for Find a way to respond with the use you are required to complete the appli-
preparing a stellar job application. of active verbs. Take care that all cation in person, sit back for a few
responses are phrased in a positive moments before carefully re-reading
Tip 1: Self Marketing tone. Here is an example that could your responses.
Similar to your résumé, your job appli- result in a call for an interview:
cation is a marketing tool. You are, in “Developing critical thinking skills Pam Stephens is associate professor of art
education at Northern Arizona University
effect, marketing yourself, your skills, through art interpretation contributes
and is a member of the SchoolArts advi-
and your potential as a quality art to the ultimate success of my stu- sory board. Pamela.Stephens@nau.edu
educator. dents.” The reader will want to know
how this works.
WEB January 2010 SchoolArts
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