Thread: Making yourself stand out

This is something that's been on my mind as well. I'll be graduating this May with a PreK-6 certification, and am wondering what I can do (besides be myself) to make sure that I'm standing out against other new graduates. I've got several example lessons and units that I've created and some that I've taught as well, and I think that showing them what I can do as far as that goes is what I've got so far.

Like Victoria, I'd appreciate any other suggestions that our veteran teachers on the board have.

It took me a year to get my first teaching job. The only advice I have to offer is.....
1. Be persistent in looking.
2. Be professional in your interviewing- that is dress and deportment.
3. Be confident- if you project that you can handle the job, you are more likely to stand out.
4. If you hear nothing about the position after a time, do not be afraid to call back.

Good luck!

When I was looking for a job, I sent my resume and packet to every school district that I was willing to commute to, regardless of job openings listed. I got an interview (and a job) at a school that did not have an opening at the time I sent all my materials out.

I also second everything the previous poster mentioned. If you have a portfolio, use it to help answer your interview questions - don't expect the interviewers to look through it on their own.

Good advice! I've already made a list of all of the districts in the area that I wouldn't mind commuting to. I'm going to start sending out resume packets in the next two months, I think. Ideally, I'd love to have an idea of where I'll be working before I graduate in May. I'm going to be persistent in applying for jobs through the summer if I don't land one before then, though.

if you had to do any practicums or student teaching, make sure you keep contact with your cooperating teachers for any subbing that you could do - especially long term subbing. I know during interviews a lot of schools consider long term subbing better than no experience at all.

I'm not sure if it is the same everywhere, but here even if the principal knows who he wants to hire, we have to "fly" the job to teachers within the district then to people outside the district. This is to make the hiring process fair. Unfortunalty, we have a lot of people who go through interviews where the principal already knows who he wants. I knew a lady who drove in from another state for an interview where we all knew who was going to get hired. I'm saying don't take all the rejection personally. It might have very little to do with you.

I made an "e-portfolio" by basically putting my resume on PowerPoint and linked to various lesson plans, photos from my student teaching. Then by saving the PPT as a show, all the principal had to do was click and it would open as a show. I had his secretary give him that and a thank you note the day after my interview. I later found out that blew him and the department head away and that helped seal the deal.