Last week I had the pleasure of attending a Education Career Fair on my college campus. I have to be honest. I really was not looking forward to going. My CT was going to be gone and I was worried about my kiddos. Luckily after getting edTPA done and out of the way I could focus on writing sub plans and finalizing my resume. It was definitely a little overwhelming to think about every detail of the school day as well as be on the top of my game for the fair. I told myself that the kids would be fine without me and this fair was an important stepping stone into starting my teaching career.
Leading up to the fair I wasn't really nervous at all. And maybe I should have been, but I was confident that I was a good teacher and had to put my best foot forward. I cut the tags off my suit, checked my makeup, used way too much Static Guard and stood up tall. Who wouldn't want to hire me? I found a few of the other girls in my major and they were pretty nervous. I had made a list of what I wanted to say and which schools I wanted to talk to. My goal was really to get practice with interviewing and showing a recruiter that I had what it takes to be teacher in their district. My parents had done a great job preparing me in the sense that they had sure I had my suit, pad folio and was mentally ready. When the doors opened we got name tags and set off to meet some of the potential employers. I took one walk around the edge of the room to get my bearings. I chose to start off with the school district that I graduated from almost 4 years ago (yikes!). Was not the best interview, but it was a start. From there I circled the room and talked to whoever I pleased. I left the fair feeling good because I got a few leads on possible districts that were a good match for me and with a whole new level of confidence.
Leading up to the fair I wasn't really nervous at all. And maybe I should have been, but I was confident that I was a good teacher and had to put my best foot forward. I cut the tags off my suit, checked my makeup, used way too much Static Guard and stood up tall. Who wouldn't want to hire me? I found a few of the other girls in my major and they were pretty nervous. I had made a list of what I wanted to say and which schools I wanted to talk to. My goal was really to get practice with interviewing and showing a recruiter that I had what it takes to be teacher in their district. My parents had done a great job preparing me in the sense that they had sure I had my suit, pad folio and was mentally ready. When the doors opened we got name tags and set off to meet some of the potential employers. I took one walk around the edge of the room to get my bearings. I chose to start off with the school district that I graduated from almost 4 years ago (yikes!). Was not the best interview, but it was a start. From there I circled the room and talked to whoever I pleased. I left the fair feeling good because I got a few leads on possible districts that were a good match for me and with a whole new level of confidence.
Tips from a Newbie
Here's a few things I learned or did to prepare that I felt where helpful.
1. Dress the part
Yes you need a suit. Keep a neutral color and make sure it fits properly. I got really lucky and ordered mine online in one size in a coat, skirt and pants. To my surprise they all fit great! We might need to hem the pants a bit, but I do have rather short legs.
2. Get lots of sleep
You want to look well rested and that you are able to take care of yourself. Make sure to budget your time in the morning so you can get ready and get to the fair on time.
3. Proper supplies
Don't take in your Coach purse or giant Vera Bradley bag with you. A pad folio is a must and if you must have a bag get a briefcase. My mom had one with the tags still on it that worked great.
4. Be confident!
This is your chance to show and tell someone that they need to hire you. Often times when you apply for a job you only get what is on paper, but at fair you have opportunities to say things that are not on your resume.
5. Ask questions
Do your research on the schools beforehand. I printed my notes and questions I had for each district. This was more of a security blanket to read of I had time to kill waiting in line or I drew a blank on what I was going to ask. By asking the recruiter questions you are showing them that you know facts about their school and are interested in learning more.
Final thoughts
At the end of the day I know that for many people it is scary to approach future employers and talk to them about your strengths and weaknesses. Prepare as much as you can. Now is the time to put on your teacher face and don't let them know you are shaking in your bones. First impressions are huge and you only get one. Make the most of it!
1. Dress the part
Yes you need a suit. Keep a neutral color and make sure it fits properly. I got really lucky and ordered mine online in one size in a coat, skirt and pants. To my surprise they all fit great! We might need to hem the pants a bit, but I do have rather short legs.
2. Get lots of sleep
You want to look well rested and that you are able to take care of yourself. Make sure to budget your time in the morning so you can get ready and get to the fair on time.
3. Proper supplies
Don't take in your Coach purse or giant Vera Bradley bag with you. A pad folio is a must and if you must have a bag get a briefcase. My mom had one with the tags still on it that worked great.
4. Be confident!
This is your chance to show and tell someone that they need to hire you. Often times when you apply for a job you only get what is on paper, but at fair you have opportunities to say things that are not on your resume.
5. Ask questions
Do your research on the schools beforehand. I printed my notes and questions I had for each district. This was more of a security blanket to read of I had time to kill waiting in line or I drew a blank on what I was going to ask. By asking the recruiter questions you are showing them that you know facts about their school and are interested in learning more.
Final thoughts
At the end of the day I know that for many people it is scary to approach future employers and talk to them about your strengths and weaknesses. Prepare as much as you can. Now is the time to put on your teacher face and don't let them know you are shaking in your bones. First impressions are huge and you only get one. Make the most of it!