|
|
Workshop Tips
Preparing for the Workforce
Planning for a real-life job while still a coed is tricky, but it’s not impossible. Your career success will depend largely on your preparation and effort. Michelle Bollinger, coordinator for the College of Education’s Career Services (CAPS) office, shares some tips for preparing to be a professional – right now.
- Get as much experience as possible: For any profession, it’s important to have on-the-job experience that relates to your field. Internships, summer jobs and volunteer positions all prepare you for a professional work environment (and look nice on any resume). For future teachers, volunteering, tutoring and any training positions are especially helpful.
- Make contacts – and keep in touch: Develop a network of supportive people in your life such as teachers, school administrators, professors and employers. Tell them your goals and you will be amazed at how much assistance you will receive.
- Study hard: All employers admire a strong work ethic, and graduating with a high GPA will improve your job prospects.
- This is especially important for teachers, who are expected to demonstrate intelligence and an aptitude for school.
- Explore Your Options: Make sure you’ve selected a profession and field that interests you, but be open to other possibilities. For instance, if teaching is what you really want to pursue, research different positions within the field of education; Administration, higher education, research and policy making are a few related career paths.
- Play the market, and note what professions are currently in demand: When exploring career options, don’t only consider your interests and strengths, but also research what professional fields need more employees.For teachers, this means seriously considering subjects which have a shortage of teachers. You will find the best job options in those areas.
- Develop positive work characteristics: Concentrate on developing characteristics that appeal to employers: strong work ethic, attention to detail, communication skills, a positive attitude and maturity. This development is particularly important for educators, who are expected to be excellent role models.
(top)
How to impress in an interview
As part of Education Week at the University of Missouri, students had the opportunity to attend several panels on landing their first job after graduation. Idolene Mazza, coordinator of field experiences for the College of Education, gave Thursday’s group some tips for a memorable interview.
Preparation
Mazza suggests going online to find out as much as possible about the district. “Their website will tell you what they’re proud of and what they think makes them unique,” she says. Look for information about:• Faculty/salary schedules
• Curriculum and class offerings
• Management and discipline plans used
• Demographics
“Before the age of computers, this was difficult information to find,” Mazza says. “Now it’s all out there so that you go in feeling comfortable and well-prepared.”
At the Interview
• Arrive early and alone. “Nothing will get you off to a bad start faster than getting there late,” Mazza says. If you are traveling to an unfamiliar district and want to have a friend make the trip with you, plan to drop him or her off at a nearby fast-food restaurant before reaching the interview site.• Be friendly and courteous. Be nice to everyone you meet, not just the interviewer. “The secretary and the custodian will be your best friends if you get hired at that school, so start from the very beginning being nice to them,” Mazza says.
• Remember the students. Always phrase your answer in terms of the student, not yourself. “Don’t just say that you want to make every child love history, tell the interviewer how you plan to do it,” Mazza says.
• Trust your skills. Vocalized pauses – those “ums” and “likes” – make you sound less confident. “Give an honest, straightforward answer and then be quiet,” Mazza says. “The silence is fine.” Refer to theories you learned in class; even if it’s not the model that district uses, they will know you’ve been well trained.
Follow-Up
• Say it in writing. Thank the interviewer before you leave, then write a thank-you letter as soon as you get home. In the case of a panel, address the note to the person who was the main interviewer. “If you have terrible handwriting, it can be typed on a computer, but don’t e-mail it,” Mazza says.• Remember contracts are commitments. Most districts will charge you a fine for backing out. “Even if three weeks after you sign, something wonderful comes along, honor the contract,” Mazza says. And be wary of entering into verbal agreements.
(top)
Preparing for Professional Interviews
You are “On Stage”
The first thing to remember for interviews: You are always on stage and being evaluated. Your interactions before, during and after the job interview — chatting on the phone, sending in a resume, scheduling the interview, sending a follow-up note — all come into play when you’re being considered as a candidate for a position. Employers know other employers; even if one job doesn’t pan out, an interviewer might pass along your resume if you made a good impression. Always present yourself as a professional. According to Bollinger, you can put yourself ahead of 60 percent of the candidates if you do the following:
- Be enthusiastic – even though you may be nervous, show your passion for the opportunity.
- Submit neat and complete application materials.
- Be available for an interview when called – ask when they need you there.
- Research the employer before the interview – which includes getting your own directions on how to get there.
Attire
Even when applying at an office where casual Friday is the fashion Monday through Thursday, plan to dress up for your interview. Think of the interview as a first date: impressions last. Make sure your clothes match the image you want to present to an employer. Conservative, professional business attire is the safest bet.
Some exceptions: In creative professions, such as fashion or consumer magazines, business suits can appear too buttoned-up and might actually hurt your chances at landing the job. In this case, make sure your ensemble is appropriate (read: clean, pressed and covered up) but also highlights your personal style.
A few general guidelines:
For Men:
- Clean body and well-groomed hair
- Dark suit with tie and dress belt
- Long-sleeved collared shirt in either white or conservative colors
- Dark dress shoes, freshly polished, with dark socks
- Light briefcase or folio to keep a supply of resumes, your interview schedule, a writing utensil, and collected business cards
For Women:
- Clean body and well-groomed hair
- Suit with either modest skirt or slacks
- Career blouse or top
- Conservative colors, preferably solid
- Dress shoes with closed toes and a low to medium heel
- Skin-colored hosiery
- Light briefcase or folio to keep a supply of resumes, your interview schedule, a writing utensil, and collected business cards
Also for women: make sure you can sit down and get out of chairs without wobbling on heels that are too high or allowing a skirt or dress to hike up to a level that would make your interviewer uncomfortable. Turn sideways in a mirror and check your appearance for gaps in your shirt between buttons.
For more attire insight, see visit here.
Be prepared
Just like studying for a test, preparing for an interview is key for scoring a passing grade. Begin researching the employer and company as soon as you schedule an interview. Some basic tips and pointers:
- Review Sample Interview Questions. Practice responses both to yourself and out loud with a partner.
- Research the employer in advance. It shows interest and will help you focus your responses appropriately. Look up the employer’s website or read through any print materials you may have.
- Dress professionally. Plan out your wardrobe well in advance. Polish shoes, press shirts and slacks, and get a haircut if needed.
- Get a good night’s sleep and eat a healthy breakfast the next morning.
- Allow plenty of drive time to get to where you need to go, park your car and locate the appropriate office. Fill your car with gas the day before.
- Bring multiple copies of your resume – no less than two.
- Ask for a business card at each interview so you can remember how to address the thank you letter afterwards.
- Send a thank you letter afterwards.
Once you accept a position, stop interviewing. This is a professional ethical standard. If you have accepted a position verbally, but have not signed the contract yet, that acceptance still counts. Once you accept a position, an employer considers the position filled and will not interview other candidates. So, don’t accept any position unless you are 100 percent sure you plan to follow through.
But, what should you do if you receive an offer from one employer, but you haven’t heard back about your first-choice job?
- Ask if you can get back to the employer in a few days, but don’t ask for more than a few. The company has other candidates for the position that they will want to interview if you don’t accept.
- Call the first choice employer and ask where they are in their selection process.
- If the first choice company cannot offer a position or give you any indication they plan to do so, then seriously consider accepting the offer you have.
- Make a decision about the offer – do you want to accept it or not? Call the employer with your choice.
(top)
Set the Stage
One of the first steps to having positive interview experiences is realizing that you are always “on stage” and being evaluated. Even now, you are being evaluated by the teachers with whom you are working with in your field experiences as well as the building principal. Those interactions, as well as others, may come into play when you are being considered as a candidate for a position. Teachers tend to know teachers in other buildings, school administrators tend to know administrators in other buildings as well as other districts…there is a network of information out there!
It is important, therefore, to make sure you present yourself as a professional with every interaction and every contact. This includes:
- the faculty lounge.
- the parking lot of the school and surrounding streets.
- your voice mail message (If a school administrator calls you for an interview and receives your voice mail message – do you sound like a professional educator?
- the school office and interactions with school staff.
- your punctuality, preparedness, and willingness to show initiative during your field and internship experiences.
- your MySpace or Facebook page-make it private (more and more administrators are viewing these to get background information on a candidate).
In the words of one administrator, you can put yourself above 60% of the candidates if you do the following:
- Be enthusiastic – even though you may be nervous, show your passion for this opportunity!
- Be available for an interview when called – ask when they need you there.
- Research the employer before the interview – which includes getting your own directions on how to get there. There are many on-line resources that offer turn-by-turn directions.
What to Do
Preparation is key to a good interview and good preparation will begin well in advance of the actual interview day. Some basic tips and pointers:
- Review the Sample Interview Questions. Practice responses both to yourself and out loud with a partner.
- Research the employer in advance. It shows interest and will help you focus your responses appropriately. Look up the employer’s website or read through any print materials you may have.
- Dress professionally. Plan out your wardrobe well in advance. Polish shoes, press shirts and slacks, and get a haircut if needed.
- Get a good night’s sleep and eat a healthy breakfast the next morning.
- Allow plenty of time to drive where you need to go, park your car, and locate the appropriate office. Fill your car with gas the day before. Driving directions can be obtained from a variety of on-line sources.
- Bring multiple copies of your resume – no less than two.
- Ask for a business card at each interview so you can remember how to address the thank you letter afterwards.
- Send a thank you letter afterwards.
What Not to Do
Along with presenting yourself as a worthy candidate, there are also things to avoid doing or saying as a candidate. One hiring administrator went to the trouble to put together the following list.
Top Ten Worst Things to Say in an Interview
- Since I don't know very much about your district, I don't really have any questions.
- Is your district in St. Louis or Kansas City?
- I'm not familiar with your district - what can you tell me about it?
- Sorry I'm late - I got lost driving here.
- I 'm in the process of updating my resume. I'll get that to you when I'm finished.
- I just gave out the one copy of my resume that I brought with me.
- I didn't bring a resume with me - did you need one?
- Just how in depth is that criminal background check?
- I'm pretty sure I can get out of my contract with that other district.
- What's REAP?
What to Wear
You may have been in classrooms and schools where you saw teachers wearing casual clothing such as blue jeans, tennis shoes, capri pants, etc. There is considerable debate about the appropriateness of such casual dress for teachers, but in an interview situation – there is no debate! An interview is where you are expected to put your best foot forward. It is important for you to give everyone a professional impression in both dress and manner. Conservative, business attire is your safest option. Stay away from heavy perfumes or colognes, and remember, your best accessory is a smile!
For Men:
- Suit: A two-piece matched suit is the best choice.
- Conservative colors: Navy, black, or dark gray are safe. Avoid extremes in color trends.
- Cost/Quality: You are not expected to show up in a high dollar Armani suit. Do invest in at least one decent suit that you can utilize multiple times by varying your shirt and tie.
- Ties: Try to stay away from extremes in colors and prints.
- Shirts: Long-sleeved shirt, even in warm weather, tucked in waistband. Stay with conservative colors and stripes. Should be clean and well-pressed.
- Hair and Face: Being well groomed and conservative are key. Remove any distracting body piercings and try to stay away from extremes with hair color.
For Women:
- Suit: A two-piece matched suit is always the best and safest choice. As with the men, good quality does not have to mean high dollar. You are not expected buy an expensive suit; you are expected wear one that is clean and well pressed.
- Pants: Tailored pants suits are appropriate, and should be creased and tailored, not tight or flowing.
- Skirts: Much of what passes on television for professional work attire for women is actually inappropriate. Make sure your skirt length is long enough to cover your thighs when seated. Longer lengths are acceptable, just make sure they are tailored and narrow, not billowing. A skirt that ends just at the knee when you are standing always looks chic and professional.
- Color: Navy, dark gray, brown, and black are the safest choices. Try to avoid overly bright colors.
- Shirt/Sweaters: Under your suit jacket, wear a tailored blouse, or a knit shell. Do NOT show cleavage. If you would wear it out to a club, it is probably inappropriate for an interview.
- Shoes: Choose close toed pumps. Avoid extremes. No flip-flops, and no stilettos or chunky platforms. Make sure you can walk confidently in your shoes; hobbling in too high heels does not convey a professional appearance. Shoes do not have to be expensive, but should be clean and well polished.
- Cosmetics/Hair/Accessories: Keep it simple and conservative. A little makeup is better than none, but don't overdo it. Remove any facial piercings, and stay away from extremes with hair color. No big dangly earrings, or bangly bracelets; a simple watch is a good choice.
(top)