Staying Positive While Unemployed

An employment application is no place for half-truths. You have to understand that private schools have a fiduciary responsibility to their clients. They cannot afford to hire somebody who might jeopardize the school's reputation or, worse yet, cause harm to students. That is why it is so important to answer all the questions on an employment application truthfully.

Background Checks

Most private schools will use a service to do background checks on any potential new hires. They will not run the background check until they have interviewed you because background checks are expensive. That's another reason why you need to be truthful about anything in your resume which will arouse probing questions and nix your chances of even being interviewed.

What the background check really examines is your criminal and credit history. If you were charged with a criminal offense or have bad credit, that will show on your background check. Take the offensive and point out that your credit was destroyed by huge medical bills as a result of your mother suffering from Alzheimer's. Don't be creative. Just tell the truth.

Expect a drug test at some point in the hiring process. Since views about pot and even alcohol vary widely from one part of the country to another, make sure those tests come out clean. If you have been prescribed a controlled substance that will show up in a drug test, mention it proactively and file a copy of your doctor's prescription just in case

Finding a private school job was fairly simple years ago. You kept your resume and curriculum vitae up to date, did a bit of networking, attended a couple of professional conferences and that was pretty much it. News of job openings would come your way. You followed up with your application, were interviewed and, hopefully, won the appointment. It doesn't work that way any more.

As a result many teachers and administrators used to doing things the old way will look askance at the idea of using online sites and online tools to conduct their private school job search. I would suggest that you might want to think twice before you cast aspersions on these new ways of finding a job. You just might be on your way to becoming a digital dinosaur. Now, you wouldn't want to be a digital dinosaur, would you?

First of all, understand that online tools are simply that - tools. A chisel in the hands of a novice makes clumsy cuts and produces amateurish results. The same is true of most online tools and social media. You need to learn how to use them effectively to land the job you really want. Each of these tools and applications is effective when used by itself. But for the best results I recommend that you use all of them. Using these new tools effectively takes practice and patience. You cannot realistically expect results within hours of your first posts. Give it time.

Let's focus

An Old-fashioned Approach

Private schools are small corporate entities. It's not like you're applying to a Fortune 1000 company. So, remember that each school is unique and has its own specific job application requirements and instructions.

Finding a private high school teaching position is similar to finding any other job with specific requirements for experience and education. The difference is that most private schools will expect you to be an active member of their school community. Put another way, it is not enough to teach your subject and go home. You will be expected to be a leader in the school community. Your willingness to be involved in extracurricular and athletic activities is a job requirement for private school teachers.

It sounds simple enough, but one of the most important things you must do when looking for a teaching job is to ensure your qualifications match the requirements of the position. If you don't clarify that in your resume and cover letter, you might not even make the first cut when your application is opened and reviewed.

Let's look at a typical job posting and review how it should be handled. This is an actual job posting. The name of the school has been changed to protect its identity.

This guide is designed to provide teachers and administrators seeking employment in private schools with a road map for the job search process. It is written for teachers, admissions and business office professionals, and those seeking positions as dean of students and head of school. You will find plenty of practical advice about applying, networking, using job boards, and much more.

• Apply Correctly:
  • Following a Traditional Format
  • Making It Easy to Read
  • Matching Your Qualifications
  • Making It Accurate and Truthful
  • Making Your Application Impressive
  • Writing a Perfect Cover Letter

• Manage your Job Search Process:
  • 5 Most Important Soft Skills to Have on Your Resume
  • Building Your Network
  • Being Active Professionally
  • Conducting a Job Search Via Social Media
  • Conducting a Job Search Via the Web
  • Preparing Professional References

• Manage Job Interviews:
  • Presenting Yourself Successfully
  • Handling Various Interview Scenarios
  • Answering the Expected Questions
  • Answering the Unexpected Questions
  • Asking Good Questions
  • Illegal Questions

• Protect Your Attitude & Morale:
  • Do You Need a Rebranding?
  • Marketing Yourself in Tough Times
  • Your Credentials Need Realigning
  • You Were Terminated
  • You Are Currently Unemployed
  • Your Job Search is Taking Forever

• Working with Agencies and Recruiters
  • The Truth About Search Firms
  • How to Work with Agencies & Recruiters

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