If you have 3 or more of the following skills or credentials, you will position yourself for greater success in the private school employment market. While there is a shortage of qualified teachers, it is still a highly competitive arena in the private school world. Consequently your chances at finding your dream job will improve if you can offer one or more of the following:
1. Speak and teach a second language.
Teachers who speak French, Spanish and Mandarin are much in demand in any school. Add a degree and certifications in those subjects to your credentials and you will be a 'hot' property! Unlike public schools where language skills are necessary just to deal with a non-English speaking population, private schools offer academic courses in French, Spanish
and Mandarin language and literature. Many of these courses lead to AP level examinations. You will have the opportunity to use that honors degree work in foreign languages to your advantage.
2. Hold specialist certifications.
An ESL certificate or a reading specialist certificate will virtually guarantee you employment for life at many schools. Schools which enrol non-English speaking students frequently require those students to master English at a very high level in order to complete their academic course work with good grades. An ESL certified teacher is an integral part of the teaching strategy and an important element in a diverse community. A reading specialist can effectively remediate reading and comprehension skills allowing the language arts teachers to focus on coursework.
3. Be an AP exam reader.
A little prestige never hurts. If you are or have been an AP reader in Art History, Chinese Language and Culture, Environmental Science, European History, Government and Politics, Human Geography, Japanese Language and Culture, Music Theory, Spanish Language, Spanish Literature and World History, for example, you will be in demand.
4. Be willing to relocate.
Not always easy to do, but if you can accept an appointment which requires relocation, your marketability will improve significantly.
5. Offer subjects which are in demand.
This will vary from region to region. But it stands to reason that math and physics teachers will probably be in shorter supply compared with physical education teachers. If you can teach to AP level or have IB teaching experience in your subject, that will increase your marketability too.
Be shrewd. Find a niche. Then work it for all you are worth. Good luck!
The Pros and Cons of Teaching Overseas Hundreds of private schools, and for that matter, public schools, outside the United States will be happy to have you as a teacher for a few years.
Next Article
Timeline for Finding a Private School Job Finding a private school job takes time. Lots of time. This time line will focus your efforts on what has to be done and when it ideally should be done.
Private School Jobs Teaching in a private school is different from teaching in a public school. Find out more here including information on duties, compensation and where to find jobs.
How to Find a Private School Job You can send in a resume and use an agency, but the very best way to find a private school job is to use your network. You do have a network, don't you?
Do I Need to be Certified? Each state sets its own teacher certification requirements. While many private schools do not require you to be certified, it is in your best interests to obtain certification. This article includes contact information for state education offices so you can begin the process.
Are You Liable? Is your DEL key about to get gaveled? It doesn't matter whether you teach in a public or private school setting. You expose yourself to legal risks every single day on the job.
What Do Teachers Make? What do teachers make? Teachers' salaries vary from state to state, indeed, from school to school.
Why Should We Renew Your Contract? Here are some reasons and strategies for making sure that the school will renew your contract. Eagerly.
Your Teaching Contract Hasn't Been Renewed? Private school teachers are not unionized. So, if the school decides not to renew your contract, you have little recourse. Here are five suggestions for safe-guarding your employment.
What About Being an Intern? Thinking of teaching in an independent school? Several schools have teaching internship programs. Here's what's involved.
Timeline for Finding a Private School Job Finding a private school job takes time. Lots of time. This time line will focus your efforts on what has to be done and when it ideally should be done.
What About Teaching Overseas? With the job market looking bleak, teaching is an option many recent college graduates are considering. Teaching overseas has all kinds of attractive features. We look at private school teaching jobs and explain what is involved in finding one, applying and more.
The Pros and Cons of Teaching Overseas Hundreds of private schools, and for that matter, public schools, outside the United States will be happy to have you as a teacher for a few years.
Is Your Job Search So 2008? If you have not looked for a job in the past several years, your job search probably needs a refresh. Here's how to do it.
Looking for a Job: Easier When Employed or Unemployed? Looking for a job in these tough economic times is a challenging process. But is it easier to do when you are employed or unemployed. It depends. Here are some answers.
Job Search Resources This guide is designed to provide teachers and administrators seeking employment in private schools a road map for the job search process.
Do You Need a Rebranding? If you have been teaching for a few years, chances are that you will need to consider rebranding yourself.
Employing Foreign Nationals Can non-U.S. teachers get employment in American private schools? The answer is "No" in 99.9% of cases.
Conducting a Job Search Via Social Media Social media such as Twitter, LinkedIn, blogs and Facebook offer special opportunities for the private school job-seeker.
Your Job Search Is Taking Forever A search for a teaching job in the midst of a severe recession takes much longer than it does in good economic times. Here's how to handle this situation.
Is Your Network Keeping You Connected? The non-unionized private school teacher has to create her own ways of staying connected. Staying connected keeps you informed and gives you a sense of solidarity.
Conducting a Job Search Via the Web The Web offers job seekers all sorts of efficiencies. The same is true with respect to private school job searching.
What To Wear at Your Job Interview First impressions are lasting impressions. What you wear at an interview for a teaching job is important. Almost as important as your qualifications and credentials.
How to Write a Cover Letter When you apply for a position at a private school, you need to use a slightly different approach than you would use if you were applying for a sales job somewhere.
Marketing Yourself in Tough Times Marketing yourself in tough times requires attention to details. Here are some tips to help you achieve success.
Why Should I Hire You? Let's think about the employment process from the point of view of your making me want to hire you. Here are some points to ponder.
Job Search: Matching Your Qualifications Matching your qualifications with what the school is looking for is one of the most important parts of the job process. Get it wrong and you might miss getting an interview.
Asking Good Questions Asking good questions at your job interview will improve your chances. Conversely asking bad questions will damage them.
Making It Accurate and Truthful You must not fudge the facts on your private school employment application. Tell the truth. Put a positive spin on any potentially negative areas. More here.
Gay Teachers Several prep schools have pushed the envelope of diversity by allowing committed same sex couples to live on campus in school housing.
A Teacher's Influence Never underestimate the influence you have on your students. You may not think that you are getting through, but you are! This little bit of fiction shows the influence teachers had on some famous people.
Becoming a Teacher Later Many people have successful careers only to realize that something is missing. Teaching can satisfy that missing 'something'. Explore the possibilities of becoming a teacher in your 30's, 40's and even your 50's.
Don't Leave Any Evidence! Future and current employers can find out all sorts of things about you these days. Make sure that you don't leave behind any damning electronic evidence.
What Is Praxis? Praxis is part of the teacher licensing process many states require.
Blogs, Pods and More Education blogs, podcasts and sites worth a read and a listen.
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