Do five simple things when applying for a private school teaching position and you will be successful.
Applying for a private school job has some subtle differences from its pubic school counterpart. Here are five things you must do when applying for a private school teaching position.
1. Make sure that your credentials are impeccable. You will probably get looked at for that English position if your degree is in American Language and Literature from one of the better colleges such as Brown, Duke, Stanford or Cornell. If your degree is from Harvard, Yale or Princeton, go to the top of the list. A bachelor's degree is ok, but you better make the right noises during the interview about your plans to finish your master's. Private schools vastly prefer to say that 80% of their faculty have advanced degrees. If your degree is terminal, that's cool too, as long as you are not terminal too.
2. Offer glowing recommendations. If one of your recommendations - and note that most schools will ask for 3-5 references - comes from somebody the headmaster knows personally, that's a big plus. If you are an unknown, make sure that your recommendations are solid, unequivocally glowing ones. Your references must be able to speak warmly and without hesitation during the inevitable phone call which WILL be made to check you out.
3. Be able to coach prep school sports. Prep school sports have their little traditions and rituals. If you know these intimately, your resume will stand out from the crowd. It doesn't matter what the sport or club is which you can coach or lead, just be really good at it. Offering sports such as hockey, lacrosse, field hockey and crew will vault you to the head of the list. Expertise in forensics or having produced a Gilbert & Sullivan operetta will win a speedy stamp of approval.
4. Apply according to their explicit instructions. Follow application instructions to the letter. If for some reason known only to the headmaster, the school wants applications submitted on 3x5 cards, then so be it. In lieu of any precise instructions, submit a one page cover letter of interest together with your resume which should not be more than 2 pages and must include 3 references. Supporting documents such as transcripts and certificates can be submitted at a later stage.
5. Demonstrate your love of teaching. Private schools are all about excellent teachers. Parents pay a small fortune to expose their children's minds to gifted teachers. You must make sure that your love of teaching dominates any and all conversations with your future employer. It is really the only thing which matters.
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.
Here are a dozen or so girls' schools' public thoughts about themselves and their missions.
Make Summer a Special Time! If you have children in private school, then you are most likely looking at three months, perhaps even longer, which you must fill with activities of one kind or another during the long summer break.
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 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.
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.
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.
Boarding or Day School? Many parents agonize over sending their child to boarding school or keeping them at home and sending them to day school. A look at the pros and cons here.
5 Facts About Montessori Schools Here are five facts about Montessori schools to bear in mind when exploring preschools and primary schools for your child.
Free Schools There are but a few free private schools in the United States. Most of them were founded by visionary businessmen who believed that children from working class and poor families should have the same educational advantages as children from families with money.
Private School May Be Free If You Make Less Than $75,000 Harvard, Yale and Dartmouth set the pace. Now several top private schools are offering free or greatly reduced tuition for children from families making less than $75,000.
Make Summer a Special Time!
Are You Liable?
