Applying and Interviewing

Applying for a job at a private school is a little different from posting your resume on Monster.com, which is what you would do if you were seeking a position in the business world. In the K-12 private school employment market, you present your application materials in the format and manner set forth on each individual school's website. In other words, you customize every application you submit. One size does not fit all. Each application requires an original cover letter, not one which you have used on another application. In case you think that this detail doesn't matter, remember that dozens of other applicants, i.e., your competitors for the position, will have followed specific application instructions to the letter. And that is as it should be. Don't question a school's application instructions. Do as it asks. Of course, when you have questions, do not hesitate to call the school and ask for clarification. Most of the time schools will be happy to help.

This video shows you how to write a four-sentence cover letter.

Let's take a look behind the scenes. I screened applications and interviewed candidates for almost two decades. My company did not specify a format for applying. It used Monster.com to find candidates who seemed to have the qualifications and experience which we were seeking. But I was always amazed, and sometimes shocked, by the resumes and the occasional cover letters

If you haven't applied for any job in a couple of years, be aware of two things.

• First of all, you can do most job applications online.
• Secondly, applying for a private school job is similar to applying for a public school teaching job, although there are some subtle differences.

Review the job application process carefully.

• Don't assume everything is the same as when you last applied for a job. It won't be.
• The most significant change is the online application process.

The Application Process

Most employers, including private schools, will expect you to apply online these days. They do this so that they can screen applications.

• Years ago, an administrative assistant or secretary screened snail-mailed job applications. That involved opening envelopes and sorting the applications.
• Occasionally, the assistant screened the applications to ensure that all requested materials had been sent.
• At some point, the pile of applications and cover letters ended up on the desk of the person charged with filling the job opening.

This process could take a couple of hours or even longer. That depended on the number of applications received.

• Nowadays, the screening process can be done by the staff member who is looking to fill the position.
• Viewing the online responses to an open position is very simple, fast, and convenient.
• Furthermore, you can access the information anytime, anywhere, on a smartphone or tablet.

Having drawn attention to all that, the basics of a job application have not changed. Job applications

I have interviewed hundreds of job applicants over the years. I can assure you that a job interview will contain all kinds of traps. Sometimes the interviewer sets the traps. She will build questions into her interview script so she can see how you handle unexpected situations. Other times you will unknowingly set a trap for yourself by making a statement which the interviewer determines is worth exploring in greater detail. Against that backdrop, let's review how to handle some of those traps which might occur when you interview for that job as the math teacher at St. Agatha's Academy.

1. Do some role-playing.

Preparing for a job interview is an essential part of the process if you truly want the job. That's because the competition is a lot tougher these days. Public schools and colleges and universities have been down-sizing their teaching staffs. There are many reasons for this, but the bottom line is that more qualified education professionals are applying for teaching jobs than ever before.

How should you prepare for your interview? A few weeks before your interview do some role-playing, enlist the aid of a trusted friend or family member to play the part of the interviewer. Dress up in your interview outfit. Do the role-playing in a setting similar to what you might expect for the interview, such as an office or a table in Starbucks. The 16th-century adage that 'practice makes perfect' applies to your job interview. You will be amazed at