Preparing for Interviews and Job Fairs
WORK IT! Successfully Navigating the Teacher Job Fair Sherri L. Morris Teacher Talent and Retention Administrator, Wake County Public School System, North Carolina
T
he day has come. Your resume is polished, and you're dressed in your perfectly pressed dark colored suit. The doors of your university's teacher job fair swing open. Now what?
Much is made of the importance of job fair preparation, and rightfully so. Job fair prep is critical, but it is not the end goal. The preparation is the behind the scenes work, intended to set you up for a successful recruitment experience. Recruiters are constantly evaluating during job fairs. Here's what they do (and don't) want to see:
Do
Don't
ü
Do greet the recruiter (by name if possible...look for name tags!), by introducing yourself first.
Don't travel in groups- approach the recruiter's booth individually.
ü
Do extend a firm, professional handshake.
ü
Do be friendly, warm, and genuine.
Don't wait for the recruiter to begin the conversationtake the initiative.
ü
Do confidently share who you are, what you are currently doing, and the reason that you are interested in their organization.
Don't greet the recruiter informally or too casually; a job fair is a professional event. Don't offer a weak handshake.
ü
Do make it a point to demonstrate your familiarity with the recruiter's school district and share how you can contribute.
Don't tell the recruiter how passionate you are about teaching and students- demonstrate your passion through conversation.
ü
Do talk specifically about your student teaching or teaching experiences - share stories that help the recruiter "see" you in the classroom and "feel" your passion for teaching.
Don't approach the recruiter without knowing something about his/her organization- Google, anyone?
ü
Do offer the recruiter a copy of your resume. Do ask questions that are of genuine interest to you and that demonstrate your knowledge and resourcefulness.
• "What jobs do you have?"
ü
ü
Do commit to completing the required next steps, such as submitting your employment application, if you haven't done so already.
ü
Do conclude the conversation by thanking the recruiter for his/her time and indicate your desire to remain in contact.
ü
Do follow-up with the recruiter before he/she reaches out to you.
Don't ask generic questions that you can answer for yourself with a quick online search: • "Where are you located?" • "How do I apply?" Don't forget to bring an adequate number of resumes. Don't act disinterested, even if you are. Don't expect the recruiter to do all the work. It's a twoway conversation.
The takeaway here is to be yourself, but be your best self. Treat the job fair as an opportunity to shine, a time to make professional connections with other educators. At the end of the day, recruiters want you to be successful. They attend recruitment events hoping to meet teachers who will be strong hires for their organizations. By adhering to the simple tips above, you will be confident in your ability to work the job fair like a pro!
66 American Association for Employment in Education
