How To Shine During Your Job Search

The start of a new calendar or school year brings new opportunity for growth and change. If a new job or new career is in your future in the upcoming year, we’ve pulled together a few tips on how to shine during your job search! 

We spoke with Curtis Palmore, CEO of Community Charter School of Paterson (“CCSP”) and a partner in the Diverse Teachers for Diverse Schools (“DTDS”) initiative, about factors he and his team look for when interviewing teaching candidates. Read on to prepare yourself for any applications or upcoming interviews!

1. Speak to your personal values. School administrators want to know that you’re a competent teacher, but they also want to know that your personal values align with the mission of the school. “It’s really important to us that candidates demonstrate an alignment to our mission of focusing on high quality education with deep connections to our community,” says Mr. Palmore. Let them know what’s important to you in life, whether it be family, community, friends, or meaningful work.

2. Be open to continued learning. The field of education is constantly changing and schools look for teachers who are excited to continually learn and grow in their position. “Our principals are looking for someone who is a reflective practitioner,” according to Mr. Palmore. “We’re looking for folks who will think every single day about how they can do better as a teaching practitioner.” Be sure to highlight any recent classes you’ve taken or other ways you’ve stayed up-to-date on current teaching practices.

3. Express belief in the students. Being a teacher is ultimately all about the students and school administrators want to know that their teachers believe in their students’ ability to achieve success. “It’s extremely important that whoever comes through our doors and works with our students believes that students who are from Paterson inner city areas have the ability to succeed and can do as well as students in suburban or more affluent areas,” explains Mr. Palmore. “Our principals look for people who really believe that students have the ability to be successful, even though we have to draw it out of some of our students. We want teachers who will do that difficult work with our kids.” 

4. Describe the types of learners you hope to educate. Beyond expressing belief in students, school administrators want to hear what candidates hope to bring out of their students. If you want to see your students take part in the world around them, become community leaders, or continue their education, be sure to speak to that in your interview. “We aim to inspire and empower students to become lifelong learners, think critically, and develop life-long skills, and we look for teachers who share that,” says Mr. Palmore.

5. Don’t take yourself too seriously. You’re applying to be a teacher, but you’re also applying to be a coworker! Don’t be afraid to let your personality shine through and let them know that you’re a considerate (and fun!) coworker.  “We’re looking for people who don’t take themselves too seriously. We’re building a family-like environment here, we all love working together.” 

6. Let your passion show. Above all, let your passion and commitment to the field of education show. Interviewers look for candidates who have a passion for shaping young minds, so be sure to let them know how important and meaningful this work is to you.

Good luck!

If you’re preparing for a new career in education, visit the Rutgers Alternate Route website to learn more about the program to jumpstart your teaching career. To keep up with more news and stories from the education field, be sure to follow Rutgers Alternate Route on Twitter for more information.