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Searching for a teaching job is tough, and around this time of year, there may be some disappointments when a position isn’t offered.  Waiting to hear back from a prospective employer can be the worst days or weeks when it’s a position you really want. If you are lucky, you get the phone call welcoming you to your new school. If you are not so lucky, you get the letter in that thin envelope or an email that tells you the process is finished for you at that school.

Instead of dwelling on the disappointment, use it as a learning experience. This might be hard to do initially, so allow yourself time to eat some chocolate and watch TV, but then jump right back in. Resilience will get you through the search. Use your time wisely, so that during your next interview, you can remind the committee of all the productive things you’ve been doing this summer.

Do Research.

Did the last interviewer ask you about programs like UBD? SIOP? Were you only able to give a very general answer? Start researching. This way during the next interview you can slip in about how you’ve been reading all about UBD, SIOP, etc. And you can’t wait to implement and try out these new ideas while working at this fabulous school. You can also ask in return if they offer professional development on the topic and how anxious you are to attend those sessions. You can even take an online class if they’re available. You can increase your knowledge and skills even while you are out of the classroom.

Ask Friends for Help.

Worried about your resume and cover letter? Use this time to clean it up and make it stick out from the rest. However, beware of asking too many people for help. Sometimes fewer opinions are better than too many. When people start to contradict each other you might begin to question who’s right. Be picky about who you ask.

Prepare for Demos.

Start an internet search on demo lessons and create a folder or binder of ones you like. This way when you get called to the second or third round for the next interview, you are prepared and need only be concerned with making copies and getting there on time.

Take Time for Yourself

Finding a job takes time and hard work.  However, remember to enjoy the rest of your summer as well. Fixating on the one issue can be a waste and you’ll miss out on some downtime that you deserve. Winter will be here before you know it and you should enjoy yourself.

One of the things to remember when going through this process is to not give up. Finding the right job is not about being “good enough” for the school, it’s about being the right fit. You just need to keep plugging away until the right fit comes along.  Use the time to make yourself as marketable as possible with coursework and research on best practices, and remember not to give up!

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