Powerful Tips for Crafting Successful Cover Letters and Resumes

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Cover Letters Resumes Interviews Educ 450B Dr. Karen V. Lee 2

Purpose of Cover letter & Resume: Win an interview Convinces employer you are potential candidate for position Concise, powerful, persuasive Tailor to employer 3

Cover Letter: Introduces your resume Academic competence Demonstrates Professional language Grabs employer s attention First impressions Highlights skills Validates referral To Win an interview 4

Cover Letter tips: Brief - maximum 3 paragraphs 1. Intro; link to referral, i.e., newspaper ad, contact person 2. Personal interests; specific goals 3. Contact info: cell phone, email 5

Outline for Resume: 1. Contact Info with photo (!) 2. DO not include age, gender, marital status, SIN, health 3. Objective career direction 4. Education degrees, certificates 5. Teaching Practicum (10wk/CFE) 6. Employment Experience (not volunteer) 6

Outline (contd) 7. Volunteering coaching, church, etc 8. Hobbies/Interests clubs, music groups 9. Professional Affiliations BCMEA, Orff Chapter, Musician s Union, etc 10 References Faculty Advisor (FA), Sponsor Teacher (SA), private teaching, etc 7

(show samples of cover letters/resumes) 8

Locating Teaching Postings : Research - school districts have different hiring policies Internet. www.educationcanada.com www.bcpsea.bc.ca www.bctf.bc.ca Networking get to know as many people as possible. Show your skills! Eg, requests, referrals, etc 9

Diverse Career Opportunities Teacher-on-call Librarian Counsellor Administration Secondary Middle Elementary 10

Other subject areas Full-time Part-time - team/teach Daytime Evenings Online Weekends 11

Public Schools Catholic Schools Charter Schools Private Schools Adult Education Summer School 12

College University Online Canada USA New York, California, etc 13

International Korea Taiwan England China South America Singapore Australia Hong Kong Germany South America 14

Prepare for Interview: Research school/school district Talk to referral (if one) Know buzz words (education jargon) Prepare a few questions - e.g. Why is position open? Cultural backgrounds? Funding for music program? Any significant changes? Main objectives? Know unit plan (some interviews require) 15

Suggestions: Be early Be friendly Be articulate Be honest and sincere Be polite with good manners Show you love kids Show you love teaching Show professional grooming Show good eye contact Show EXCELLENT interpersonal skills Write follow-up letter 16

Possible Interview Questions: (extended file) Tell me about yourself What is your philosophy of teaching? What are your pedagogical strategies? What are your classroom management strategies? What are your thoughts on assessment? What are your strengths? What are your weaknesses? Why do you want to teach for the VSB? What do you know about the VSB? 17

Possible Interview Questions: Why do you want to be a teacher? What did you learn from your practicum? What are your professional goals as a teacher? Why do you want to be a teacher-on-call? What provides you the greatest pleasure about teaching music? Would you prefer to try a lot of strategies or perfect the ones that work for you? Do you like to teach with a plan or let the process determine the results? Where do you see yourself in 3 to 5 years? Can you tell me about any breakthrough moments? What to do with a kid that doesn t listen? 18

Possible Interview Questions: What is an area you still need work on? How to handle an irate parent that phones you? What is difference between teaching band vs. choir? Band vs. strings? Band vs. guitar? Why should we hire you over others in your cohort? How to create lesson plan to address diversity? Tell me about your best lesson on practicum Tell me about your worst situation about classroom management on practicum? If I walked into your classroom and observed you teach from the back of the room for 15 minutes, what would I be feeling while walking out of your classroom? What happens if a parent asks why their kid didn't get a line in the musical?" 19

Problem Solving Questions: A student is performing poorly in guitar class. While you talk to her, she says you are the worst music teacher she has ever had. What will you say? Building an elective music program with Band and Choir is a challenge due to competing electives. What steps will you take to strengthen enrollment in the Band and choir programs? 20

Problem Solving Questions: Tell us how you select repertoire for your junior band/choir versus your senior band/choir students. A student throws her flute across the room during intermediate band class. What will you do? 21

Problem Solving Questions: Tell us how you select repertoire for your junior band/choir versus your senior band/choir students. A student throws her flute across the room during intermediate band class. What will you do? 22

Phone Reference Categories: (show VSB & Rmd Referee forms) International email forms *(samples) Classroom Management Written and Verbal Expression Flexibility Enthusiasm Instructional Skills Modeling Appropriate Behavior Commitment to Accomplishment Interpersonal Relationships with Staff/Students Teamwork Cultural Sensitivity Willingness to learn 23

(VSB & Rmd Referee forms) International email forms *(samples) Classroom Management Written and Verbal Expression Flexibility Enthusiasm Instructional Skills Modeling Appropriate Behavior Commitment to Accomplishment Interpersonal Relationships with Staff/Students Teamwork Cultural Sensitivity Willingness to learn 24

Surrey Interview Questions:behavioral-based questions What you did on practicum (students/learning) 1. unit plan big ideas/c. competencies 2. U K D - understand, know, do 3. Assessment formative vs. summative 25

Interview Stories: Skype interviews (during pandemic) Surrey offered a TOC position on phone with interview afterwards Many TOC positions due to retirements, LOA Offered 2 teaching positions on same day Interview request for same afternoon Was out-of-town on Labor Day weekend with phone interview for position that begins in 2 days Offered job at end of interview! Gets a flat tire on way to interview and does not have school board s phone #. Shows up 1 hour late and told they will phone her. 26

Stories (contd): Interviews for .2 position & leaves with FT job Returns from vacation to phone message for interview for day before. When she phones, job has been filled. Arrives for interview and shoe heel breaks off! Gets sick on interview day in May. When rescheduling, they offer her another interview in September. Zoom interview lasted 2 hrs but offered the job 27

Interview Stories (contd): At 5pm, student requested for 11 a.m. interview the next day. All his suits at the cleaners. Accepts job offer Friday before labor day weekend with responsibility for choir performance next Wednesday. Accepts TOC offer at 10 a.m. At noon, she is offered continuing P/T position in another district. Offered position at end of the interview @ 10:30 a.m. on the 3rd day of school. By noon, signs contract to start teaching choir at 1pm. 28

Stories (contd): During 4pm interview, Principal (indep. school requests to observe @7:30 a.m. choir class next day at practicum school. Offered position in Salmon Arm on Thurs and told they need an answer Monday. Student drive ups on Friday to visit school and community and then declines. Declines position at a private school but they phone back and offer $10,000 more. 29

Questions?? 30

Benefits of Teaching Deanna high school teacher, San Jose, CA http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7pm QZ8oQym8 31