hi everyone-i'm writing to share my inspirational story, since i know how frustrated/discouraged/disgusted/etc. many of you are. here goes. so i have seriously been looking for a good teaching job since i graduated from college 3 years ago. every year it is the same song and dance: i send out nine thousand applications/resumes, if i hear from 1 or maybe (gasp!) 2 places i've done well. i have taught at charters for the last 2 years and let's just say...there's many other places i'd rather be!! so.....i have gotten so frustrated and discouraged this summer. it has seriously been ridiculous. all i think about is trying to find a new job. every other day i want to quit looking and just say "to heck w/it." but something inside has not allowed me to give up. long story short, the other day i make a call and find out about an opening. at the pace of lightning (not even joking ), i race out to this school which is about 50 min. from my house. i go in to drop off my resume and the secretary-bless her-sends me through to the principal. we had a great convo. and i was pretty positive about my chances of getting an interview. they called today and i'm going in for my 1st inter. on mon....i can't wait!! my goal here is not to make any of you still looking feel bad b/c you haven't gotten any interviews, and i have. i just want you to understand that in some markets it is absolutely ridiculous what you have to go through to get a teaching job. but if this is what you really want, YOU CANNOT GIVE UP! i have seriously just wanted to throw in the towel so many times but have not allowed myself to do this. you have to keep your chin up even when it seems like all the chips have fallen down. so now that you've read my long-winded inspirational story, you have to cross your fingers for me that i get this new job next week! no, but seriously, best wishes to those of you still looking. i know that it seems hopeless & depressing 99.9% of the time but you have to keep trying! i will be thinking about all of you-HANG IN THERE!!! -meri
thank you everyone for your congrats! (hopefully there will be some more next week....) i am planning to really prepare myself this weekend and then knock their socks off on mon.!! keep your fingers crossed for me!!! p.s. i went + got a clinique mini-makeover today. for those of you who just need to take your mind off all this job business, i highly recommend it!! -meri
Meri - sending you good luck vibes for your interview on Monday. I hope that everything works out!! Let us know how you make out.
merigold78: Good luck tomorrow...I'll say a special prayer in the morning. Hey ladies, I sign a contract tomorrow for a 3.75 hour position as an Option B Kindergarten teacher....a foot in the door! Keep us posted merigold78....
Good luck! Please let us know how it goes and whether you got the job(when you find out). Sending you positive vibes. Knock 'em dead!
Merigold78 where are you...planning for your lessons? Let us know what is going on...we want to hear.
hi misscyteach-i posted that unfortunately, i didn't get the job. i am very sad + disappointed, but hope that this just means there is something even greater for me down the road. i have actually been trying to stay busy at my current school to take my mind off all this job searching craziness! today i was screening our new 1st graders. i really cannot believe how low some of the kids are...we are definitely going to have our hands full! but i have to admit that's part of what i like about my job-it's challenging and (sometimes) fun! anyhoo, i'm still continuing to look for a new job so keep your fingers crossed for me! good luck to you too if you're still searching!! -meri
Meri, I'm so sorry to hear that you didn't get this one. Keep busy and try not to think about it too much. You will find something great!!
So sorry you didn't get the job. I am disappointed for you. Keep believing there is something better for you.
I would like to agree with not giving up on the job search. I have been out of school for almost 3 years and have been looking for a job the entire time. I have done various jobs in districts, and then went to teach in an early childhood center for a year. I even started back to school to get my Master's and have a year done in that program. I have applied to districts all around me and have had so many interviews I can't even count. After all this waiting, I got hired on Monday to teach 4th grade. School starts on Monday, so I only have a few more days to finish my classroom. I just wanted to say not to give up, because it you want something bad enough, eventually you will get it. I didn't think I would ever get a job, but it happened when I least expected it. Don't give up!!!
Thanks so much for the encouragement. Those are the stories that we need to hear right now. What types of positions did you hold in the schools? Did you hold any aide positions? What do you think gave you the edge during this last interview? OH, and congratulations for getting the 4th grade position! Sounds like you worked really hard for it!
merigold78 - So sorry...I know that feeling oh so well....I love this forum though and I will continue to pray for all those still looking....and will give praise for all those who have found something...keep trusting....there is a reason for your journey!
Kidatheart- At the schools I previously worked at, I was a substitute teacher (I worked almost every day at the school I student taught at because they requested me), I was a teacher's aid for a special needs student, and I was a long term substitute. The district I did all of this in is not the district I was hired into. I think for this last interview, I was in the right place at the right time. They were waiting on their numbers to go up, I interviewed, they were impressed with my qualifications, and then were able to hire me. I didn't do anything different with this school, but I felt like I fit there when I interviewed. Hope this helps!
So are you saying that you didn't even work for the district you got hired in? I am so tired of trying to play the game, you know thinking maybe if you work for the "right school" at the "right time" you will get hired. Did they even know you before they interviewed you?
Helps a lot by showing me some of the things I should be doing in my search - subbing, working as an aide, and being available where needed. Also, spreading my search to many districts and not being too focused on any particular one. Thanks so much
Teach123- I did not get hired in the district I did all the work in. The district I now work in, did not know me before they interviewed me, but the experiences I had really impressed them. They liked that I had worked with all ages of children because then they knew I could be placed in any grade and be fine. I also thought that working in a district would get your foot in the door and then they would hire me in to a teaching position. In the previous district I worked for, that was not the case, so I chose to leave the district completely. I figured that after 2 years, someone else would want me and it would be their loss. It was not the only district I applied in though.....I probably applied to 15 districts in the areas surrounding me. I got really tired of playing the game as well, but I didn't give up and the patience paid off. Don't give up!
