The Puzzle: Blog

College seniors: it’s crunch time.  Now is the time when students in suits generously pepper leaf-strewn campuses, moving from interview to interview in hopes of finding the right fit.

If you’re preparing to meet a Carney, Sandoe & Associate representative on-campus, you might be wondering what exactly this interview will entail.  It’s not exactly like your other interviews—you’re not speaking directly with a company for which you will be working, but rather with associates who will help you get to that eventual company—so how can you make the most of your 30 minutes?

Here are a few things to keep in mind so your on-campus interview with CS&A can be the first step in a successful partnership.

1.  Do your research

While preparing for your interview, make sure you peruse the CS&A website so you understand how we work and what, exactly, we do.  Our process is simple: candidates apply to work with us and, if they’re accepted, they work individually with a Placement Associate to try to find the right position at a private, charter, boarding, or college prep school.

2.  Make the sell

One of the perks of working in an independent school is that these types of institutions don’t require teacher certification.  As a recent graduate, that’s a big plus—and it means you can gain valuable classroom experience all the more readily.

However, you’re also competing for positions with teachers who do have classroom experience, or who have an advanced degree.  So in your on-campus interview, make the case for why a school should overlook your relative inexperience and give you a chance.  Your resume likely speaks for itself regarding your subject area mastery; tease out examples of teaching or “kid” experience that will resonate with our associates (and, subsequently, with hiring contacts at schools) and make the sell.

3.  Ask questions.

As in any interview, it’s important to ask questions.  But use those questions to your advantage; we are your advocates, after all.  Ask clarifying questions (“When are the majority of positions listed for independent schools?”  “Would it help if I recorded a video interview?”).  Perhaps more importantly, though, ask the tough questions that might make a real difference in your job search.  Ask your interviewer where the gaps are on your resume or application.  For example, do you have a degree field that isn’t an immediate jump to a primary or secondary-level subject?  (Eg: If you’re a sociology major, what subject would you teach?) Or maybe you have solid subject-area expertise, but you’re a little thinner with your teaching experience.

Ask the interviewer: “How can I fill in these gaps?  What should I focus on in the coming weeks and months to help improve my file?”

These types of questions will give you action items to make a better case for yourself.  While it’s still early in the hiring season, you’ll have time to figure out how to bolster any areas of weakness—and prepare yourself to make a case to school hiring contacts down the road.

4.  Follow Up and Apply

If you’re serious about working with CS&A, make sure you get your interviewer’s contact information and send a quick follow-up email to reiterate your interest.  Then, submit an online application while you’re still front-of-mind—and while it’s still early enough to get your information in order before the inevitably busy senior spring.

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