The Puzzle: Blog

If you’re all set for employment for the coming school year, congratulations! Whether you’ve decided to renew your contract, assume a year-long position, or gain a new skill this year, you’re in a great spot to begin thinking about your job search for the following school year.

Summer is a slow time for immediate fall listings in independent schools, but it’s a great time to get ahead of the curve for next year’s job search. Though the majority of jobs are listed in the winter months, position listings for the following year can begin to trickle in during the fall.

For Current CS&A Candidates

If you’re an active candidate with CS&A currently, you’re at an advantage: you can perfect your CS&A file so that a complete, effective dossier is ready to be presented to schools as soon as they become aware of their openings.

Spend the summer making cosmetic changes to your file:

Turn a critical eye upon your resume, making sure it’s substantively and aesthetically appealing and complimentary to your skills and interests. Does it include all relevant experiences related to education or working with children? Just by glancing, can someone get a sense of the scope and depth of your background? Is it formatted in a way that makes it easy to scan and pick out key information?

Take stock of your references. Do you have enough letters in your file? Are the best possible referees writing on your behalf? Make a list of people at your current school who could attest to your skills, experience, and personality. Seek them out early, giving them plenty of time to craft glowing letters of recommendation for you.

Finally, assess your personal statement. Is it interesting? Is it descriptive? Is it compelling? Does it represent who you are as an educator?

For Prospective Candidates

The summer and fall are good times to apply to partner with Carney Sandoe for your job search, even if you're not looking for a new role until the following school year. So apply now!

As you craft and hone your documents, think about the overall message: are they portraying you in the way that best fits your teaching style, pedagogy, and personality? Don’t think of completing your documents as tasks to be crossed off a list; rather, think of them as ways to show schools snippets of yourself – and get your foot in the door.

Once you are accepted with us, spend some time in CandidateConnect, getting to know your file and seeing how it would appear to prospective employers.

Time is On Your Side

Time is on your side: use the summer to your advantage, and get that file good-to-go!

And, when you're finally ready to start your job search, we're always here to help.

Carney Sandoe is a free job search service for educators, coaches, administrators, and leaders. By getting to know you personally and understanding the motivations of your search, we connect you directly to schools with roles that fit what you're looking for. Apply to partner with us today.

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