The Puzzle: Blog

The school year is winding down and summer is in sight. If you’re still searching for a job, you may also be searching for some inspiration to give your search an added boost. Here are six ways to rev up your job search this June (and all summer!).

1. Expand Your Geo Preferences

If you can feasibly expand your geographic parameters, you will automatically open up new opportunities for yourself. Take some time to consider which holds more value: finding the perfect position at a great school or living and working in a particular area. Work with your Placement Team to discuss the possibility of exploring options in more locations. That “dream job” could be hiding in a city you've never considered before.

2. Consider Different Roles

Ever thought about different ways you can contribute to a school? Consider being a dorm parent or taking an administrative role in addition to pursuing teaching positions. Talk to your Placement Team to see which of your skills and qualifications could open you up to other types of positions.

3. Brush Up Your Skills

Do you have extracurricular skills or interests you've been neglecting? Use the summer to brush up on a sport, art, or other activity you could potentially lead at a school. Independent schools especially take notice of candidates who are willing and excited to serve as coaches, club leaders, or in other ways outside the classroom.

4. Rethink Your Cover Letter

We've all been guilty of reusing the same cover letter for multiple job applications, making small tweaks here or there as appropriate for each school. If you haven't been landing any interviews, it might be time to evaluate your cover letter. Read it out loud to yourself, then read it again. Are there points that sound weak? Amp them up. In looking at past cover letters that you've sent, have you taken the time to review the job description, school website, and mission in order to best position yourself and communicate your value to the school? You should set aside a spot in each cover letter to do just that. A customized approach is far more effective than even the best written template cover letters.

5. Learn Something New

As educators, you should always be learning. This summer, step outside of your comfort zone and learn something completely new. Try your hand at coding, study photography, learn a new language, or record videos so you can flip next year's classroom. While the benefits may not be immediately measurable, your resume will have some extra kick going forward and you'll have something new to write about in your cover letter (think a “What I Did This Summer, How It Helped Me Become a Better Teacher, and Why It Matters to Your School” approach).

6. Be Ready to Hit the Ground Running

If you're going through a lull in your search, it's a good time to make sure you have all your job search materials at-the-ready, so when you do see that referral come through you don't waste any time in expressing your interest to the school because you're scrambling to get prepared. Know where your cover letters are and have them polished to perfection (see #4), have a sample lesson prepared for any on-campus interviews that might be coming, and be ready to communicate in short, specific, and to-the-point messages.

As always, if you have questions about your job search as the season winds down, reach out to your Placement Team. We're always just a phone call or email away!

Interested in using CS&A to help you find a teaching or administration job at K-12 independent schools across the country? Apply to work with us today! Our job placement service is completely free, and you'll work one-on-one with a job counselor whose goal is to find you a job you love.

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