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The Successful Candidate

Tips for Preparing Your Resume
Preparing for an Interview
During the Interview
After the Interview

Tips for Preparing Your Resume

If you are a recent graduate or looking at switching jobs, you must do what it takes to differentiate yourself from other candidates. A prospective employer may receive hundreds of resumes for one position. Your first job is to make your resume stand out. How do you do that?

Proofread: Despite most word-processing programs having a spell check, you can't rely on software alone. Nothing beats a pair of eyes catching mistakes that a spelling or grammar check won't pick up (spelling errors, poor word choice, or misuse of language). If proofreading is not your strong suit, find a friend or family member to review your resume and cover letter for you.

Keep it simple: If you are a new teacher, your resume should only be one page long. The more experience you have, the longer it can be—but remember, a resume should only highlight your accomplishments, not go in to specific detail. Use bullets where you can.

Make it easy to read: Arial 10 (in black) is a clear, easy-to-read font style. Fancier fonts that show off your personal style are sometimes difficult to read and will often get your resume moved to the bottom of the pile.

Keep the resume focused on your relevant job experience: While being president of your high school drama club may be a nice ice-breaker for your interview, unless it is directly related to the job you are applying for, you may want to leave it off. That is not to say you shouldn't list outside interests such as volunteer clubs or organizations you belong to; just remember that your resume is about your professional life, not your personal life.

Tailor your resume to each position: Let the hiring managers see that you read the job description. This is also important in the cover letter.

List licensure and certification: Note your licensure area and list any certification endorsements. If needed, note the date you expect to receive your license and certification endorsements.

Include your education: Present this information as follows: name of degree (spelled out: Bachelor of _____) in name of major (e.g., Bachelor of Science in Special Education); name of university; city and state of university; and graduation year. Then include peripheral information, such as your minor and GPA (omit your GPA if it is low).

Make yourself stand out: Did you write any articles for an education publication? Have you helped develop any policies in your school district? Is there a software package that you are proficient with? Are you a member of a professional or student organization such as CEC? List them!

Preparing for an Interview

Read the job description closely: Be sure your qualifications match what the employer has listed in the position description. If the potential employer is asking for someone with 10 years of experience, don't apply for it if you only have a few years of experience. If they are asking for someone who is fluent in Spanish, list that you are fluent.

Obtain a professional e-mail address: Having an e-mail address like LifeIsAParty@college.com is okay for your friends and family, but an e-mail address that is a combination of your first and last name will make you sound more professional.

Research the district and school: Future employers expect a candidate to know something about the prospective school and district. Gather general information about each of the districts you are considering, as well as information about specific schools that you know have special education positions available for which you are qualified. Entering an interview with background knowledge regarding the community and school will demonstrate serious interest in being employed by that district.

Highlight your strong points: Before going into an interview, make a list of your strong points as an educator. Ask family and friends to help you list your positive attributes. Be prepared to describe some of these as you answer interview questions. Employers want to know what you have to offer them—not what they have to offer you. Capitalize on your strengths and present yourself as a candidate they cannot refuse.

Conduct mock interviews: Practice, practice, practice! Practice what you are going to say before you say it. Find a friend, parent, professor, or mirror and practice answering potential questions aloud. You can also tape record or videotape yourself in order to check out your strengths and weaknesses. The more you practice, the more confident you will become with expressing your overall teaching philosophy, sharing your particular skills, and demonstrating your passion and enthusiasm for the field.

Sample interview questions: Here are some samples of questions you should be prepared to answer.

• Why did you decide to become a teacher? Why a special education teacher?
• Why do you want to work in our district/school?
• How and when do you discipline a student?
• How will you involve parents in your classroom?
• Describe a successful teaching experience.
• If a student said she thought you were the best teacher she ever had, what would you say? What if she said you were the worst?
• What was the most frustrating thing that happened to you as a student teacher?
• Do you believe you should build rapport with students? If yes, how?
• How do you give your students recognition? Do you think a student can have too much
  recognition?
• How do you encourage students to learn? Can a student be forced to learn?
• How do you handle a child who seems gifted, but is also a discipline problem?
• How do you feel about having computers in the classroom?
• Are you patient?
• What do you like most/dislike most about teaching?
• What type of assessments have you used?
• Describe a student with a challenging learning disability and how you supported him/her.
• What are your views on inclusion and remediation?
• What are some of the timelines related to IEPs?
• How have you supported students on IEPs in the general education classroom?
• Describe both a successful and challenging collaboration experience with a general education teacher.
• Are you comfortable with technology? Assistive technology?
• Describe your experiences with students with more significant disabilities.
• Where do you see yourself in five years?

Be prepared to ask questions as well. Here are a few suggestions.

• Tell me about the students who attend this school.
• Do you encourage teachers to earn advanced degrees?
• Does your school use teacher aides? Parent volunteers?
• Do you have teachers serving in areas where they do not have full certification?
• What types of opportunities and supports are there for participating in professional development and training?
• What is your (or the school's) perspective on inclusion?
• What types of induction supports do you offer to new teachers?

During the Interview

Watch your body language: A prospective employer can form an opinion about you from your body language. A limp handshake or poor eye contact can automatically give your interviewer a negative perception about you. On the other hand, candidates who use positive body language such as pleasant facial expressions and appropriate posture create a positive impact on a prospective employer.

Exhibit poise and confidence: Even if you aren't completely sure of an answer, convey confidence in all you say during the interview. Dressing in a professional manner will help you feel more poised and so will being on time!

After the Interview

Write a thank-you letter: Following up the interview with a thank-you letter will set you apart from other candidates. Take the time to handwrite a note, thus ensuring your interviewer will remember you.

Be patient: Even if the recruiter says they are planning on making a decision by the end of the week, sometimes this is not the case—other people may have to interview you, people may be on vacation, or they may be interviewing other candidates. Sometimes, no news is still good news.