Seeking New Job

I know 2 people who are looking in MN and have taught in other states.. they have said that they have never seen it so hard to get to teach in a state. They are re-doing their licenses... so you have a head up on them.

Have you tried the private schools? Have you put in for an aid position... the same lady said once you've worked as an aid a few times, and they get to know you/ like you, you will pretty much have full-time employment b/c they will always call you. From there you can probably segue into a full teaching position much easier.

M.,

Unfortunately, I suspect that your biggest problem is the Masters degree. (sad to say) Why would a school district hire someone that costs them so much when they can hire someone with a BA for so much less to do the same job. I was recently talking to a superintendant that said a teacher looking to be hired shouldn't have more than a BA+15 until they're tenured.

The fact is, you're probably the absolute perfect candidate for a position but they simply can't afford you. :(

The market is very tough, and according to a headhunter I spoke with, most companies are only replacing people right now, not hiring new people. SIgn up with as many personnel firms as you can. If there are office parks near your home, and you present well in person, consider dressing as if you were interviewing, printing a bunch of copies of your resume, and introducing yourself to businesses in your area. I found a job that way because my interpersonal skills come across better in real life than on paper. Good luck!

Right now is a little bit of an "off" time to be looking for a teaching job, as many are set for the school year. Regardless, if I were you, I would sign up to substitute teach right now for every school I am interested in getting a job at next year. When you sub, introduce yourself to the secretaries, stay afterschool and offer to help anywhere (go to the office and ask), do additional work in the classroom and leave a detailed sub report. Ask to be requested for the next sub needed. In the spring, mention that you'll be applying to the district and ask if they'll have any openings at the school. Get to know the principal and be sure to stop by their office to say hi every time you sub. Go the extra mile and you'll be recognized, and I bet you'll have a great job next year! Good luck and hang in there!

I know this may not be what any of you out of work are looking for, but I work for PartyLite Candles. It's a great "job" working from home - i say "job" because it's way more fun than a normal 9-5 job. You set your own hours, get paid to do parties for people and have fun. I'm married with 2 little ones (3 and 1) and my husband is the store manager of a fast food place. PartyLite lets me be flexible and work around his schedule. It's amazing. If you want to check it out, you can go to www.partylite.com and click on the "become a consultant" tab, or look up the nearest Regional Vice President in your area. They can answer any questions you have. I just wanted to let you all know about it, in case it can help you out.

We have the highest level of unemployment in decades. You don't have to be doing anything wrong not to get an interview. I have a niece who is a teacher who was told she was one of the top 3 candidates out of several hundred candidates for one teaching position.

Unless you are a math, science, or special ed teacher, you have a lot of competition.

I have heard that subs are always needed, and that substituting is a good way to work yourself into a full-time teaching position. Have you checked into this?

Try getting into subbing in your area in the school where you would like to be then apply when there is an opening. this way they can see how you are as a teacher and if you would be a fit for your school.

It's probably not you or anything you're doing wrong. It's the market and the system. It's a very difficult time to be looking for a teaching job. Education budget cuts are forcing schools to lay off lots of teachers. The system, as I understand it from my years of volunteering in MN public schools and developing relationships with teachers, is based on seniority in a school district. You have no seniority in a MN school district, unfortunately. I have been very frustrated as a parent of school aged children to see young, qualified, enthusiastic teachers let go and because they have less seniority than some of their more experienced peers, but who are in my observation not as good at teaching and working with children. I've also seen young teachers separated by seniority by mere months, one has a great repuation and one does not, but the one with the lesser reputation and a few more months seniority is kept while the other must go. But that's another topic for another day! Unemployed teachers I know are subbing, working as TAs, paras, working in childcare, etc. As someone else mentioned, private schools may have a different system and different requirements. I just noticed your specific location. Are you expanding your search beyond your home school district? As you are probably well aware, your home district is undergoing a lot of change and tension right now. Good luck.

ETA: I just heard on the local news and read in the Mpls Star Tribune that the Mpls public school district is re-opening some schools that it had closed and may need to hire some teachers. I assume they are required to re-hire teachers previously laid off, but it might be worth looking into.

I am in almost exactly your shoes--except I've not yet begun applying. I do know, though, that when I got my MN teaching license, I was amazed by some things I learned. Here's my history: graduated from a MN college, got licensed in MN. Taught for 2 years in MN. Moved to WA; taught 6 years in WA. Moved to MN, had baby #2 and then baby #3 and now am thinking it might be time to go back. I've been our 5 years including this school year. When I called to switch my license back to MN, they didn't care AT ALL about my time spent IN THE CAREER, with STUDENTS, honing my skills. They didn't care that I'd been continuously employed. They cared that, 6 years ago (or 26, it didn't matter) I had, at one time, taught in MN. It didn't matter how long, it didn't matter how well, it didn't matter what I'd done since--it mattered that, once, I had taught in MN. Renewing my license was a breeze. I've had other friends who have taught out of state tell me that it's been very difficult to get hired in MN also. I haven't really given job-finding a good effort (I've only applied very last minute, for very part-time positions that could and probably were easily filled internally.) but I also haven't heard much back from school districts--so I do think there's truth to the "they just aren't hiring much" theory, also.

I'm a teacher, and I'm really sorry that you are having such trouble. My best guess is that it's the economy and all the cuts schools keep having to make, year after year after year. We've hired very few new teachers in the last 8 years at my school.

The other thing is maybe the way you filled out your application, if they still have that huge thing to fill out that includes a sort of psychological profile. I applied to 9 districts, and 8 wouldn't even see me for an interview. I called one district, and they said that they didn't like the way I filled out that part. Maybe something similar happened to you?