Education Week - June 4, 2014 - Cover3

TOP SCHOOL JOBS's
CAREER CORNER BLOG
DIRECTORS/MANAGERS/
COORDINATORS
7 Ways to Wreck
Your Job Interview
I recently came across the article courtesy of Robert
Half International, Inc. a global staffing firm and
thought it might be useful during this busy interviewing
time.
Performing well during the job interview is one of
the most important steps in the hiring process. Every
candidate wants to impress a prospective employer,
but, despite his or her best efforts, not all
do. Often, a simple mistake can cause an applicant
to blow the entire meeting. Here are some errors
to avoid:
1. Arriving late. Getting to an interview on time
or, for that matter, a few minutes early is an easy
way to impress a prospective employer. Arriving
late is not only unprofessional, it also shows the hiring
manager that you have little regard for his or
her schedule. It also calls into question your ability
to show up to work on time, one of the most basic
aspects of any job.
2. Being rude to
the
receptionist
or
other
staff. Some candidates don't think it matters if
they're dismissive of the hiring manager's assistant
when arranging the interview or get upset at
the receptionist because he or she mispronounced
their name by mistake. After all, this person isn't
the one making the hiring decision. But you may
be surprised to learn that six out of 10 employers
polled by Robert Half said they consider their assistant's
opinion important when evaluating potential
new hires. So remember to be polite and respectful
to everyone you interact with during the hiring
process.
3. Acting like you're the only person there. Consider
this scenario: After you've checked in for the
interview, you make a quick phone call to give your
friend a blow-by-blow description of last night's
party, speaking so loudly that everyone in the office
can't help but hear you. That's the wrong approach.
It's better to sit patiently and peruse any
company literature in the lobby. Doing so demonstrates
common courtesy and can help you learn
more about the firm and its needs.
4. Going into the interview unprepared. Far too
many candidates fail to properly prepare for the interview,
believing that they can "wing it" and still
make a strong impression. The savviest job seekers
spend time considering questions the hiring team
will likely ask, so they can answer confidently during
the meeting. They also research the employer
ahead of time so they can explain how their skills
match the open position, and also highlight their
true interest in the company and position.
5. Appearing arrogant. Confidence is key for any
applicant to possess, but taking it too far is sure to
make you stand out -- for the wrong reasons. Boasting
about your abilities ("I was the best worker my
previous employer had ever had!") is a good way to
appear arrogant and come across as someone who
may have difficulty collaborating with others.
6. Not asking questions. As the interview winds
down, the interviewing team will likely ask if you
have any questions. Your answer should be yes.
But your questions should go beyond "How much
does the position pay?" and "How many days of
vacation can I expect?" Although compensation
and benefits are important components of any job,
broach these subjects only if the prospective employer
has expressed serious interest in hiring you
-- usually not until the second or third interview.
More appropriate questions for a first interview include
"What will my specific duties be?" "What are
your top priorities for this position?" and "What
does a typical day in this position look like?"
7. Not following up. Even if you feel you aced the
interview, it's not a good idea to simply sit back
and wait for the hiring manager to call with an offer.
Sending the hiring manager a brief note after the
interview allows you to thank him or her for meeting
with you, and can emphasize your interest in
the position.
To read more blog posts, visit http://blogs.edweek.org/topschooljobs/careers
The
opinions expressed are strictly those of the author and
do not reflect the opinions or endorsement of Editorial Projects
in Education.
Jersey City
PUBL I C SCHOOL S
"Doing What's Best for our Children"
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Jersey City
Leadership Institute
The Jersey City Public Schools (JCPS) is creating The
Leadership Institute that will develop and support
transformational leaders and strengthen the district's
leadership pipeline. The program includes a Scaffolded
Apprenticeship Model Program for teacher-leaders
leading to certification, a full-year principal residency
program for administrators who show readiness to
lead a school, on-going coaching in the first year of the
principalship and ongoing professional development for
all principals. In addition the program will develop the
district's capacity to recruit strategically and increase
the quality of prospective principals.
We seek a dynamic leader to be the Executive Director of
the Leadership Institute to guide its development while
building capacity for the Institute to be self-sustaining
within five years. The successful candidate will be
an accomplished leader with experience in principal
development and the skills to oversee the complex facets
of this project.
Full Job description, minimum requirements
and application information are available at:
www.jcboe.org
Positions Available
EOE
Korean Language Program
Coordinator & Instructor (NY,
NY) Big Apple Education Center -
responsible for creating curriculum
& teaching methods, evaluating
their effectiveness, reviewing &
choosing educational materials, &
training teachers. Required
Master's Degree in Korean
Language or equivalent. Mail
résumé to Big Apple Education
Center, Attn: Samuel Ahn, 1556
Third Ave, Ste 300, NY, NY 10128
MULTIPLE
SPRINGFIELD PUBLIC SCHOOLS
SPRINGFIELD, MA
www.sps.springfield.ma.us
Immediate Openings
Director of Mathematics
Supervisor of Health and Physical Education
Math Instructional Leadership Specialists
ELA Instructional Leadership Specialists
ELL Curriculum and Instruction Specialist
The district is seeking experienced educational leaders with a track
record of success to join our team.
Springfield is a mid-sized urban city at the crossroads of Interstate
91 and the Massachusetts Turnpike. Our mission is to provide the
highest quality of education so that our students are empowered to
realize their full potential and lead fulfilling lives as lifelong learners,
responsible citizens and leaders in the 21st Century. The Springfield
Public School district serves over 26,000 students a year.
Visit our website at www.sps.springfield.ma.us to view job
descriptions and to apply. Contact: Lucy Perez, HR Administrator
Human Resources Department at 413 787-7180
COMPETITIVE SALARY AND BENEFITS
An Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer
TEACHERS
SHOWCASE AD
* Bilingual French/English Science Teacher
Lycee Francais de San Francisco in San Francisco CA seeks a High School Physics & Chemistry Teacher, req'ts: Bachelor's
in Physics & Chemistry or equivalent + Sec. Tchg Credential or rel'd cred. + 3 yrs exp as classroom teacher + must speak,
read and write French. Apply online: LFSFhumanresources@LeLycee.org
Attention Job Seekers!
The career intelligence section of our website has
added more advice to help you land the perfect job.
Features Include:
* Career Forums
Mechatronics & Robotics/STEM
Teacher Vacancy
Chippewa Valley Schools
19120 Cass Ave., Clinton Twp., MI 48038
586-723-2090
For vacancy details and to apply go to:
www.chippewavalleyschools.org and click on employment.
* Q&A with Education Experts
* Résumé Tips
* State Salary Comparisons
Go to: www.TopSchoolJobs.org
under "Job Seeker Resources"
E-mail your questions about job hunting to:
careerquestions@topschooljobs.org.
EDUCATION WEEK | June 4, 2014 | www.topschooljobs.org | 27

http://www.jcboe.org http://www.sps.springfield.ma.us http://blogs.edweek.org/topschooljobs/careers http://www.TopSchoolJobs.org http://www.chippewavalleyschools.org http://www.topschooljobs.org

Education Week - June 4, 2014

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