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March 21, 2005
Workplace Issues - Can You Say The "N" Word?
Readers,
Do you automatically tune out when you hear the word "networking?"
Despite today’s negative attitude toward the term, this method is generally how most teachers land those great jobs! Networking is nothing more than being prepared when you do meet that person who could be influential in helping you land that dream job. So, what are the steps to being prepared?
Start by knowing and being able to talk about your personal work strengths. Are you good with difficult students? Do you thrive in an atmosphere where there is little or no direction from management? Next, back up these claims by having a few short examples of your greatest accomplishments. This shouldn’t sound rehearsed, but you should practice telling about them in a concise, engaging manner.
You’ll also want to . . .
. . . mention any certifications, degrees and other training and work skills that you possess, followed up by a brief outline of your experience.
Finally, don’t look at networking as trying to sell yourself, but rather as taking an opportunity to put your verbal “resume” in front of those people who could be the pathway to your ideal teaching job.
Anyone have any great stories about they used networking to land their dream job? Write me by commenting in the box below and tell me about it!
Until next time,
Michelle
Posted by msimmons at March 21, 2005 11:17 PM
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Comments
Hi,
I am an Esl Teacher myself, and came across several students who really wanted to be my friends. Some of them are still my friends, let them be, because they want us as a source of enlightment. We also learn alot from them. Take care, and bye for now.
Posted by: fauzia at April 1, 2005 01:12 PM
Dear Michelle,
I found your article very interesting.
We have created a "virtual network" of freelance teachers in spain. The idea came to us after experiencing many of the bad quality "academias", who pay little and treat you badly!! Our idea is "Tiger Teaming", where each teacher is independent but at the same time a part of a team. Using the internet we cut costs, pay teachers more and charge clients less. This started in 1997 and now we provide courses to some of Spains largest companies. Many of our members/teachers have told us about bad treatment and hassle from other "conventional academias" and that our system is really a great breath of fresh air!!
I hope this example marks a change in the industry!!
Regards Todd
todd@plstudies.com
POST DATA:
Do you think the industry could be better regulated??
Posted by: Todd at May 11, 2005 10:10 AM
I've been in China a few times teaching English and I love it.I love the openess of the people and their friendliness.I've made many friends here and as some have gone to different cities in other countries where I never thought I'd know anybody, I now have a worldwide friends network of wonderful Chinese people.
I'm hoping my next stop will be Hong Kong but I don't have a work permit so if anyone can help there, please shout.By the way, I'm 60 and don't listen to those who say you can't do it, you can, so DO IT!! If this doesn't make any sense, forgive me, I'm just excited to be going to yet another party, this time for National Children's Day!!
Posted by: cunamara at June 1, 2005 10:31 AM
First off, I don't know what a TypeKey identity is. Let me know, please.
My Incident was like this: In the Feb.2988 issue of The Science Teacher I published an article called "Put your Physics Class in Drive." It was snapped up and used at UCLA that summer, and is a key part of MESA, a program used in many colleges to recruit female and minority students into math, engineering, and science.
If you write MESA program on Google, you get 2,860,000 (MILLION!) links. Wow. It's big.
Well I was interviewing for a job in a DoDDS school in Ansbach, Germany. As the principal and I toured the school, we stopped to see the voc/tech guy. I said, "What's that little gadget on your shelf?" He said, "Oh, that's a Lou-Vee-AirCar. I made it as a workshop last summer in the States." The three of us chatted a minute, and he said, "What was your name?" I said, "Louviere." He said, "Did you say Lou-Vee-Air?" "Yep. That's my car." I got the assistant principal job as we left the shop and headed back to the office. I call that networking, in a way. I was studying physics at Arizona State University in June, 2004, and on my way to lunch, I passed the Engineering building. I went in, and sure enough, they had a MESA program statewide, and used my AirCar as part of it. I encourage everyone who has an original idea to send it to their professional journal, NCTE, PLMA, Science Scope, etc. Get published. It's been a great boost to my career for over twenty years. It's just anothewr strqand in the network, but it's a golden one. Pete Louviere
Posted by: Peter Louviere at June 1, 2005 12:17 PM
