OT: Teachers or School Counselors in the group

[DawnM]

We have moved from CA to NC.

I am very frustrated.

Two positions were posted as open positions in February. I applied for these OPEN positions.

In CA I always worked in year round schools so maybe I just am not in sync with this way of doing things, but......

I applied for 2 jobs in late February/early March. NEITHER school has phoned me in for an interview. Since this has never happened to me before I phoned both schools to ask if they had already found someone.

BOTH schools said they hadn't even looked at the resumes yet!

WHAT????? The deadline for resumes at one school was Feb. 28th and the other was March 9th.

WHY do they ask for resumes so early if they don't even plan to look at them for a month or two?????

Is this normal?

I really would like to move ahead with planning for next year as I need to get my 3 year old into a preschool program if I end up working.

Thanks!,

Dawn

[lajones81]

I haven't lived in either state you mention, but, here in IL, it's very common to wait until the last minute for hiring. My school just released numbers on Thursday for the coming school year and they are pending any internal staff moving from building-to-building, aides getting hired as teachers, etc. Personally, I was hired the day before school started. Not to freak you out, but thought you might want to know that your scenario is the norm around here. Good luck to you! :)

[DawnM]

But were open positions posted in February for the jobs and then hiring done for those jobs at the last min?

I don't mind waiting if they are waiting for openings, but if they post an opening, I expect there to BE an opening!

These were posted as current openings for the 2007-2008 school year.

Dawn

[lajones81]

That is not always the case in regards to openings. School districts in IL often post that there are openings when there very well may not be. Basically, they post that there are openings so that they can gather resumes, etc. I hope that makes sense. I applied for my position about 4-6 months (can't remember the exact time frame) before I even had an interview.

[DawnM]

Hmmm....these were specific schools listing a specific opening, not just a district wide opening. I phoned the specific schools directly and they both said they just hadn't gotten around to looking at the resumes or interviewing yet.

Odd.

Can't tell you how bad I want to just high tail it back to CA to the district I was in before.

I told DH that if I can't get a job here I am moving! What he doesn't get is that I am quite serious.

Dawn

That is not always the case in regards to openings. School districts in IL often post that there are openings when there very well may not be. Basically, they post that there are openings so that they can gather resumes, etc. I hope that makes sense. I applied for my position about 4-6 months (can't remember the exact time frame) before I even had an interview.

[DawnM]

lajones,

Thank you for responding. I am just a bit edgy about this whole thing.....after 16.5 years in the same district I don't want to start over again. DH is wonderful, but he doesn't get it at all. In his line of work you can just move laterally and have the same job and it isn't a big deal.

Now I have to take tests again for NC licencing, lose my tenure and seniority, etc....

I am NOT happy about this at all.

Dawn

[denecarter]

The schools I've worked at in Texas tend to do a lot of summer hiring. I was lucky and got an offer in early May... but only because it was a new principal at a new school that hadn't opened yet so she "had time".

[DawnM]

Yes, but do they post actual OPEN positions in Feb. and then hire for those positions in the summer? Or do they just simply wait until the summer to figure out what they need to hire for. I would not have applied if these hadn't been listed as open positions with a deadline for resumes.

Dawn

The schools I've worked at in Texas tend to do a lot of summer hiring. I was lucky and got an offer in early May... but only because it was a new principal at a new school that hadn't opened yet so she "had time".

[mmouseforpres]

I have worked all my years (14) in Texas and we post jobs (yes - usually for specific jobs) as early as January for the coming school year. Budgets aren't set until April, which is usually when the interviewing begins. Sometimes however, interviewing is postponed slightly and is done at the end of April to early May if they are negotiating staffing units. The principal might know for example that they have a counselor leaving that will need to be replaced so the job is posted, but will hold off until staffing numbers are finalized.

You might try contacting the principals of the schools and letting them know about your experience and that your husband has been transfered there and that you are interested in their school.

I have been a school counselor for 10 years and am currently an administrative intern. I think what they have done is very normal (at least for Texas).

Hope this helps.

[contempory4me]

Looking for a job has got to be the most effiecient way of diminishing ones self worth. Its so frustrating playing the waiting game. Something will come along, you just have to be patient. Between now and June is the best time to look for school jobs.
Many schools post the positions first on a wish list and then wait for the budget to be approved before interveiwing. Some schools wait until school is out and the building is quiet to interview. If I were you I would make an attractive packet with your cover letter, resume, lisence, letters of ref. and drop them off at the preschools that you would like to work at.
Good luck!:thumbsup2

[donac]

IN NJ, many schools have listed postings but until the budget is passed next week they don't usually do anything about it. The student teacher in my school applied to a district around here and the same thing happened to her. Just start sending out resumes. YOu never know one might click. After the budget thing next week they start interviewing in May and we usually have the teachers do a demo lesson in one of the classes to see what they are like. Some districts do wait till the last minute to hire people but they usuallly lose the best candidates.

What subject do you teach? Have you tried a Christian school in NC. My friend lives in NC and she felt that she would either send the kids to Christian school or homeschool. She has been homeschooling since 1995

Good luck. It is very frustrating.

[contempory4me]

mmouseforpres: What a coincidence!

MeToo! :banana: I have been counseling for 11 years and just recieved my pre-K-6 admin. license. I applied for an elementary AP position and am now playing the waiting game. :scared:
Are you going to ASCA in Denver in June?

[DawnM]

Thanks guys. I guess this is just more of a game than I thought!

I don't really want to widen my net too much because I have one job in particular that is by far my first choice and I don't want to get stuck with an offer at a 2nd or 3rd choice and have to decide between the bird in the hand.....

My first choice is school counseling. I have been a counselor for 5 years. I also am an English and ESL teacher and did that for almost 12 years.

The job I really want is at a charter school. It is K-12 and would allow me and my own children to be together as well as eliminate some of the stress of transferring to middle and high school for my oldest son who doesn't make changes as easily as my other 2.

Dawn

[DawnM]

I don't want to work at any preschools. Did you mean to say that?

I do have a packet together. I have just hesitated to give it out too much as I am trying to see about my first choice first.

There is a job fair at the end of this month, so I will go and see.

They said they are interviewing for some positions AT the job fair. I think they want to fill their critical needs positions there if they can.

Thanks,

Dawn


Looking for a job has got to be the most effiecient way of diminishing ones self worth. Its so frustrating playing the waiting game. Something will come along, you just have to be patient. Between now and June is the best time to look for school jobs.
Many schools post the positions first on a wish list and then wait for the budget to be approved before interveiwing. Some schools wait until school is out and the building is quiet to interview. If I were you I would make an attractive packet with your cover letter, resume, lisence, letters of ref. and drop them off at the preschools that you would like to work at.
Good luck!:thumbsup2

[lorli]

What I have realised at least here in central NY is that they post jobs to get resumes in, but then need to consider internal moves, so the positions advertised are not necessarily the positions that end up open. I was teaching for 10 years in a private school in NY then moved an hour away. It was a long commute for me so I started to canvass the local public schools and found that there is a very real and intricate game out there when looking for a new job. Good luck I hope you get what you want and need.

[eeyore45]

JOB FAIR

Like everyone has posted, I was in the position of moving from IN to IL - and I'm still not working - full time, I settled for the "Permanant substitute" position, and got lazy, or lucky (except in the paycheck dept!)

I've learned you have to be proactive at contacting the schools, actually talking to the admin, let them get to know you are serious, personable, and interested! You have to be a good fit - but if you're interested, you have to contact them!! (its odd that teaching has different rules than other professions!) Seriously like others have posted, they have rules to post positions, then they set budgets, then they have to wait for internal moves... it is a game, and darned if I know what it is!

I went to a Job Fair, it was crazy busy, I had several prospective interviews lined up... but when push came to shove, NOTHING!! mostly the positions I thought I was inline for, went to aides/internal moves! I was devestated, and havent put myself out there since!

the people I've known that get jobs are the ones that stick with it, like a pest - but a happy, perky, person!!

Good luck!

[DawnM]

Thanks. Yes, it is a game.

My problem is getting to the schools to present myself when I have 3 kids in tow.

I WILL get myself to the job fair and present a very nice package to those schools I would like to work in and I will be very confident and present myself well and hope that will help.

I just want to get on with the planning and organizing for next year! GRRR!!!

I am not so good at patience!

Dawn


What I have realised at least here in central NY is that they post jobs to get resumes in, but then need to consider internal moves, so the positions advertised are not necessarily the positions that end up open. I was teaching for 10 years in a private school in NY then moved an hour away. It was a long commute for me so I started to canvass the local public schools and found that there is a very real and intricate game out there when looking for a new job. Good luck I hope you get what you want and need.