Job Search Question

[Eeyores Butterfly]

I need your all's advice on a job search question/conundrum.

I applied to three schools within the same charter school system. My first choice is the one in Kansas City. I have observed there twice and have been in email contact with the principal. My boyfriend is from that area and plans to stay in Missouri to teach, and we are hoping to get married within the next couple of years.

Two weeks ago I sent in my applications to the three schools. So far, the only one I have heard from is Nashville. I was asked to complete an online survey about teaching philosophy and have a phone interview with them tomorrow at 11 am. I have yet to hear back from Memphis or KC. My dilemma is that Nashville sounds like they are going to offer me a job pretty quickly. This charter school system is the system I want to teach for hands down. Most schools require two years of experience, including the one in Nashville. Nashville is overlooking that requirement for me, but I don't know how willing the others will be. I still want to work in KC, and I'm scared that I'm going to be asked to make the decision about Nashville before I heard back from KC.

I'm not sure what the appropriate etiquette is to handle a situation like this. With this job market, I'm not comfortable turning down a job on the off chance something better might come by. Both are great schools and Nashville sounds like a great area. I want to maybe send a follow up email to the KC school regarding my application, but I'm not sure how to word it. What would you do?

 

[Pigeon]

Personally, I wouldn't send a letter to KC. The district is going to fill the position according to its own timetable. My guess, particularly in this economy, is that they have many qualified applicants for the position, unless they are looking for someone certified in physics, chemistry, math and special ed. They aren't going to adjust their timetable because you might have another offer.

I'd take the offer in Nashville if I got it. If I then got an offer in KC, I'd take that, and tell Nashville that due to personal circumstances, you're taking an offer in a different city. Assuming these positions start in August or Sept, they'd have tons of time to find somebody else. This stuff happens.

 

[Eeyores Butterfly]

The positions both start July 1. I'm not asking them to up their timetable, just if my application is even going to be considered. Our career center recommends following up a cover letter a week later if you had not heard anything, but I don't want to be too pushy, and I couldn't find any kind of template on their site.

If I'm going to take the job, I'm going to make the commitment. There could be others applying for this job who might be turned down because I take it. It's not fair to the employer if I accept the job then turn them down later on. It's not fair to the other job searchers either.