Kelsey Ploeger, Assistant DirectorUNIVERSITY CAREER CENTER110 Burge Union785-864-3624career.ku.edu

Get Ready to Attend the Education Career Fair!

Agenda

• What to expect• How to prepare before the Fair• What to do at the Fair• How to follow up after the Fair• How the UCC Can Help

What to Expect

• Takes place on Wednesday, November 6 from 12:30-3:30 pm in the Kansas Union Ballroom

• Over 40 school districts represented from Kansas, Missouri, and Nebraska

What to Expect

• Opportunity for you to talk to administrators and learn more about their district and current or future hiring needs

• Some may conduct brief 15-min screening interviews

The 3 C’s: Resume Guidelines

1. Customized: Make sure your resume looks like you are applying for the type of job you are actually applying for. Tailor it to the position.

2. Concise: Use bulleted action statements and keep it 1 or 2 pages.

3. Clean: Make sure your resume is easy to read by: Sticking to easy to read fonts, like: Times New

Roman, Arial, Arial Narrow, Tahoma, Verdana, and Bookman Old Style.

Using between 10-12 pt font for resume content. Utilizing your margins well – 1” margins Using consistent formatting throughout

Update/Create Teaching-Focused Resume

• A personality assessment that looks at 8 personality preferences that everyone uses at different times.

• These 8 preferences are organized into 4 opposite pairs that describe 4 dimensions of personality type

ELLE M. ENTRY123 Jayhawk Road ▪ Lawrence, Kansas 66045 ▪ 555-555-1234 ▪ elle_m_entry@ku.edu

OBJECTIVETo obtain an elementary teaching position in an inclusive classroom setting for the 2014-2015 school year.

EDUCATIONBachelor of Science in Education, Elementary Education Expected May 2014The University of Kansas Lawrence, KS

• GPA: 3.8/4.0• Will complete 15 hours of graduate study while completing licensure requirements in 5-year program.

LICENSUREKansas Two-Year Initial License in Elementary Education, Grades K-6 Effective June 2014

TEACHING EXPERIENCETeaching Intern Spring 2014South Park Elementary School, Shawnee Mission USD 512 Merriam, KS

• Looking forward to actively engaging 19 kindergartners in learning across the curriculum• Plan to create and implement an integrated thematic unit on frogs through collaboration with cooperating teacher and others• Will pilot a research project concerning reverse mentoring and use of technology by classroom teachers

Student Teacher Fall 2013New Stanley Elementary School, Kansas City, Kansas USD 500 Kansas City, KS

• Completed student teaching in fourth and fifth grade combination classroom for six weeks• Created positive learning environment for 21 students with consistent classroom management using “cooperative discipline”

strategies• Planned and facilitated daily reading and math groups resulting in significant increase in reading levels for below average

readers• Coordinated field trip for 21 students to Natural History Museum in Lawrence, Kansas

COACHING EXPERIENCEFootball CoachSeptember-October 2013Kansas City Parks and Recreation Kansas City, KS

• Successfully instructed 25 fifth-grade boys from diverse cultural and socioeconomic backgrounds in football and fitness fundamentals

• Coordinated registration and practice schedule• Planned and led practice twice per week, coached Saturday games

Softball Instructor July – August 2012Lawrence High School Summer Softball Camp Lawrence, KS

• Assisted head softball coach with both elementary and junior high sessions• Planned learning strategies and practice for group of 20 girls• Encouraged teamwork and lifelong wellness skills

MEMBERSHIPSSchool of Education Student Organization – Member 2012-PresentKansas National Education Association – Student Member 2013-Present

EDUCATION‐ List degrees you are currently

pursuing or have completed

EXPERIENCE‐ Group all of your relevant

experience (ie, Teaching, Coaching) into 1 or 2 sections. Include student teaching, internships, field experience, and tutoring , and/or coaching experience.

‐ Put less relevant experience into a separate section, such as Additional Experience

LICENSURE‐ List your endorsement area(s),

grade levels and effective date

DESCRIPTIONS‐ Start job descriptions with

active verbs (i.e., developed, led, created, organized, etc.)

‐ Include 3-6 action statements that emphasize topics taught, type of school and students, assessments, and creative ways you conveyed knowledge

ADDITIONAL SECTIONS‐ Honors & Awards‐ Volunteer Experience‐ Study Abroad

OBJECTIVE‐ Include an Objective for Ed Fair

Parts of a Resume: Action Statements

• Passive: “Responsible for students.”

• Active: “Led students through exercises and activities.”

• Active with results: “Implemented interactive dance exercises for four classes of thirty elementary school students.”

Weak

Better

BEST!

How to Prepare

• Research Districts of Interest• Check career.ku.edu/edfair for a

list of attending school districts• Visit district websites to conduct

some initial research before the event

• Prioritize and target 8-10 school districts that you want to talk to at the Fair

• If you have time, complete their online application prior to the Fair (only if you are completing your program this year)

• Prepare a few thoughtful questions to ask district representatives at the Fair

How to Prepare

• Sample Questions for Recruiters• What are your current or anticipated vacancies for the

upcoming academic year?• What qualities, characteristics or experience do you

typically look for in a new teacher?• What extracurricular activity opportunities might be

available?• What are you most proud of about your school/school

district?• What would faculty, students, and parents say are the

strengths of your school/school district?• What is the typical hiring timeline and process for your

district?

How to Prepare

• Develop your 30-second “commercial”• It should include:

• A firm handshake and smile• Your name • Your major• Your program completion date• Brief summary of relevant

experience• Your interest in their district• Follow up with a question

How to Prepare

• Prepare Your Outfit• Highly recommended

that you wear a suit or business casual at the very least

• Keep your accessories very minimal

• No strong cologne or perfume

• Professional Clothing Closet

How to Prepare• Pack Your Bag• What to bring

• 15-20 copies of your resume

• Nice folder to keep resume copies, paper, etc.

• Paper (with your questions) and pen

• Mints, Kleenex• A smile and a positive

attitude• Your KUID number (for

check-in)

• What NOT to bring• Large bag/backpack• Teaching Portfolio• Cover letters• References• Gum• Cell phone with ringer

on

Make a Positive Impression

• Review the event guide/map to identify where districts are located

• Greet everyone with a firm handshake and a smile

• Remember to introduce yourself using your 30-second introduction and offer your resume

• Remain patient and friendly while waiting in line

• Ask thoughtful, relevant questions • Exude confidence, but not

arrogance (smile! )• Request a business card of

districts you are interested in• Don’t monopolize a

district’s time

Be Prepared to Answer Questions Like…

• Tell me about yourself.• What skills do you have that make you an effective

teacher?• Why did you choose your endorsement area?• What teaching experience do you have?• What do you know about our district?• Tell me about extracurricular activities you’ve been

involved with while a student.• Why do you want to be a teacher?• What leadership experience do you have?• What questions do you have?

Following Up• Organize the information

you collected, make notes• Write a thank you note or

email to each district you are interested in (great opportunity to send a targeted resume and cover letter as well)

• Conduct any follow up that was requested at the Fair, including completing online applications, uploading your resume and reference letters

How the UCC Can Help

• Individual appointment with a career coach to review your resume and cover letter, and conduct a mock interview

• Resume Dropbox• Allows students to send their resume to our office for review

and receive feedback within 1-2 days• Education Resource Page

• Includes Education resume samples, practice interview questions for PK-12 interviews, and information about reference letters

• Impress Mock Interviewing• Online tool to help you build a resume as well as help you

enhance your interviewing skills

Mark Your Calendar

• Education Career Fair• Wednesday, November 6,

2013• 12:30-3:30 pm, Kansas

Union Ballroom• career.ku.edu/edfair

• Education Interview Day

• Tuesday, March 4, 2014 • 8:30am-3:00pm, Kansas

Union Ballroom• Sign up TBA (via KUCC)

T W I T T E R . CO M /

K U C A R E E R

P I N T E R E S T. CO M /

K U C A R E E R

Y O U T U B E . CO M /

K U C A R E E R

F A C E B O O K . C OM / K U C A R E E R

University Career Center | 110 Burge Union | 785-864-3624

Questions?