Whether you are new to teaching, are coming back to teaching after time off, or are leaving your corporate job for a teaching position, you will need to make sure that your resume and cover letter address the following four questions your employers may have:

1.    Why do you want to be a teacher?

This question is very important and you must address it in both your resume and your cover letter. Your résumé’s career objective should have a well-developed statement about your passion for teaching, while your cover letter should elaborate on your goals and your teaching style. Your career objective should be longer than that of an objective found on corporate-driven resumes; it should provide more of a summary of your passion for teaching and your qualifications. Your commitment to students and their education, no matter their level of school, has to be clearly communicated as it is one of the most critical aspects of being a teacher and it can set you apart from other applicants.

2.    Do you have the qualifications necessary to be a teacher?

Your education and certifications should immediately follow your career summary statement. The section should be titled “Academic Credentials” and should list all degrees and certifications which make you a qualified teacher. Having proper credentials for the job you are applying for is critical in the teaching field. Point out any cluster of courses you have taken in school that makes you qualified to teach a specific subject. If you have been published in academic journals or have written and published textbooks, create a separate section on your resume for publications. Make sure to include a comprehensive list of all of your credentials on your resume. Don’t sell your self short.

3.    What from your professional experience qualifies you to be a teacher?

Unlike corporate-focused resumes, where jobs are outlined in chronological order, teachers have to focus on not only their experience teaching (if applicable) but on any professional achievements that make them a great candidate for the job. If you have prior teaching experience, use a chronological list to showcase your work history. If you are new to teaching, you will need to list any experience you have that helps make you a great teacher. Don’t get discouraged – if you consider your experience, you will find that you have the qualifications to be a teacher, you just need to focus on those meeting your career objective. Use a functional resume format. Do some research and find examples of teaching resumes that you can model your resume after. If you are entering the teaching field with corporate experience, list any training you have developed and thought at your company, for example. If you have recently graduated, list any Teaching Assistantship positions you may have had, or any practical coursework you took part in. You can reference any volunteer work, or community involvement that supports your goal of becoming a teacher. For example, if you have volunteered your time to an organization like Big Brother big Sister, and you mentored a child, note that on your resume. Utilize any experience you may have that demonstrates your leadership, your passion for education, and your ability to motivate and pass on knowledge to others.

4.    What are your long term professional goals?

Just like a corporation, the school where you are interested in teaching will want to know not only why you want to be a teacher, but what your long term professional goals are. You should make a brief mention of your long-term goals in your career summary; your cover letter or teaching philosophy should elaborate on your long term goals. Will you be returning to school for a Master’s degree or a Ph.D.? Are you interested in becoming a high school dean in the next ten years, or will you want to teach more than one subject? Are interested in teaching grade school first, and possibly teaching high school at the later time? Do you have interest in becoming a department chair at a university? If you are driven toward a long term goal, make your potential employer aware of it. But make sure that you have an action plan on how to get there – show your employer that you understand what it takes to reach that goal.

Overall, make sure that your resume is error-free, and that you have incorporated key words specific to the teaching field, such as teaching jargon and acronyms.  Do your research and model your resume after samples of other teachers, with the consideration of their experience and teaching level. Demonstrate your passion, your commitment to education and your patience - and schools will be sure to take notice.    

In the job hunting process, the way in which you are dressed has a direct influence on what the interviewer’s first impression of you is. You may be thinking it isn’t fair that you are judged by the way you are dressed. And under normal circumstances, you would probably be right. But when it comes to job hunting, you must remember that you are essentially trying to “sell” yourself to potential employers. The very first thing an interviewer will notice about you is your attire. It will also be the subject of the very first judgement he or she will make about you.

An interview is hardly the occasion to make a personal statement about your style. Dressing properly for the interview serves to show the potential employer that you respect the workplace and have a sense of professionalism. While dressing appropriately on its own may not win you the job, it sure can give you an edge over the other candidates. It will also set a positive tone for the rest of the interview.

If you are not sure how you should dress for an interview, your safest bet would be to dress conservatively. However, there are some things you could do to make sure that your dress code matches that of the organization at which you are interviewing. For example, you could make a quick call to the company’s human resources department to inquire about their dress code. You could also pay a visit to the company on an information gathering trip and take note of how the women there are dressed. But make sure you don’t go there when its “jeans and t-shirt” day or casual Friday.

Dressing properly for an interview does not mean that you have to go out and buy expensive designer label clothes. But you should have at least two good sets of professional clothes in your closet. If you get the job, you will obviously have to invest a little more into to your attire but you can worry about that when the time comes. Here are some additional tips on how a woman should dress for an interview.

• A woman should wear a business suit to an interview. The suit should fit your body well and you should feel comfortable in it. The length of the skirt should allow you to sit down without having to tug on it or adjust it.

• Psychological studies have revealed that women have a lot more leeway when it comes to the colour of their professional attire. As an alternative to the standard black, grey, or dark blue, you might want to consider wearing brighter colours such as red or green.

• The colour of your blouse should match well with the colour of your suit. The neckline should be on the high side and should not reveal too much skin. Transparent blouses are absolutely unacceptable.

• Stockings should always be flesh-coloured and you should wear closed shoes that have a dark colour. The heels of your shoes should not be too high.

• You should avoid wearing excessive jewellery. Any body piercings except for earrings should be taken off. Also, take care not to spray on too much perfume and make sure that your hair is styled neatly and professionally.

On a closing note, remember to check yourself in the mirror of the rest room just before you go in for the interview. Then, take a deep breath, feel good about yourself, and most importantly, smile.

Before the interview, rehearse what you are going to say and the best answer to every potential question. Human resource professionals, as well as various career experts all agree on one principle - that one of the best ways to tackle an interview is to anticipate the questions and then develop appropriate answers.

There are simple steps that can guide you through your interview.

Research.

Try finding out everything about the company, its customers, its mission statement and about its working environment. By finding out about these points, you can get insight about the company and also about the questions likely to be asked by the interviewer. Being well-prepared will project you as a person who has done their homework.

Be Familiar with the job description.

Look at your strengths and weaknesses and then see how you are the best match for the job. If you have previous experience, tell them, as employers give more serious consideration to those applicants who have a background of a good track record in the same job.

Creat A Good First Impression.

“The first impression is the last impression”. It is true - so arrive 10 minutes prior to the interview and always maintain eye contact throughout your interview. Always be enthusiastic and project sincerity towards the people you meet.

Project Yourself As A Problem Solver.

Every job requires skills, sell yourself!  Be calm and confident. Don’t project nervousness by fidgeting or nail-biting - this will immediately project how well you can handle stress?

Ask Questions.

Always ask questions if you have any and do not go blank when asked questions. Show real interest in the company. Always remember that while you are selling yourself to the company, you are also finding out about them, and determining whether or not you want to work there.

Follow Up.

Once your successful interview is over, follow up with a thank-you note. Always highlight your strengths and qualifications in the resume. When following up add specific discussions or conversations you had with the interviewer to help him or her recollect that you are a polished and enthusiastic candidate.

No matter what happens, an interview is an opportunity to learn. At the end, ask yourself what you did right and how you could improve. Next time around, you just might get asked “When can you start?” Good luck!

If you want a really good resource that offers practical advice on how to pass a job interview  then go to:-

Job Interview Success System Which Will Transform The Complicated Job Interview Process Into A Simple, Step-by-step System.