Dear Past Me, In three years you will have to begin your job search. Crazy, I know. I just want to warn you and give you some advice on what to expect at UD's Teacher Job Fair (Project Search). The day will being at 7:30, you will get there a half hour early because you always get anxious that you will be late to things like this. Check-in won't start until 8:00 and of course they won't let anyone in before than (even though it will be raining outside, so pack your umbrella). Luckily you will there early enough to squeeze your way into the space between the two doorways to the entrance of the Bob Carpenter Center. It will seem like a hundred people have been crammed in like sardines into that small space, but relax. Finally at 8:00.00, not a second earlier, not a second later, they open one, count in ONE single door for the stampede of eager (and in some cases, desperate) teacher candidates in to check-in. People will instruct you to "find your line" (go all the way to the right). After you receive your packet of the schools that will be conducting scheduled interviews and which schools will be conducting unscheduled interviews, search for a spot on the bleachers close to the floor filled with recruiters but also close to the aisle. You do not want to have to climb over the seats in your heels and your suit, now would you? From 8:20-9:00, come up with a game plan. First hit your favorite school district, sign up for an interview and then push your way through the to the next district you like. Repeat until all interview spots are filled (this will happen faster than you think). After scheduling your interviews, all you have left to do is wait. Relax, they won't ask you anything you don't know but they will ask things you haven't prepared for, so take a deep breath, gather your thoughts, and dazzle them with your knowledge and motivation. Whatever you do, don't second guess yourself after the interview is over and torture yourself with all the better things you could of said, it will only make things worse, trust me! Relax and go in confident, you know your stuff, I should know. At the end of the, you will have done everything you could and the only thing there will be left to do is wait...
Remember this letter when the time comes
- Future You
2 comments:
I loved this post! If only we had known back that what we know right now life would be so much easier. I wish you luck with the job search. I myself feel like I will be enjoying the benefits (or lack their of) of non-profits for some time after college or the glories of minimum wage work. woohoo.
After experiencing the same emotions and stress you did during Project Search, I think that your letter is extremely helpful to the "younger you" or anyone else who is going through the job hunt right now. Competition is always a factor of life and some people are more prepared for it than others. I liked how you set up the day chronolgically, making your post extremely easy to follow. As you were talking about the morning, step by step, I got an image in my head, especially when you were describing the amount of people outside. Great job sharing a personal experience that many of your peers could relate to! ...I know I certainly do!
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