I always considered myself luckier than my other undergraduate friends; whenever they were worrying about what they would do after they graduate, that question for me was answered simply: teach! As spring break wears on (and what a glorious thing to be a BYU student and have a spring break), graduation is fast approaching, and I remain, for the time, jobless.
I never really worried about getting a job, trusting that I was being properly prepared. I planned on crossing that bridge when I came to it. Well, here it is, a rickety rope ladder on its side, spanning a wide gap between graduation and my first "big-boy" job. Every position I apply for is getting between 60 and 90 applicants, and somehow I need to stand out.
Standing out in person has never been a problem for me (being 6'8" has its advantages), but I'm still learning the knack of standing out when my potential employers can only view my resume and a few letters of recommendation. Fortunately, I feel that my paper work is in order and that it highlights my skills and personality reasonably well. I plan on improving them as much as possible as well. Unfortunately, these employers don't get the full "Mr. Jones" experience without meeting me in person.
Which brings me to my two-part plan: receive professional advice on resumes and the like from BYU's career services, and visit every school that I have applied to; if I can meet a principal from these schools, then I have a great shot at standing out.
After I tidy up my resume a little bit and get a few more professional tips, I plan on flooding the valley with my resume. I will apply online of course, but brief, personal visits are, in my opinion, what are going to really help me in the job market.
That being said, I need to take a moment to address you, my casual reader.
This blog will continue to be updated, as writing is important and helps me learn. This will continue to be a place for me to reflect on what I am learning as a new teacher. Tune in if you like, don't if you don't.
Mr. Jones
Suerte.
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