PREPARATION FOR THE FAIR
THIS FAIR IS FOR CERTIFIED TEACHERS ONLY
Monday, April 6, 200910:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Minneapolis Convention Center
Employer Booths Open ~ 10:00-3:00
Interviews Scheduled ~ 10:00-5:00
Check the list of Districts participating in the fair frequently:
The MN Education Job Fair 2009 web site reflects the most current information on districts attending and their hiring needs. Check it regularly to identify districts newly registered and to see updated hiring needs.
Make multiple copies of your resume to bring to the fair:
Your resume will be your primary marketing tool at the fair; prepare a sufficient number of copies to leave with districts as you introduce yourself at the booths. Copy your resume on 20# cream, off-white, or light gray resume paper. Credentials are not usually required by districts at the fair since interviews will be preliminary, but bring several copies in case someone requests one. You may also send credentials prior to the fair when seeking pre-select interviews or after the fair to follow up.
Scheduling Interviews:
Interviews are scheduled in two different ways; 1) Some districts will review potential candidates prior to the fair, scheduling "pre-select" interviews either by phone or by mail. (The process for requesting pre-select interviews is outlined below. 2) Other districts choose to meet potential candidates in their booths on the day of the fair, scheduling interviews later on that same day. Districts that pre-select candidates for interviews will also schedule interviews during the fair.
Write school Districts to request pre-select interviews:
A pre-select interview is an interview that is scheduled prior to your arrival at the fair. Districts choose candidates for pre-select interviews on the basis of the paperwork that interested candidates send. Districts that are interested in your qualifications will schedule a pre-select interview with you and provide you with an interview appointment pass prior to your arrival at the fair. Most pre-select interviews are scheduled during the morning of the fair. Use the MN Education Job Fair 2009 web listing of districts registered for the fair to identify school districts with which you might request a pre-select interview.
To be considered for a pre-select interview, write to the contact person listed; send a cover letter, resume, and a copy of your credential file if you have finished student teaching. In your cover letter, state that you will be participating in the MN Education Job Fair on April 14, 2008.
Prepare yourself for school district inquiries:
Go to the fair knowledgeable about the school districts and part of the country where you wish to live and teach. Call or write the district to request information on the school system; chambers of commerce are good sources of information on what a community has to offer.
Prepare a one-minute benefit statement:
Write an introductory statement that summarizes your professional goal, educational background, and teaching-related experiences. Practice the benefit statement so you will sound natural and yet pique the interest of interviewers at the fair. Last year, districts with long lines at the fair spent less than a minute with each potential candidate before deciding whether to grant an interview; prepare to market yourself succinctly and effectively.
Prepare a portfolio to bring to the fair:
Select examples of lesson plans, units and/or projects you have developed, samples of your students' work, tests you have designed, etc. to illustrate to interviewers what you have done and can do in the classroom. Keep the number of items to a manageable count; organize them in a notebook format or some other manner that will be easy to display during an interview.
THE DAY OF THE FAIR
Dress appropriately for an interview:
Although some candidates and some recruiters will dress very casually, you should dress as you would for an interview at a school district site. This is your only chance to make a great "first impression" with recruiters.
Be prepared to introduce yourself to recruiters:
When marketing yourself at the booths, be prepared to talk specifically about your experiences - academic, teaching, and extra-curricular - and how they relate to the position you are seeking. You may have very little time to demonstrate to a recruiter that you are a superior candidate who rates an interview. So, prepare your introductory statement carefully and be prepared to showcase your talents with specific examples.
Arrive early in the day:
The Fair begins at 9:00 a.m. We recommend that you arrive at the Convention Center approximately 30 minutes prior to opening; allow time for heavy traffic into downtown Minneapolis and for parking. School districts begin filling up their interview schedules early in the day; in the past, candidates who arrived at the Fair after mid-morning have found that many districts had already filled all of their interview slots.
Plan a strategy:
There are three basic areas of the Education Fair:
The first area will contain the information booths attended by the school representatives. Some of these representatives will provide handouts, some will have audiovisual presentations, some will discuss their settings and situation, and some will arrange an interview for you with other representatives of the school system. The representatives determine the content, style, and objective of the booth.
The second area will accommodate both the pre-arranged interviews and those just scheduled at the information booths.
The third area provides interested school districts an opportunity to present group information sessions that will run 45-50 minutes. Watch for the schedule for these special sessions.
To make the most of your day at the fair, plan ahead. Take a few minutes for a quick stroll past all of the booths, noting those districts with positions in your field; all districts will post their needs in their booths, even if they didn't notify us in time for posting in the web listings. Determine which districts are of most interest and offer the best chance for employment. Stop by those booths early in the day.
Once you've visited with your "best bets", stop by and chat with districts in which you'd like to teach but who don't have an immediate need for your services. Plan time to attend group sessions. Use any remaining time to learn about districts/areas of the country that didn't seem attractive at first consideration - you might find a really great opportunity in an unexpected place.
After the fair
Follow up on any promises or commitments made during the fair:
Interviews at the fair are usually considered preliminary, giving both you and the recruiter a chance to reflect on your candidacy and your "fit" for the position. Follow-up interviews or conversations are necessary to finalize a job offer.
Write thank you letters:
Thank each school representative in districts of interest to you for the opportunity to meet them at the Fair; re-express your interest in and excitement for the position and their district, and offer to provide additional information and/or to come to the district for a follow-up interview.
Fair Location
Minneapolis Convention Center
1301 2nd Avenue South - Minneapolis, MN 55403
Telephone: (612) 335-6000
Web: http://www.minneapolisconventioncenter.com/
Good luck with your job search and remember to keep the Center for Experiential Learning notified about your progress in finding a teaching position!!!
