4 Things Transitioning Teachers Need to Know If You Haven't Been Hired...Yet:
The Show Notes
If you’ve been applying to jobs for two weeks or even months and have already heard no, you need to listen to this episode. I’m going to remind you of four things you need to know if you haven’t been hired-YET!
Recently in the community, we’ve heard from transitioning teachers who have been applying to jobs and hearing a no. It’s not easy to deal with this, and you’re not alone! This episode will help you reset and refocus as you continue the search.
1 - Sometimes a No Just Means Not Yet
It can be tempting to look at someone who has the job you want and fail to consider what they had to go through to land that job. How many times did they hear no? How many applications did they submit before getting an interview? Not being able to land a job right away can be super stressful, especially when left a consistent income to make this leap.
On my journey beyond the classroom, I heard a lot of “no’s”. I heard no from companies I was desperate to work with because I loved their products so much. They even gave me the feedback that I was a good match but there was literally no position available. So I had to shelve that idea for a while.
The interesting part was that they did reach out to me months later. Had I not continued applying for jobs and developing my skill set, I would not have been ready to work with them! So if you’re struggling because you’re taking a “no” personally, try to reframe this as a “not yet”.
2 - Consider Things From a Hiring Perspective
You probably know by now that in the hiring process, it actually takes a while for your application to make it into human hands. And even then, it’s hard to compile your personality, your strengths, and your experience all in one nicely formatted document!
But the truth is that hiring teams have a job to do. It’s not personal. They have to find the best match for a specific position. So the best you can do is to be strategic and “play the game” if you will. There are ways that you can optimize your resume, cover letter, and your LinkedIn profile so you stand out easily. If you need support with this, we have resources for you here!
3 - Practice Good Self-Care in Your Process
Being told you weren’t the best fit for a job is never easy. Especially when it’s an opportunity you’re really excited about. So it’s important to acknowledge those feelings and give yourself a break. But when you’re ready, I also want you to consider the idea that this isn’t personal. It’s just an opportunity to be strategic.
If you’re not confident in what strengths and skills you bring to the table, the Find Your Next Dream Job course that you can find in the membership can help you do that. Having a clear sense of what you offer will also help you pivot faster, because really, it’s their loss, right?
Lastly, if you haven’t been hired yet, never overlook good self-care. That could be ice cream. It could be a massage. It could be anything that helps you remember that you are worth investing in on this journey. That could also mean you decide to invest in a resource or a community like the membership where you can get questions answered and find the support you need to keep going.
4 - Continue Taking Next Steps If You Haven't Been Hired Yet
First, remember that if you do hear a no, it’s ok to go a step further and ask, “do you have any feedback for how I could become a stronger candidate?”. If they answer, put that input to use.
Next, when you’re gathering feedback, look for any trends in what they communicate. If it’s something you can control, then all you need to do is come up with an action plan. Do you need to learn a skill or have more experience with a tool? The Next Job For Teachers Interactive Guidebook makes creating an action plan super simple!
Maybe what you’re missing is a means of demonstrating what you are capable of creating. A portfolio is a perfect way to do that! We have templates for that available in the Find Your Next Dream Job Course in the Teacher Transition Membership.
Could you use the extra support in taking the next step after the classroom?
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Resources Mentioned in the Show
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