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It's kind of scary to realize that most openings for teaching positions regularly draw dozens of applications. Sometimes hundreds of applications. It never used to be like that. But these are tough times. Thousands of public school teachers lost their jobs in the downturn which began back in 2008. Thousands more new teachers are looking for their first job. In the meantime school budgets have been reduced, some drastically, by changing community demographics and changes in the local and regional economies. These are major factors which have changed the dynamics for teachers all over the nation. The realignments which follow these major changes take time to fall into place. For example, when a major employer shuts down a call center, an office or a plant, it will be years in most cases before that void is filled.

While many teachers might well prefer to remain in the public K-12 system or possibly teach at the tertiary level, the realities of the job market mean that those same teachers will also be competing for private school positions. In most cases the best a K-12 teacher can hope for as far as teaching college is concerned is some sort of adjunct instructor position. The reality is that those teachers will probably be applying for the same positions private school teachers are applying for as well.

Here are some tips to help you cope with the job search process in these tough times.

Be realistic.

Be realistic in your expectations

The reality of being a private school teacher is that you will have to face an annual deadline called the contract renewal. If you are doing a good job, this annual rite should not present any problems. You will be notified that your contract is being renewed, and that will be that.

But what if things are not going well? You are unhappy. You sense that things are not going well. Perhaps you have even received a written communication or two indicating that things are not going well. What to do? If there is no resolution to whatever issues are at the root of your mutual unhappiness, the best solution for all concerned is probably the obvious: finish out the year and part company on the best possible terms. After all, you will need the school to give you as good a reference as possible.

In any case, let's look at the renewal process from the school's point of view. Why then should we renew your contract?

Give me lots of reasons why we should do so.

It may sound obvious, but we hired you in good faith. You interviewed well and seemed enthusiastic about teaching here at St. Swithins. Your transcripts and references were sound and everything was checked out. Consequently, we had great expectations.

For the most part, you have not let us down. Your lesson plans are well thought out. You present the material in an engaging manner. You incorporate technology into your teaching effortlessly

If you are looking for a teaching job, then you probably understand how tough the employment situation is. Because of in the public school sector, tens of thousands of qualified, experienced teachers are looking for employment. Add to that very sizable candidate pool all the newly-minted teachers graduating from our nation's 670 accredited schools of education. You can readily see how competitive the market is. Naturally, some areas of the country are more severely impacted than others. Within those areas, there will be a few school districts in a few communities that can hold their own. The issue with public school funding has much to do with the fact that a substantial portion of a school district's budget comes from local property taxes. School districts in affluent communities usually will fare better than districts with a decreasing tax base.

While this oversupply of experienced, qualified teachers is an advantage for private schools because it increases the applicant pool, this situation makes it much more competitive for those who want to secure a private school teaching job. Finding employment in a private school works differently than finding employment in the public sector. I suggest that you review my Job Search Resources to understand the mechanics of finding private school employment. I have covered the subject from every angle I could think of. I also spent 17 years in the corporate environment where one of my responsibilities was interviewing and hiring. It is critically

I can just hear you thinking to yourself: "Why on earth would I need a rebranding?" Signs that you might need a rebranding include the reality that you are invisible to prospective employers and, almost as bad, your credentials have begun to look kind of 2000-ish. Rebranding. Makeover. Facelift. Call it whatever you wish. But it all amounts to the same thing. Or does it? Rebranding, you see, is intrinsically much more focused than a simple makeover or a facelift. Let's see what is involved.

What is rebranding?

Rebranding sounds like something Proctor and Gamble might do with a tired soap brand. The product does a great job, but it has lost the appeal it once had in the marketplace. Are you beginning to see how this might have some relevance to a private school teacher? Rebranding yourself as a dynamic teacher with vision, expertise in her subject and the skills to create excitement in the classroom will push your candidacy for the position you want to the front of the pack. Or you can leave things as they were. The choice is yours.

Remember: it is a fiercely competitive job market in the second decade of the 21st century. Schools have hundreds of highly qualified and experienced candidates from which to choose. Why should they look at you? They should look at you because the rebranded you seems fresh, relevant, and perfect for position they have open.

Who is a candidate for rebranding?

Unless you have an

What's the Difference Between a Letter of Interest and a Cover Letter?

Depending on the instructions you read on a private school's employment page, you may be directed to send a letter of interest or a cover letter.

• While most businesses use online application forms with automated responses, most private schools still use analog cover letters as part of their employment application processes.
• Successful private schools want to identify exceptional candidates through a comprehensive, hands-on evaluation of their academic credentials and their teaching abilities.
• They also expect a strong commitment to extracurricular leadership, ensuring a new teacher brings both classroom excellence and enrichment expertise.

The ideal teacher demonstrates not only subject mastery and pedagogical skills but also shows enthusiasm for coaching sports or leading an extracurricular activity.

• Some people think a letter of interest is the same as a cover letter.
• However, they are not the same.
• What, then, exactly, is the difference between these two letters, and how do you compose them?

Canva generated this photo of a teacher writing a cover letter.

What is a letter of interest?

Strictly speaking, you compose and send a letter of interest when a prospective employer requests you do so.

• In the sense that a letter of interest is a letter written to accompany your resume and other required documentation,
• it functions almost the same as a cover letter.
• But there is a major difference.
• The