THE ULTIMATE GUIDE: Tips and Strategies to Prepare and Present Yourself for Interviewing and Landing That First Music Teacher Job

Outline of resource materials for college music education majors and other prospects wanting to find a job in public school music programs

Targets

Articles/blogs at this site

• The definition and “best practices” of professionalism
• Unified philosophy of music education and avoidance of “specialization” in focus and teacher prep
• Pre-interview preparation and marketing strategies
• The “alphabet soup” of current educational jargon – terms, acronyms, and trends
• S is for storytelling at interviews
• Criteria for selection of the “ideal” school teacher candidate
• A blueprint for success – Preparing for the job interview
• The do’s and don’ts of interviewing
• Planning the “perfect” professional portfolio
• Tips on personal branding
• All eyes on the job resume/music teacher resumes revisited
• Hints for the job search process
• Interview questions revisited
• Networking niceties – the how-to schmooze guide
• Those tricky interview questions
• 21st Century job search techniques
• Ethics for Job Seekers
• Happy Thanksgiving, Newbies!
• Body Language & Interviewing for a Job
• The PMEA State Conference Primer
• inteREVIEWING the situation… and jobs
• Dressing for Success at Teacher Interviews
• Ethics for Music Educators – Part I
• Ethics for Music Educators – Part II
• Ethics for Music Educators – Part III
• Ethics Follow-up
• Help! How Does One Keep Up?
• The Professional Website
• Transitioning from Collegiate to Professional – Part I
• Transitioning from Collegiate to Professional – Part II
• Transitioning from Collegiate to Professional – Part III
• Social Media – Boon or Nemesis?
• Summertime Prep for Music Ed Majors
• Ethical Conundrums Revisited – Part I
• Ethical Conundrums Revisited – Part II
• Stress, Burnout, & Stage Fright in College
• “Top 10” Organizing Tips for 2019
• A Collection of Collegiate Treasures
• Tips on Student Teaching
• Collegiates – Clean Up Your Social Media
• The “Care and Feeding” of Your Principal
• Interviews
• Job Interview Rubrics
• The Importance of Music Education

 

the music educator blog (SmartMusic) May 14, 2019

• Interviewing Tips for Music Educators

 

Recommended Links for Special Focus Areas in Music Education

• Chrome and/or G Suite by Sue Basalik
• Surviving the First Three Months of Elementary Band and Orchestra handout by Debbie Chrisman
• Links to PMEA Council Teacher Training, Recruitment, and Retention Resources

 

Mock Interviews: Duquesne University on April 15, 2019

• Sample Questions and Strategies

 

PMEA Council for Teacher Training, Recruitment, and Retention

Materials for high school students preparing for a college music education major

• prepping for music education brochure revised
• video from the PCMEA chapters: how to get ready for college
• so you want to be a music education major

 

Ethics for Pre-Service Music Educators on October 24, 2018

• Slide Presentation
• Handout

 

Checklist for “Intelligent” Interviews article on NAfME Amplify

• Guide for Successful Marketing of Yourself – A to Z Job Interview Checklist
  

 

Westminster College Presentation on November 6, 2017

• “Transitioning from Collegiate to Educator” – PCMEA 110617

 

Majoring in Music website

• Getting the Most Out of Music Conferences http://majoringinmusic.com/music-conferences/ 
• Seven Things Music Education Majors Can Do When Facing the Job Market http://majoringinmusic.com/7-things-music-education-majors-can-do-make-themselves-more-employable-2/
• Finding Your First Music Teacher Job http://majoringinmusic.com/finding-first-music-teaching-job/
• Tips for Music Teacher Job Interviews http://majoringinmusic.com/music-teacher-job-interviews/

 

PCMEA/college music education major presentations

• slides-for-du-nafme-chapter-meeting-112816
• 2017-pmea-annual-conference-schedule-for-winter-news
• marketing your professionalism DU job fair 040416
• marketing professionalism handouts DU 020816

 

2017 PMEA Annual Spring In-Service Conference handout Ready for Hire! Interview Strategies to Land a Job:

• PMEA Session Interview Worksheet by Susan Metelsky 042117
• Marketing Your Professionalism PMEA 042117

 

Additional online resources

• 9 Good Questions to Ask in a Job Interview by Martin Luenendonk https://www.cleverism.com/9-good-questions-ask-job-interview/
• Interview Questions for Prospective Elementary Teachers by Leah Davies http://www.kellybear.com/TeacherArticles/TeacherTip76.html
• 7 Job-Hunting Tips (NAfME) http://www.nafme.org/7-job-hunting-tips/
• How Interviewers Know When to Hire You in 90 Seconds (Undercover Recruiter) http://theundercoverrecruiter.com/infographic-how-interviewers-know-when-hire-you-90-seconds/
• Interview Skills Guide (University of Miami) http://www.sa.miami.edu/toppel/mainSite/Students/InterviewingSkillsGuide.aspx
• Interview Tips and Advice (Monster.com) http://career-advice.monster.com/job-interview/careers.aspx
• Seven Intriguing Tips for the Job-Seeking Music Education Major (Music School Central) http://musicschoolcentral.com/seven-intriguing-tips-job-seeking-music-education-major/
• Teaching Portfolios (Vanderbilt University Center for Teaching) http://cft.vanderbilt.edu/guides-sub-pages/teaching-portfolios/
• Sample Professional Teaching Portfolios (McGill) https://www.mcgill.ca/edu-e3ftoption/portfolios
• Undergraduate e-Portfolios (Penn State School of Music) http://music.psu.edu/musiced/e-portfolio.html
• Prepare Your Materials section (Eastman School of Music) https://www.esm.rochester.edu/iml/careers/library.php
• Melissa Schwolow’s Professional Teaching Portfolio (School of Music, University of Illinois) http://melissaschwolow.weebly.com/index.html
• Developing an Effective Teaching Portfolio (ASCD Educational Leadership) http://www.ascd.org/publications/educational-leadership/mar96/vol53/num06/Developing-an-Effective-Teaching-Portfolio.aspx
• Music Teacher Interview Questions and Answers http://latestexams.com/2010/03/music-teacher-interview-questions-and-answers/
• 50 Great Questions for Teacher Interviews (Education World) http://www.educationworld.com/a_admin/admin/admin396.shtml
• Sample Teacher Interview Questions (University of Minnesota) http://www.cehd.umn.edu/career/pdf/Teacher-Interview-Questions.pdf
• Creative Personal Branding – Find Your Brand in 4 Easy Steps http://www.astridbaumgardner.com/articles/10-articles/16-personal-branding-for-musicians-and-artists-using-your-unique-gifts-to-connect-with-your-audience.html
• Interview Tips for Music Teachers http://www.klsriley.com/2011/04/02/interview-tips-for-music-teachers/

PKF

© 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2019 Paul K. Fox