Making the Most of the Minnesota Education Job Fair
Career Development Center  209 Wigley Administration
507-389-6061  www.mnsu.edu/cdc

Tuesday, April 8, 2014
How to Secure a Teaching Job Presentation-
9:00am-10:00am
10:00am-3:00pm Fair Hours
(Interviews run until 5:00pm)
Minneapolis Convention Center
1301 Second Avenue South
Minneapolis, MN 55403 http://mnedfair.org

• From the South (I-35W)
Follow downtown exit signs to the 11th Street exit and follow 11th
Street to 2nd Avenue South. Turn left on 2nd Avenue South and go 1 block to Convention Center.
• From the West (I-94)
Take the 4th Street exit from I-94 and proceed to 2nd Avenue South.
(Do NOT turn right onto 2nd Avenue North.) Turn right on 2nd Avenue
South and go 8 blocks to Convention Center.
• From the West (I-394)
Take Downtown exit (12th Street): follow 12th Street South to 2nd
Avenue South and turn right. The Convention Center is on your left
• Additional driving directions

• There are multiple parking ramps in the area.
• Select one that is near, but have a backup plan as they fill up quickly.
• Bring enough cash for all-day parking, they may not take credit cards.
• $25 should be plenty for all day parking in
Minneapolis.
• Click here for additional parking rates.

• Review the check list prior to the event
• Review school district registrations
• Gather additional information on districts you are interested in
• Rehearse your “ 30-60 second verbal resume ”
• Get your resume reviewed by sending it to cdc@mnsu.edu
by Friday, March 28.
• Be ready to talk about your strengths AND provide examples of these!

• RESUMES! 25+ If you need guidance on developing your resume, visit the CDC Job Search Handbook
• Padfolio ($10 in the CDC)
• Notepad & pen
• Notes on any school district research you have done or correspondence you have received from districts
• $$$ and other personal necessities
• Mini-interview portfolio for use in interviews
• Bag or a purse, not both
• HINT: Keep materials streamlined, don’t overload yourself with too much to carry.

• Dress conservatively and professionally
• A suit is not absolutely required, but a safe bet and makes a great first impression
• Women ( Click here for Video )
– Close-toed heals (comfortable shoes!)
– Limit jewelry and makeup
– Be aware of skirt length and revealing necklines
– Pantyhose with skirts is a must!
• Men ( Click here for Video )
– Clean shaven/trimmed
– Dress socks (no white athletic socks)
– Tie is a must
– Matching belt and shoes

• Drop by the MSU registration table & pick up your name badge, map of the layout, and schedule of district presentations
• Orient yourself to the facility and find a quiet area and review your district info, plan your strategy, etc.
• Break away from your group of friends if you arrived with one and take on the fair independently
• Don’t be intimidated by the initial “rush” of candidates!
• Observe how other candidates are approaching and interacting with districts…learn from them!

• Get there early and expect to stay all day
• Create a prioritized list of districts you most want to visit
• Try not to make the district you really want to work for your very first or very last stop
• If the line for a district is long, it may be more efficient to check back later in the day
• Give yourself some time to eat, take breaks, and write down notes throughout the day

• Maintain professionalism throughout the entire event— even when at lunch or walking to your car
• Take time between booths to write down some notes, get a drink, and collect your thoughts
• Reflect after each interaction with an employer and think about what went well and what you can do differently
• Pace yourself—you don’t have to visit all your booths in 30 minutes, but you also want to leave time for interviewing
• Be confident while also being yourself
• Utilize positive self-talk and encouragement
• Relax, deep breaths, and you will do great!

• Respect the privacy of others as you approach the booth
• Remember, you are “on stage” at all times, which includes standing in line and moving around the booth area
• Make eye contact immediately when introducing yourself
• Give a firm handshake to get you off to a good start
• Remember the recruiter’s name. If you forget, casually refer to their nametag.
• SMILE and be polite--show your enthusiasm!

• Do not fidget or play with your hair
• Do not look around when talking or being spoken to
• Do not chew gum
• Listen carefully to what the recruiter has to say
• Avoid using filler words such as “um”, “like”, “you know”
• Show confidence in your voice
• Offer a resume
• Ask for a business card or write down the recruiters name
• Ask what the hiring procedure/timeline is for that district, you want to make sure you are doing it right!

• Introduce yourself with confidence!
– Name
– Licensure area
– What you know about their school district
– Provide them with a resume
– Share some of your experiences that are relevant such as where you are student teaching, volunteer experience, etc.
– Ask questions about their organization and positions available
– Get a business card!
• Watch this video on Career Fair Success

• Double check to ensure you’ve talked to all the districts of interest and you have their contact information
• Make any last minute notes from the day
• Ensure you have all of your belongings and you’re not leaving anything behind
• Regroup with friends, but remember to keep all talk positive and be professional

• Have a 3-point agenda: 1) what am I looking for? 2) what do I have to offer this district? 3) what questions do I have for this particular district?
• Be a good listener as well as a good talker! Take your cues from the interviewer (when do I end my response? When is the interview over?)
• Generate & maintain interest by smiling and responding with SPECIFIC & CONCISE answers/examples…keep your voice lively, maintain a pleasant tone, & use humor appropriately
• Respond truthfully, while always painting a positive picture of yourself (ex. “I have not yet had the opportunity to…but in a similar situation I…”)

• Request school district information if you do not already have it, also request application materials & a copy of the interviewer’s business card
• Ask about the hiring process and a timeline…determine actual and potential openings
• Offer a firm handshake at the end of the interview
• Walk away with confidence, remember, you are still “on stage”!
• HINT: Immediately following the interview, go to a quiet area an make notes on topics of conversation, contact names, follow-up procedures, etc. Don’t rely on your memory for this!
• Watch a video

• Congratulate yourself on a job well done!
• Send a thank-you letter within 3 days of the event
• Write to any prospective employers you are still interested in whether you talked with them at the Fair or not
• Follow-up with any employers in which you said you would
• Debrief--what would you do differently the next time?
• Keep good records of contact including dates of your emails/phone calls and copies of all application materials which you send
• Don’t measure your success by the number of interviews that you have at the fair--all of your hard work will pay off, just be patient!

• CDC Website with specific Education links (click on the link below, then “Education” and scroll down for K-12) http://www.mnsu.edu/cdc/students/jobs_and_internships/s earch_coe.html
• Yahoo Directory of K-12 Schools: http://dir.yahoo.com/Education/K_12/Schools/
• U.S. Department of Education for Teachers: http://www.ed.gov/teachers/landing.jhtml?src=fp