Teacher Hiring
Support Center
Creating a Winning
Resume and
Cover Letter
and
Mastering the
Interview
Office of Teacher
Recruitment and Quality
Agenda
•Who is THSC?
•Job search and resources
•Setting goals and expectations
•Resume
•Cover letter
•Additional marketing materials
•The interview
•Post interview
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Who is THSC?
•The Teacher Hiring Support Center (THSC) was launched by the NYCDOE‟s
Office of Teacher Recruitment & Quality (TRQ) in April 2009.
•THSC provides hiring support to
• teachers in excess,
• teachers in closing/phasing out schools, and
• teachers looking to transfer schools (during the Open Market transfer
period only).
•Hiring support services include:
 Online resource portal: http://www.thscnyc.org
 Webinars
 Recruitment fairs
 Closing/phasing-out school workshops
 Ambassador phone bank
To request a phone consultation please contact:
thsc@schools.nyc.gov OR 718-935-5280
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http://thscnyc.org
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THSC Goals
THSC, under the direction of The Office of TRQ, believes that the
quality of our teachers at all levels of experience is the single most
important variable in improving student learning in the classroom.
THSC exists to:
• Cultivate internal candidates so they remain informed and
enthusiastic about NYC schools throughout the hiring
process.
• Support principals in selecting great internal teachers that
match their students‟ needs.
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Job Search &
Job Search Sources
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Job Search - Mutual Fit
• The job search is a two-way process and currently, the NYCDOE
does not practice forced placement.
• Staffing a school is a balance between matching the knowledge,
skills, and talents of an individual to the needs of the school.
• When pursuing schools, you should take into account your level of
flexibility, personal needs, and the school‟s environment and culture.
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Job Search Resources Summary
• Direct contact with CFN HR Directors
• New Schools
• Teachers of Tomorrow schools
• Open Market
• Networking
• Direct Contact with Principals
• Teacher Recruitment Fairs
*For more information please visit
http://www.thscnyc.org
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Open Market Hiring System
• The Open Market Hiring System is the online system that tracks
available vacancies within the NYC Department of Education and
allows you to apply to these vacancies directly.
• Only current teachers in the NYCDOE, both voluntary transfers and
teachers in excess, have access to this system.
• Principals are not able to view whether you are a teacher in excess or
a teacher who is voluntarily transferring schools.
• You may upload one resume and cover letter per profile.
• To access Open Market and register, visit http://www.thscnyc.org.
For technical support regarding Open Market, contact
HR Connect at 718-935-4000.
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Begin Early: Networking
• Although most offers of employment are extended during the mid-to-late
summer months we encourage you to begin your job search early.
• Networking by using your professional and personal resources will work
to your advantage as you look to secure employment.
Professional Networks
Personal Networks
 Alumni Career Center
 Social Networks
 Affinity Groups
 Friends
 Colleagues
 Acquaintances
 Professional Groups
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Direct Contact with Principals
• Be proactive
• Email the principal and/or assistant principal your cover letter and
resume and identify yourself as an existing NYCDOE Teacher.
• Make sure your email address is professional
• Research the school and be sure to describe your accomplishments
and why you would be a specific fit for that specific school
• Copy and paste the cover letter into the body of the email
• Attach your resume to maintain proper formatting
• Keep the tone professional
• Submit your cover letter and resume in person
• Attend events where principals are present
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Teacher Recruitment Fairs
Things to Know
• Teacher Recruitment Fairs
(TRFs) are great opportunities
to network and meet with
principals who have
vacancies.
• Principals are not required to
attend TRFs.
• Principals attending TRFs are
looking to meet professionals
whose skills, talent, and
teaching style will increase
student achievement.
• Offers of employment are not
commonly offered at fairs.
• Principal may ask you to follow
up by visiting their school and
conducting a demonstration
lesson, usually within the
following 2-3 days after the
fair.
• You should not rely solely on
TRF to locate a job.
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Setting Goals
and
Expectations
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Personal and Professional Needs
 Create a list of factors that
are important to you. Allow
this list to serve as a guide
during your search for
employment.
 Seriously consider these
factors when researching
schools. They impact your
well-being and directly affect
your performance in the
classroom.
Personal
Needs
Professional
Needs
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Example of Needs
Personal
Professional
• Health
• Grade level
• Spiritual beliefs
• School environment
• Family responsibilities
• Opportunities for growth
• Commute
• School population
• Social interests
• School mission
• Teaching philosophy
• Principal interaction
• Short-term & long-term plans
• Finances
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Do you know the characteristics
principals are looking for in a teacher?
Top 5 "Hard" Skills/Characteristics
Top 3 “Soft" Skills/Characteristics
Principals
Knowledge of Teaching
Skills
85%
Classroom Management
Skills
76%
Strong Communication
Skills
74%
Knowledge of Subject
Matter
73%
Principals
Ability to Relate to
Students
70%
Motivation
54%
Enthusiasm
42%
Knowledge of Student
Assessment Strategies 39%
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Writing a Winning Resume
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Why is the Resume Important?
Your resume is your passport to new opportunities, and
consequently it is one of the most important career
documents you will ever produce.
Its purpose is to provide sufficient information for prospective
employers to stir interest in you.
Experiences
Skills
Education
Successes
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Suggested
Resume Verbs
strengthen
nurture
increase
coach
facilitate
expand
fortify
establish
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SAMPLE RESUME (Before)
Lisa Adams
________________________________________________________________________
10 Madison Street • New York, NY 10001 • (212) 123-6543 • Lisa.Adams@msn.com
EDUCATION
University of Southern California- Los Angeles, California
Master of Science, Chemistry, December 2006
Bachelor of Science, Chemistry May 2003
CERTIFICATION
New York State- Initial, Chemistry
CAREER EXPERIENCE
August 2006-Present
August 2003-July 2006
Manhattan High School – New York, NY
Lead Chemistry Teacher
•Created and implemented lesson plans on neurochemistry.
•Teach regents chemistry to four 10th grade ESL students.
•Organized Saturday Academy Regents Review program.
•Member of the school‟s advisory council for science education.
•Mentor to first year teacher to LAUSD.
Manhattan High School – New York, NY
Chemistry Teacher
•Developed curriculum for 9th and 10th grade students.
•Examined compositional changes in substances.
•Increased student test scores.
•Served on AP Chemistry team.
PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS / HONORS
•Kappa Delta Pi
•National Chemistry Teachers Association
•Sigma XI
•Teaching Excellence Award, 2008
LANGUAGE FLUENCY
• Mandarin Chinese
• Spanish
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Lisa Adams
SAMPLE RESUME (After)
10 Madison Street • New York, NY 10001 • (212) 123-6543 • Lisa.Adams@msn.com
CERTIFICATION
•New York State- Initial, Chemistry
CAREER EXPERIENCE
Manhattan High School – New York, NY
August 2006-Present
Lead Chemistry Teacher
•Created and implemented lesson plans on neurochemistry.
•Dramatically increased pass rate of students from 67% to 97% on state regents chemistry exam
•Supervised Saturday Academy Regents Review program for 250 students and 25 teachers
•Served as Lead advisor school‟s advisory council for science education.
Manhattan High School, New York, NY
August 2003-July 2006
Chemistry Teacher
•Developed curriculum for 9th and 10th grade students.
•Created three class experiments for examining compositional changes in substances.
•Increased student test scores by 20% in chemical bonds and atomic structure.
•Acted as curriculum consultant to the AP Chemistry team.
EDUCATION
University of Southern California- Los Angeles, California
Master of Science, Chemistry, December 2006
Bachelor of Science, Chemistry May 2003
PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS / HONORS
•Kappa Delta Pi- Chapter Vice President 2001-2003
•National Chemistry Teachers Association
•Sigma XI - Member
•Teaching Excellence Award, 2008
LANGUAGE FLUENCY
• Mandarin Chinese - Fluent
• Spanish - Fluent
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Resume Checklist
 Uses a professional email address that is checked
frequently.
 Lists certification before experience for quick visibility.
 Lists education after experience.
 Customizes experience to match the requirements of the
position.
 Begins bullets utilizing verbs to describe your
responsibilities.
 Omits the use of empty words, such as: various, many,
several etc.
 Addresses instruction and includes measurable student
achievement.
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Resume Checklist Cont’d
 Proofread for spelling and grammar errors.
 Maintains a consistent format throughout (font style,
font size, margins, etc.).
 Limits # of pages to a maximum of two, and stapled.
 Includes name, email address and page number at the
top of the 2nd page (when applicable).
 Reviewed by a colleague utilizing checklist for approval
of final version.
 Printed on good quality white or ivory paper.
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Writing a Compelling
Cover Letter
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Why is the Cover Letter Important?
• The cover letter serves as an introduction to you and
your resume.
• It expands on specific elements listed in your resume
that apply directly to the job to which you‟re applying.
• This is important because it shows you understand the
nature of the work being advertised and the needs of
the organization.
• Ultimate Goal: To create a cover letter that will
move your resume to the “possible” pile.
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Research Your Future School
1. Visit http://schools.nyc.gov.
2. Click on „Find a school‟ located in the center of the page
3. Enter the school‟s name or number into the „Find a School‟
search box.
4. Locate the school you are researching.
5. Click on „Statistics‟.
6. Now you have full access to the school‟s accountability reports:
• Learning Environment Survey
• Quality Review
• Progress Report
Inside Schools* - http://www.insideschools.org
*Independent insight into NYC public schools.
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NYCDOE Accountability Reports
• Every year, all parents, teachers and 6th –12th grade students are
surveyed about the learning environment in their school, and the
results are provided to the school and the public.
Learning Environment Survey
• Survey focus on four key aspects of a school‟s learning
environment:
1. Safety and respect
2. Academic expectations
3. Communication
4. Parent, teacher and student engagement
•During the school year, each school receives an on-site review by
experienced educators and a detailed report on how well the school
is organized to support student achievement.
Quality Review
Progress Report
• The Quality Review Report focuses on how well the school:
- Assesses child performance
- Improves academic achievements
- Meets academic goals
- Plans staff development and student support services
- Monitors student progress
•Every fall, each school receives a report and a letter grade (A, B, C,
D or F) measuring its success in accelerating student learning during
the prior school year.
•The Progress Report measures each school‟s contribution to
student academic progress, no matter where each child begins his or
her journey to proficiency.
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Three paragraph Cover Letter
1st / Opening paragraph: Introduce yourself and
demonstrate specific knowledge about the school
 Introduce yourself - explain who you are, the position for which you are
applying, and how you found out about the position.
 Demonstrate specific knowledge about the school - this will require
research about the school structure, student populations, and any
special programs or initiatives offered by the school.
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2nd paragraph: Sell your experience
 Articulate who you are - explain that you are a certified and
experienced NYC teacher, and provide your area(s) of licensure.
 Articulate what makes you an ideal candidate - explain the
qualities and qualifications that will make you successful in the
position to which you are applying. Use this opportunity to refer to
and expand upon specific points on your resume.
 Emphasize your strengths with examples – however do not
summarize or repeat your resume. Demonstrate how your past
experience and achievements will be valuable assets to the school
at which you are applying.
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3rd paragraph: Ask for an interview!
Propose a follow-up - indicate that you would like to follow up by
visiting the school; you may also offer to teach a demonstration
lesson. As principals are extremely busy, you may wish to make
yourself available at their convenience.
 Thank the principal - reaffirm your interest in the position and
include the best way for you to be contacted.
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SAMPLE COVER LETTER
May 5, 2020
Dr. Betty Johnson
Principal
High School for Creative Learners
123 Main Street
Bronx, NY 10754
Dr. Betty Johnson:
I read with great interest on the New York City Department of Education’s website, your job
announcement for a high school Chemistry teacher at the High School for Creative
Learners. I believe my experiences will be an added benefit to your new administration and the
mission of your school to achieve a 100% on-time graduation rate over the next three
years for every student. It is with great enthusiasm that through my research I learned, last
year, your school achieved an 80% graduation rate towards this goal.
I am currently a fourth year Chemistry teacher with Manhattan High School in New York, NY.
For the past five years, I have worked intensively with low-performing 9th and 10th grade ESL
students as they make strides to meet NYC graduation requirements. I am pleased to say that
100% of my students have taken and excelled on the State exam. Some of my students
have gone on to take AP science courses with great success. I welcome the opportunity to
use the skills I have acquired in my teaching career and put them to use in your second year
small learning community. I have attached a copy of my resume for your review which
highlights my achievements both in and outside of the classroom.
If my education and experiences are of interest to you and the position for a high school
Chemistry teacher is still available, please contact me at (212) 123-6543. If given the
opportunity, I am sure I will prove to be an asset to your staff. Thank you in advance for your
consideration and I welcome the opportunity to interview for the position.
Sincerely,
Lisa Adams
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Additional
Marketing Materials
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Teacher Data Reports = Measurable Results
• If you teach 3rd through 8th grade, you should have a
copy of your teacher data report which includes your
students‟ performance data.
• Principals may ask you about your students‟
assessment scores and your impact on student
learning.
• Give yourself a competitive edge by providing
evidence of any prior success in improving student
performance outcomes.
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A Winning Portfolio – It Gets You Noticed!
•Creating a blog is an effective way to create an eportfolio (Ex: blogspot.com, wordpress.com,
posterous.com).
•A place to summarize your teaching accomplishments
and provide examples of classroom experiences and
materials.
• A mechanism and space for reflecting upon your years
of teaching.
• An ongoing collection of documents and artifacts
designed to describe, document and showcase your
teaching ability as well as your accomplishments.
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Items Commonly Found in a Teaching Portfolio
 Table of Contents
 Resume
 References/letters of
recommendation
 Awards and special recognitions
 Teaching credentials
 Statement of Educational
Philosophy
 Lessons and/or units of Study
 Student work samples
 Teacher created games and
worksheets
 Field observations
 Examples of parental communication
 Letters/cards from students
 Final results of projects
 Classroom management theory
 Photographs of classroom/bulletin
boards
 Blueprints for room arrangements
 Examples of assessments
 Reflections on teaching
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Mastering the
Interview
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Interview Logistics
Must haves…
• Multiple copies of an updated resume with current contact info
• Professional appearance - dress conservatively
• Professional, positive and enthusiastic attitude
• Positive online presence (principals use Google!)
Suggested…
•Teacher Data Report (if applicable)
• References
• Lesson Plans
• Seating Chart(s)
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The Importance of the Interview
• A formal method of
exchanging information
between people.
• Exchange of information
must be relevant to the
position in which the
person is applying.
Analytical
Abilities
Experience
Achievements
Communication
Skills
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Your Role in the Interview Process
1. To provide a factual account of your accomplishments
and abilities supported by relevant data and analyzed
by you in order to demonstrate your being the best fit to
meet the needs and goals of the school.
2. To convince the principal that you will raise student
achievement at his/her school.
3. To demonstrate that based on your knowledge and
research, the school to which you are applying will
meet the needs of your professional goals as well.
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Topics Commonly Discussed in
a Teacher Interview
Resume
Field observations
Teaching credentials
Examples of parental
communication
Classroom management
practices
Statement of educational
philosophy
Lessons and/or units of study
Reflections on teaching
Final results of projects
Prior student performance
Awards and special
recognitions
Leadership roles held in and
out of school
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4 Types of Interview Questions
1. Hypothetical/Situational: Presented in the form of
case examples. Your answer will give insight to your
analytical skills and critical thinking abilities.
2. Behavioral: Predictor of how past performances will
impact your future decisions. Focus is on what did you
do in the situation versus what will you do in a situation.
3. Competency: Align your past behaviors with specific
pre-determined competencies that have been identified
as required for the specific position.
4. Multi-Barreled: Two or more questions asked as one.
They are always linked to one topic.
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Hypothetical/Situational Question
Presented in the form of case examples. Your answer will
give insight to your analytical skills and critical thinking
abilities.
Example:
You begin working in a new school. Over half of your new
students did not pass the Math state assessment the
previous year. You set a goal that 80% of your new students
will pass the state assessment. What steps will you take to
ensure that your students meet this goal?
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Behavioral Question
Predictor of how past performances will impact your future
decisions. The focus is on what did you do in the situation
versus what would you do in a situation and will lead into
another question.
Example:
Tell me about a time when you either set expectations too
high or too low for students (or yourself). In what form did
you come to realize that your expectations were too high or
too low? How did this impact you and how do you believe
this impacted your students?
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Competency Question
Align your past behaviors with specific pre-determined
competencies that have been identified as required for the
position.
Example:
Describe what I would see if I walked into your classroom
and you were in the midst of a successful lesson.
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Multi-Barreled Question
Two or more questions asked as one. They are always
linked to one topic.
Example:
Describe specific approaches that you have used to help all
students in your classroom succeed. What supports would
you provide to:
• Students who are struggling?
• Students with an exceptional ability?
• English language learners?
• Students with an IEP?
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Questions You Should Ask
An interview is a two-way conversation. Make sure you
have your own questions prepared for the interviewer(s).
Suggested Questions:
• What is your leadership style?
• What are the biggest challenges your school faces?
• What opportunities are there for professional development?
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Post Interview: Follow Up!
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The Letter of Appreciation
• After an interview, it is customary and appropriate for a letter of
appreciation to be sent.
• The letter of appreciation should:
1. Be sent within 24 hours of the initial meeting
2. Remain short
3. Maintain sincerity
4. Reaffirm your interest in the position and the school and,
5. Include some key facts shared during the interview.
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SAMPLE LETTER OF APPRECIATION
May 16, 2020
Dr. Betty Johnson
Principal
High School for Creative Learners
123 Main Street
Bronx, NY 10754
Dr. Betty Johnson:
It was a pleasure meeting with you this past Friday, May 15, 2020 to
interview for the position of 11th grade Chemistry teacher at the High
School for Creative Learners. The technology program you outlined to
during our meeting sounds both challenging yet very rewarding. The
interview served to reinforce my strong interest in becoming a part of
the team under your leadership. I can assure you that my education and
work experience will complement your program.
Again, I thank you for the opportunity to interview. Should you
require any additional information regarding my education or professional
career, I can be reached at (212)123-6543 or by email at
Lisa.Adams@msn.com. After speaking with you, I have to say, I am
eager to contribute to the mission of your school. I look forward to
your decision concerning my interview.
Best Regards,
Lisa Adams
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Resources
Teacher Hiring Support Center
718-935-5280
http://www.thscnyc.org
thsc@schools.nyc.gov
HR Connect
718-935-4000
http://www.nycenet.edu/dhr
NYCDOE Certification Hotline
718-935-4723
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