We have often thought that colleges were a good place to find potential Interview Doctor clients. After all, everyone these days knows a recent college grad having trouble finding a job. About 74% of college grads under age 25 are working. http://economix.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/06/01/a-decade-makes-all-the-difference/ The competition is fierce. You would think this would be a rich pool of potential clients.
This winter I conducted two seminars on resume writing and interview skills for the graduate and undergraduate science education seniors at East Carolina University. I worked with two wonderful professors, Dr. Martha Fewell and Dr. Liz Doster Taft, who wanted to give their students a leg up as they went into the interview process.
The job situation for teachers in North Carolina is dire. The recent state budget calls for 20%+ reduction in the number of teachers in just about every category and in every part of the state. So the outlook for new teachers is bad – unless something differentiates this group of graduating science teachers from everyone else.
I had a ball! These students are bright and motivated. They listened well and took the instructions to heart. But it is one thing to have fun. It is quite another to see what happens with new graduates who are armed with the right tools to tackle a difficult job market.
The statistics show the difference:
- At the spring job fair, all the students were invited for interviews! That had never happened before. Principals commented after the fair how prepared the science ed students were.
- As of July 2011, ALL the students are employed! Amazing! That has never happened before either. Usually a few of the graduating teachers are still unemployed at the end of the summer. But not this time. Not with this group.
- According to the college, the Science Education Department students are the only group of graduating teachers that are fully employed upon graduation!
I love the stories the students tell. My favorite was one student who reported that the principal asked her the question, “Tell me a little about yourself…” and she responded in the way we prepared. The principal stared at her then left the room. She sat there and wondered what she did wrong. He returned a few minutes later and made her a job offer! He said her response to the question was so complete that he had nothing else to ask! It revealed her to be well prepared, well organized, creative, and personable – all factors he was looking for in a new teacher. He hired her on the spot!
Although that student’s experience was unusual, all the students credit their training for their wonderful job placement results. They were confident, calm, and courageous (Interview Doctor trademarks!). They felt prepared to answer questions that showed them at their best. They got a leg up from The Interview Doctor.
You can see the recommendation from Dr. Fewell at www.interviewdoc.com. We are pleased to provide these kinds of results.
How about you? Do you need a leg up? Do you know someone who needs a leg up? We would be glad to help you, your friends, and colleagues have similar success the next time you interview. Just give us a call!
