Question from a Reader:
“I am looking to move back to the Boston area and having a very difficult time finding a position. I have been working in curriculum and instruction for elementary math and since I left Boston the certifications have changed. Is there any kind of service that can help me with finding an appropriate position. I am finding that many of the jobs I have applied for tell me I’m either over qualified, missing certification, or that the job doesn’t really exist.”
Response:
The most foundational issue you need to sort through is certification for the state of Massachusetts. Therefore, you will want to contact the Massachusetts Department of Education to clarify and update your certification(s). (For more info on state certification, see the June 27 posting on Career Corner.)
Additionally, the state offers a “Massachusetts Educators Career Center” which includes a job posting and job search feature. This is a valuable resource, but do some creative thinking about how you can identify potential employers: a) professional associations for educators; b) college and university career centers within the Boston area; c) your alma mater’s alumni network; d) new contacts via social media such as LinkedIn; e) websites and placement agencies such as TopSchoolJobs.com, Teachers-Teachers, and SchoolSpring. This is a good time to use your creative problem-solving skills to identify potential contacts and build your professional network--not just for employment but for professional development as well.
Deborah R. Snyder
Assoc. Director, Ed. Career Services
Grove City College
Grove City, PA