n for the positions for which you are applying. Be sure to highlight internships, volunteer/community work, and any awards or recognition you have received. The goal of the resume is to highlight for potential employers your diversity of knowledge, skill, and capacity to start and complete tasks/goals. For candidates with more experience in the field, the resume reflects education and experience that closely align to the position. The question of resume vs vitae may be a source of concern for some. From my experience the vitae is a longer, more comprehensive account of one's total educational/professional background. It is probably better suited for submission to positions at the central office level of school districts, educational service centers, consultancy positions or for higher education appointments. The ultimate purpose of the resume or vitae is to pique the interest of the potential employer so that they want to meet you to discuss your compatibility with their organization. Step 3: The Interview Be punctual. This actually means be early for the appointment. Know where you are going and allow for Google map mis-directions, traffic, etc. Once you arrive, be pleasant to everyone you encounter. You never know who is looking and who might be providing feedback to the principal. As a matter of fact, be sure to meet and greet the secretary. She serves as the gatekeeper and in most cases, is a close confidante of the principal. Her opinion matters so do not underestimate her "power." Many principals require candidates to complete a written prompt prior to the interview. Check spelling, grammar, and sentence usage as you write. Errors can cost you the job. After all, what principal wants to put a teacher in front of student learners who cannot spell or use correct standard grammar? Greet the interviewer with a firm handshake, confident eye contact, and a smile. When the interview actually begins you will likely be asked to tell something about yourself. This does not mean to go down a stroll of memory lane sharing your high school experiences. It does mean that you capture those components of your experience that will have a direct alignment to the position. As you prepare for the interview, try to find aspects of what you have done previously that will contribute to your ability to do the desired job successfully. As stated earlier, in addition to being prepared to complete a writing prompt, you might also anticipate either teaching a lesson, or at least, being able to specifically describe a lesson you have taught. Here is where you want to give the interviewer a clear "mental picture" of what would be going on during the lesson. What would you be doing as the teacher? What about the students? What would the administrator specifically see if they were to walk into your classroom? One area of importance that seems obvious, but bears mentioning, deals with the interview questions themselves. Candidates often miss the mark here by not actually answering the question asked of them. Listen carefully and answer what is asked. It does not count against you to ask for a question to be repeated, especially if it is a multi-tiered question. The secret in answering questions is to give enough information in order to paint a "mental picture" (remember, I mentioned that earlier) without digressing from the topic or over talking the answer. Practicing with anticipated questions can help you hone your answers and adjust in any needed areas. At the end of the interview always have at least 2-3 good questions prepared to pose to the interviewer. This shows your level of thought and research put toward preparing for the meeting. End the interview by restating your interest in the position and how you could benefit the campus/district if selected. Leave the interview as you started, with a firm handshake, good eye contact, and a pleasant closure. Step 4: The Follow Up Immediately following the interview (next day or so) follow up with a hand written thank-you note. Many people fail to do this, so following up in this way helps you stand out in the crowd of other applicants. The use of technology, email, etc. might be tempting to use, but the act of taking the extra step of hand writing a note shows the interviewer your attention to detail and willingness to reflect on your time spent in the interview. I do not want to totally dissuade the use of technology, just be prudent in your use of it. Creating a short thank-you video might be just the ticket necessary to leave that lasting impression of you and your interest in the position. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/9347526