SurvivingInfidelity.com^®

So the last time I was going through the stuff that shall not be discussed in this forum and this time, I've been looking for jobs. This time I only applied to one so far but last time I applied for a lot.

Background: I am a certified music teacher. My certification is for k - 12 general music. That means I can teach general music, chorus, band, and orchestra. I taught at a private music school (a business with a bunch of teachers who do private lessons) from 2000 - 2005. That was college years and one year after college. From 2004 - 2009 (technically employed until 2010) I taught in a public school district teaching general music and chorus in middle school, grades 6 - 8. I had DD#2 in March 2009. I started teaching privately again in October 2009 and am still there to this day. I'm only there 1 night a week now. Used to be two.

So since applying for jobs I have never gotten a call. My resume is awesome. I went to a prestigious music college. I have a butt load of experience in all sorts of instruments and choral settings. I've helped students get into college music programs. I took a choir to Lincoln Center. I have experience with babies all the way to senior citizens and with students both privately and in a group with disabilities. Hell, I even applied to a job in my hometown where I went to school k - 12 and no call.

My SIL thinks it's the hole from public school teaching that turns them away. My argument is that I never stopped teaching. It just hasn't been public school. On my résumé I also list my public school job as to 2010 because I technically was still employed for the 2009 - 2010 school year. I just took it off because I was tenured and I could. I had planned to stay home but used that year just incase something crazy happened and I had to go back. I list private teaching starting in 2009. Maybe that looks fishy? Am I supposed to list SAHM as a job?! Am I just too experienced and schools don't want to pay me those steps I'd skip? I think I write a damn good cover letter, too. Maybe I really suck.

This all makes me think I should have probably went to nursing school.

Just from watching Dh apply and interview in the last little while, it may not be your resume. We're finding referrals are everything. He applied for entry level positions that we were "meh" about and didn't get a call. However there were a few that he had a referral from a professor and he got interviews (and ended up taking one) that were asking for way more experience than he had. He can rock an interview and knows his stuff but that's useless if you can't get in the door isn't it?

My SIL got on the supply list and got a full time teaching position because she did an outstanding job and her principal made it happen. Otherwise she would have been waiting YEARS around here. We simply have way more teachers in our province than jobs.

Do you have any contacts you can network with? Are you on Linkedin? It's been valuable to dh. He got an email from a headhunter yesterday through Linkedin. It was for another province and we weren't interested but they were willing to interview him and they are a huge private firm. If you feel the resume is solid, I would work the other avenues.

Sadly, where I live, they are getting rid of programs such as music. I don't have any children but my bestie does and her son was looking forward to playing an instrument when he gets into high school. She inquired with the school as to how it works (do they get to pick the instrument, etc) and they said due to budget cuts, all the schools in the county discontinued music programs, wood shop and metal shop.

It's terrible. I loved going to my music classes when I was in school. I guess I can add that as another "back in the day" story.

I think it is the industry. As I am sure you know, schools across the country have been slashing music and arts funding. 10 years ago, DD's elementary school had 2 music teachers. Now they only have a part time music teacher.

You might try private schools, community colleges, or music stores. Once the school year starts in the fall, you might be able to get your foot in the door by volunteering at the schools in your area.

I think networking is key in any field.

You might want to contact music stores, the ones that sell instruments.

I have a friend who teaches private and group piano lessons full time and all of her work comes from piano stores.

From there she was referred to the music program at one of the local universities and has started covering classes there, too.

Don't get discouraged, the right opportunity will work out.

I am on LinkedIn but I don't really use it. I guess I should update it more.

I'm staying away from private schools and anything like a leave replacement. While somethig like a replacement it gets my foot in the door, there is no guarantee for anything when it's done. For D reasons a public school full time position is what I'm looking for.