Are you hoping to land an online teaching position? Are you applying for every job that you can find but not having any luck? Make sure you’re following these important to-do’s and not applying unnecessarily!
Recently, I had the opportunity to hire individuals for adjunct positions teaching within the class I lead. This was an interesting experience and helped to shed some light on what individuals’ seeking online instructor positions should and should not do in order to make themselves stand out. While I have previously encouraged individuals to apply as much as possible, they need to be qualified for the positions in which they are applying. If an individual is not qualified, they need to work to gain the experience or education necessary – not just keep filling out online applications!
- One should only apply for positions in which they are qualified. I had hundreds of applications for individuals who were not qualified. Although the job posting clearly stated that individuals needed at least a Master’s degree in Political Science and prior teaching experience, often, the person applying had a degree in a totally different field – everything from business to English. Don’t waste your time apply for positions you are not qualified for – if this is something you’re interested in pursing, put in the work to make sure you have the qualifications necessary. I can’t even begin to tell you the number of applications I rejected because the individual had a degree in a completely unrelated field. For example, if you have a degree in business, apply for teaching jobs in the business field – not for English or History!
- One should make sure the application (which is most likely submitted online) is easy to read and well formatted. If an individual is going to be teaching online, they are going to need to showcase that they are Internet savvy and can properly format their CV. Plus, if the individual who is in charge of hiring can not read it, t’s more likely to just end up in the reject pile.
- One should showcase their best self. If an individual has spent the last 4 years out of work due to the poor economy, there is no need to list that on your resume. The reviewer will assume unemployment or underemployment when they notice the large gap in dates. There is also no reason to list positions that do not relate to the job. For example, if one is a cashier at Hobby Lobby, that does not need to include on the resume or CV. Also, while one of the most important jobs out there – being a mom or dad also does not belong on a resume, even if one has stayed home with their children for a number of years. It is more important to showcase the talents one has, such a previous teaching experience, teaching in a variety of online modalities, as well as a variety of research and scholarship pursuits.
Deans and others who are hiring for online positions are looking for well-rounded candidates who are able to list a variety of experiences and expertise within their education and experiences.
What else would you suggest individuals should do when applying online?
About the Author
Jamie Weitl is a WAHM teaching for several online universities and raising three precocious little ones. In her spare time she enjoys writing, baking, and running. For more info, see my Google Plus Profile.
