In educational technology, things are constantly changing as new devices and applications are released, so it’s essential to keep up with what’s happening in your industry. Whether you’re just starting out or you already have a solid resume in hand, you’ll need to do some research if you want to succeed at getting a job in educational technology! Here are the 7 steps you should follow to make sure that happens.
Step 1: Get your resume to look good
For starters, you’re going to want an updated resume. If you haven’t had the chance yet, take some time to update your resume and make it look as professional as possible. You might also want to research the company so that when you are asked about them during an interview, you can talk knowledgeably about what they do and why it would be an excellent place for you.
Finally, don’t forget that your resume needs a cover letter, even if it’s just one page long! Make sure you write a personalized note explaining how your skills and experience make you perfect for the position.
In addition, now is also the perfect time to brush up on those interview skills! Take some time to practice answering common questions with potential employers, like What makes you suitable for this job? or Why do you think we should hire you?
Good luck with finding your dream career in educational technology!
Step 2 – Preparing for the Interview
If you have had some practice interviews, that is great. If not, try to find someone willing to interview you and offer feedback. It might sound like an awkward request, but the person may be happy to help if you seek guidance.
If the company has posted a list of preferred qualifications on its website, read it carefully and ensure that all of your qualifications match what they are asking for. You can also use this as an opportunity to learn more about what kind of work they do so you can prepare intelligent questions.
When interviewing with companies that use video chat software (e.g., Skype), ensure your computer microphone is working correctly before going into the interview. You should also turn off or mute any other open applications that could interfere with your voice or video quality. Finally, look at their webcam and microphone to see if you need to adjust yours accordingly.
Preparing for the On-Site Interview: Be confident! The company wants you because of how qualified you are for the position. They want to hire someone who will be successful and enjoys working there. Ask yourself what skills from previous posts would benefit them most? How would your experience enable you to contribute something unique? What does this organization need most?
Be prepared for situational interviews where they ask about times when you faced challenges at past jobs or things relating to day-to-day operations at current jobs.
Step 3: Write an effective cover letter
Your cover letter is an opportunity for you to show your prospective employer why you’re the best candidate. A well-written letter can increase your chances of being invited to an interview, so take the time to write a persuasive and compelling one. The first step is identifying who will be reading your letter and what their needs are.
You’ll want to tailor your letter based on the specific position and company you’re applying for. For example, if you’re applying for an instructional design position at a university, teaching experience will likely be valuable, whereas business acumen might be more critical at a consulting firm. In general, there are five main parts to a strong cover letter.
1) Address the reader by name and title
2) Introduce yourself briefly
3) Tell them why they should hire you
4) Offer relevant samples of your work
5) Thank them for their consideration. Once your cover letter has been written, review it carefully before sending it out. Make sure there are no spelling or grammar errors, and use formal language like I instead of I’m.
If possible, have someone else review your letter because another person may find something you missed. If not, try this simple trick – read the letter backward! Check For any mistakes arise during this process, fix them before sending off your application packet.
Step 4: Prepare to be contacted
The career of an instructional designer is constantly evolving. If you find yourself with an increasingly limited set of skills, you may need to decide whether or not it’s time to find a new profession. Consider the following as signs that it may be time:
You have been at the same company for over 10 years and have significantly changed your responsibilities. The industry is rapidly changing, and your skills are not up-to-date. Your company no longer provides the environment you need for learning and development.
Your salary has stagnated or decreased while the cost of living has increased. You feel your age is affecting how much energy you have to do your work.
The amount of stress at work affects other aspects of your life, such as eating, sleeping, and having fun. It’s best to be proactive and look for positions that are a better fit before you find yourself in any of these situations.
If so many candidates are applying with updated credentials that it seems like an exclusive club, try targeting companies and people directly by following them on social media or looking through online profiles when researching positions (see step one).
If very few posts are being advertised, consider ways to help set you apart from other applicants, like writing articles about topics related to instructional design and contributing those articles to popular blogs like TED Talks Education.
Step 5 – The interview process
You’ll want to have an exit strategy at the end of your contract. You might decide that you want to find another opportunity with the organization. Perhaps you’re ready to move on and are looking for a new challenge.
Or maybe you’ve decided that your future doesn’t include this type of work and will look elsewhere. Regardless of your reasons, it’s crucial to have one and talk about it with your manager before accepting a new position. The sooner they know, the sooner they can start their recruitment process.
The interview process is one of the most intimidating parts of getting a job as an education tech professional. There’s always that fear that once you’re in there, they’ll see through all your qualifications and not offer you anything!
But interviews don’t have to be so scary they just need prepping beforehand! I like to read up on the company’s values, mission statement, and goals. I then spend time researching any individuals I’m interviewing so that I’m knowledgeable about them too. That way, when we meet in person, I’ll already have a sense of who they are and vice versa.
An excellent resource for research is LinkedIn- follow them both professionally and personally to see what groups or events they participate in outside of work hours. It’ll give you a good idea of how well-rounded this individual is outside the office, making it easier to tell if he or she would be a good fit for your organization!
Step 6: Close the deal with follow-up
Follow up with the hiring manager and find out what they think. If they are still interested, offer to come in for an interview. Tell them you want the opportunity to meet face-to-face so that you can answer any questions about your background or experience that might be relevant.
Follow up with them once again after the interview, and make sure you thank them for their time. When you don’t hear back from them, email or call the person who interviewed you to ask if they have made a decision. Be courteous but don’t hesitate to follow up with another email or phone call every couple of days until you hear something one way or the other.
Remember – it’s a numbers game! It is more likely that somebody will contact you at some point, even if there isn’t anything available right now. Step 6) Close the deal with a follow-up: Follow up with the hiring manager and find out what they think. If they are still interested, offer to come in for an interview.
Tell them you want the opportunity to meet face-to-face so that you can answer any questions about your background or experience that might be relevant. Follow up with them once again after the interview, and make sure you thank them for their time.
When you don’t hear back from them, email or call the person who interviewed you to ask if they have made a decision. Be courteous but don’t hesitate to follow up with another email or phone call every couple of days until you hear something one way or the other. Remember it’s a numbers game!
Step 7: Have an exit strategy
An exit strategy is vital to have before you start. If your new job doesn’t work out, what is the plan? When will you know it’s time to leave? What are your goals and priorities that are most important? What if you need or want more from the company than it can give you?
How would you like your departure handled by both parties? Some might prefer to just move on, while others want a conversation about how they feel. For this reason, it’s best to put these thoughts into writing (email) with both parties agreeing on how an exit strategy should be conducted and when.
What I’ve found over my career is that people typically change jobs because of one of three reasons – their needs changed (e.g., family obligations), their expectations didn’t match the reality of the new position (e.g., not what was communicated during the hiring process), or someone else offered them something better. You’ll never know if this is true until you try it, so I recommend having an exit strategy before signing anything!
1. Be ready to walk away at any time
2. Consider the consequences of being unemployed
3. Know where you want to go next 4. Prepare yourself financially
5. Reevaluate your skill set
6. Explore other opportunities
Don”t Miss To read This post : How to Get a Job in Higher Education: Advice from Insiders
