PREP FOR SUCCESS

Making the Most of TRD USA

This information is to help you prepare for and be successful at TRD. You may want to check with the Career Center on your own campus for additional assistance with preparing for TRD and interviewing.

The purpose of TRD is to help you meet with representatives from many school districts at one place and time. To maximize the event, be certain that by the time you come to TRD USA you have researched the districts which interest you. The more flexible you are in considering and interviewing with districts from different parts of the state and country, the more interview opportunities you are likely to have for the day. The TRD web site includes a list of districts scheduled to interview at TRD and in most instances includes links to district and school websites. Use the websites to gain a clearer understanding of the school district before talking to recruiters about scheduling an interview.

You will want to be flexible, open to various possibilities-but be realistic and practical. Your time and that of the interviewer is valuable. Schedule as many interviews as you can with districts you are sincerely interested in and where you can make a contribution.

Program Schedule

You must attend Thursday, April 19, 2018. NO EXCEPTIONS.

Thursday, April 19
Doors Open: 7:00 a.m.
Registration: 7:15 a.m. - 7:45 a.m.
Orientation and Prep for Success: 7:45 a.m. - 9:00 a.m.
Interview Sign-Ups: 9:00 a.m. - 9:50 a.m.
Interviews: 10:00 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.

Friday, April 20
Interviews: 8:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.

What to Bring With You

Required:

• TRD Admission e-mail and Picture I.D. You CANNOT get into the event without it.
• Bring ample copies of your resume: 20-30 high quality copies or as many as there are districts with which you want to interview. Make copies in advance--you do not want to worry about such details the day of the event.
• Print and bring with you to the event a copy of the certification chart from the TRD website for help in scheduling interviews with districts. Please note that the chart will be updated on an ongoing basis up to the days before the event, so you will want to bring a current copy.

Optional:

• A notepad and pens/pencils.
• 1/2 sheet notes (personalized for short notes and correspondence).
• Sample lesson plan(s) or portfolio. These items can be excellent tools to assist you in marketing yourself but are not required. Understand that you may not get the time, nor may it be appropriate, to use these items in screening interviews. Some interviews at TRD are only 15 minutes long. Use your time wisely. You will need to decide if you want the employer to spend the majority of the interview looking at a portfolio or talking with you.
• Money for lunch! If you normally eat lunch, do not forget to schedule it in for yourself during interview scheduling. There will be a concession stand available or you can dine at a nearby restaurant as your schedule permits.

Do Not Bring:

• Your Credentials/Reference File. However, you will want to have your reference file as up to date as possible, since districts often ask for this information soon after the event. If you are still waiting for letters to arrive, inform the district and work out a date when your completed file can be sent.
• Large or heavy briefcases, handbags. Limit what you need to carry-keep it simple as it will be a long day in a crowded atmosphere.

TRD STRATEGIES

Interview Scheduling in Brief:

• When you check in you will be given a packet containing sign-up instructions, a floor plan of the Convention Center to locate employers, a school district participant list and a schedule to keep track of your interviews.
• Each group of candidates will be given 1 hour to network with school districts and sign up for interviews.
• You will want to enter this round with a prioritized list of districts in which you are most interested.
• It is absolutely critical to plan for this event - so please do your research. People who end up the most satisfied once TRD is over are those who research districts, plan well and who went with realistic expectations. See more details on interviewing...

Scheduling Strategies

First, review the list of participating districts based on the most current version of the CERTIFICATION CHART which you will want to print our from the TRD website. Since the chart is constantly updated you will want to print it out just a few days before the event. Check the chart for school district certification needs and review your priorities accordingly. Be certain to bring the chart with you to the event.

Research districts of interest by visiting their web page and by reading any print literature which might be available in your career center. (Note: By the time TRD arrives, several weeks will have passed from when the districts first reported their certification needs. During orientation, listen carefully for announcements regarding changes or additions to a districts certification needs and/or late arrival of districts. The clearer you are on the districts you most favor, the more quickly you will be able to respond to the rapidly closing schedules and changing certification needs.

Based on changes and updates to employer registrations which you can check on the TRD website, you may decide not to attend TRD and to apply to districts using other methods. If you decide not to attend, please inform your college career center so your spot may be filled by another candidate.

Go with a plan based on careful research of the districts and alternatives! Highly attractive school districts will fill interview schedules first, typically within the first controlled sign-up round. Do not assume that you will get an interview with every school district of interest. Be open to talking with a variety of recruiters. You may come upon an opportunity you may not have considered before, but which may sound appealing.

We suggest making a list of your top 10 schools in priority order. This list will assist you as things around you change so rapidly. For example, you could be waiting on a line to speak with a recruiter and her/his schedule could close before your eyes! If you have your list to work from, you will not lose valuable time trying to figure out where to go next.

Locate your #1 school of interest on the Convention Center map. As you enter the interview room you will be in a better position to know where you are going. Districts are in alphabetical order. TRD personnel will be wearing STAFF ribbons on their nametags. Ask one of these people for help as you need it. In addition to locating your first choice school on the map, be certain to have identified your next few choices as well - just in case you need to move to alternatives if your first choice is filled.

Get to know the map and layout of the convention center so you can move efficiently from one district of interest to another.

At the conclusion of morning interview sign-ups, additional openings can occur. There are occasionally unfilled schedules and candidates sometimes cancel interviews. Check the Open Interview Boards.

Interview Strategies

Dress

• Dress appropriately. Wear a suit in a conservative color. To be safe, err on the side of dressing too conservatively. Do not wear anything that will distract the employer from you and your message. Be sure clothing is pressed, shoes are polished, fingernails and hair are groomed. Go easy on jewelry, cologne and makeup. Men: earrings, fly-away hair or bizarre haircuts are out. If there is any doubt about an item in your wardrobe, don't wear it. Comfortable shoes are a must, but they should also be clean and shined.
• For more on proper dress for interviews as well as an extensive discussion of other interviewing tips please see The Interview under Interviewing Tips.

Interview Preparation

• It is critical to prepare for your interviews! Interviewing is the single most important aspect of the job search. For sample interview questions consult the relevant portion of this website and your campus career center. The AAEE Job Search Guide available in many college career centers also has a list of questions likely to be asked in an education interview. Many of your career centers run preparation workshops prior to TRD and/or provide opportunities for mock interviews. Preparation and practice are keys to good interviewing. Prepare what you would say to possible questions in a general way and practice the answers out loud as much as you are able - it WILL make a difference.
• In essence, you need to know what you are capable of, what your strengths and abilities/skills are and be able to back them up with specific examples.
• Body language can speak volumes - do not fidget with your hair, look around when being spoken to, chew gum or rock from side to side.
• Prepare a list of questions you wish to ask recruiters. Although you may not get a great deal of time, typically recruiters will leave some time for your questions.

Greeting Employers

• Many people are nervous about greeting employers. You must try to be assertive and positive since first impressions are important. Make eye contact immediately when introducing yourself and give a firm handshake.
• Practice an introductory sentence beforehand and avoid filler works such as "um", "like", and "you know". Show confidence in your voice and speak loud enough - it may be noisy in the ballroom. Smile and be polite - recruiters like to see candidates who have personality.

Post-Event Strategies

• Take some notes after each interview as soon as possible. This would include jotting down anything the interviewer told you that could be important to your candidacy (such as special programs for new teachers, the whole language emphasis of the district, what the hiring process will be like, contact names, etc.). These notes will assist you in staying organized particularly if you have several interviews. They will also assist you in drafting future correspondence to school districts, such as thank you notes.
• List interview questions you had trouble with while they are still fresh in your mind. This will give your a chance to think through possible responses for the future.
• Thank you notes to recruiters are a must - They need to be sent as soon after the event as possible. Visit your Career Center if you would like some assistance writing these. Consult the Participant List for exact spellings of names, correct addresses, etc.

Final Thoughts

• If you decide not to go to TRD or are unsuccessful at TRD - remember, you can still solicit interviews through other means, (direct application, job vacancies posted in your Career Center, the Internet, newspaper advertisements, etc.).

TRD should not be your whole job search, just one piece but hopefully a good beginning!