Finding a Teaching Job in Orange County - Advice NEEDED (Long Beach: school districts, university)

[DZepes]

Nightlysparrow, even if I applied to that district their still are no guarantees. Since I'm employed now, I figure it's more prudent to wait for an opportunity in an area we really like - assuming these areas actually interview for the jobs they announce.

[HSP1161]

Originally Posted by DZepes

Nightlysparrow, even if I applied to that district their still are no guarantees. Since I'm employed now, I figure it's more prudent to wait for an opportunity in an area we really like - assuming these areas actually interview for the jobs they announce.

Unless you have some extremely differentiating skills, it's going to be a very tough putt for you to pull this off, especially the way you're approaching it.

The supply of teachers far outpaces the demand and not being local takes the chances from slim to closer to none.

The OC/LA basin is offensively a "who you know" sort of job market, almost across the board. I've only seen a few folks break in from the outside without moving, and they did it by essentially living a double life -- having an address here and coming out on a frequent basis, networking, having coffee with HR/hiring managers/recruiters, and the job finally clicked many months later.

Responding on the internet, waiting for stuff to get posted and doing this via remote control is futile.

[DZepes]

How am I supposed to lead a double life from MD? My sister-in-law lives in Murrieta and aunt lives in Huntington but I can't exactly claim residency at those addresses when my resume and application state that I'm employed in Maryland - and there's no way I'm going to move to CA without a guaranteed job!

[HSP1161]

Originally Posted by DZepes

How am I supposed to lead a double life from MD? My sister-in-law lives in Murrieta and aunt lives in Huntington but I can't exactly claim residency at those addresses when my resume and application state that I'm employed in Maryland - and there's no way I'm going to move to CA without a guaranteed job!

You asked for advice; not sure you wanted the full truth. Despite all the stories of a CA exodus, plenty of folks want to live here.

[DZepes]

I get your point. Guess I wasn't anticipating all the doom and gloom though. From my perspective, it's a bit disappointing when you spend so much time taking CLAD courses, getting certified to teach in CA, etc. just to hear that it's basically an impossibility unless you treat the HR team with coffee and shower them with gifts. And adding, "Hope you like Maryland" to your post is a bit of a cheap shot considering that this forum was intended to be helpful, not cynical. Maybe I came to the wrong place...

[CA4Now]

Originally Posted by DZepes

I've emailed the HR specialist three times as well with no response. Is the idea of relocating to CA to teach a pipe-dream? I would have though my experience and education would have been a bonus going into this process but apparently, it isn't.

Only because of current state budget cuts. This is the fifth year of cuts to education in CA. RIF notices went out in May to many teachers and clerical staff (again), and those jobs are usually filled by teachers with the earliest hire date. What about a private school?

[DZepes]

I haven't looked too much into private schools because I know that salary is typically much less (at least that's the case on the East Coast). I haven't ruled it out though for next summer's search. Private schools also don't seem to post their salary schedules online as do public schools so it's hard to know without talking to their HR personnel. As for the RIF notices and re-hiring, I believe earlier this Spring a bunch of jobs were posted on EDJoin that were internal only. At this point, they're open competition. I would have hoped that they filled those other positions by now.

[HSP1161]

Originally Posted by DZepes

I get your point. Guess I wasn't anticipating all the doom and gloom though. From my perspective, it's a bit disappointing when you spend so much time taking CLAD courses, getting certified to teach in CA, etc. just to hear that it's basically an impossibility unless you treat the HR team with coffee and shower them with gifts. And adding, "Hope you like Maryland" to your post is a bit of a cheap shot considering that this forum was intended to be helpful, not cynical. Maybe I came to the wrong place...

I took the cynical comment out. Sorry about that.

You asked for advice, I laid out a path for you. The obvious "sending resumes via the internet" simply doesn't work, especially in a weak job market. When I see resumes from out of state, I don't even look at them. I have too many candidates locally who want work, no need to open myself up to the risk of someone getting CA sticker shock or longing for home and pulling stakes.

[nightlysparrow]

Since you have a master's, have you considered teaching at a community college?

https://www.cccregistry.org/jobs/searchForm.aspx

[DZepes]

That is definitely one option I didn't really consider yet.