One Step Closer

So I was fretting for nothing, I guess, and ended up passing my Michigan Test for Teacher Certification (MTTC) after all. So, I am now officially able to teach the Japanese Language and Culture! Yay! Now... I just need a job... *sigh*

I've been hunting for about a month now, probably a bit longer, and haven't had a whole lot of encouraging news. I did have one interview with the Pontiac School District, that was a week ago Friday. It went well, I thought... but I can't say I have much to compare it to since that was my first real interview, ever, since I graduated in 2003!

"No way!" you say! "How is that possible?" Well, though that grand stroke of luck, I was presented with the opportunity to teach English in Japan the year after my graduation. There were interviews involved, but I don't recall there ever being a personal interview, mostly group ones. And, not to brag, but I think I was pretty much exactly what they were hoping for (a teacher, of English, who had some Japanese ability and only planned to take herself over there). I don't even remember it being a very grueling interview process. Heck, Jeremy even came to one with me!

Since then, I have been job searching, and applying for once I've found, but I haven't gotten a single interview. Not even a letter saying 'thanks but no thanks.' This teacher job hunting sucks. And it really sucks in Michigan. There's not a lot out there, but there's a lot of competition for it. Hopefully trying a new market (i.e. the Ann Arbor area) will improve my chances. I've already found more jobs to just apply to over there, than I have in three years here in the Kalamazoo area. And, like I said, I've had one interview. And I did get a letter saying 'we might call you soon, if you're what we're looking for' from another school.

But, in all honesty, it's still pretty early for teaching jobs. I've heard of people getting hired as late as 2 weeks prior to school starting! Better than nothing, right?