Facebook, the ultimate procrastination tool and killer of potentially productive time for the typical college student, is, in a way, a virtual record of the development of my generation.  Clicking through a series of profile pictures will give you a fairly good idea of who a person used to be and who they are now.  Comparing past and present message threads highlights how much we have matured since the high school prom and how much more we have left to learn.  Perhaps the most obvious example is the facebook status.  Status updates allow users to post a comment, photo, or link for all of their friends to read.  In return, readers can reply with comments or "like" the status to indicate that they enjoyed it.  And, you can be certain that when everyone posts the same status, something big has happened.  After logging onto my facebook this afternoon and scrolling through all of the most recent status updates, I noticed that two phrases seemed to be repeated over, and over, and over on the profile pages of the members of the Class of 2011, this year's graduating seniors: "got a job" and "off to another interview."

As a junior, I am currently in denial that graduation is right around the corner.  College has flown by, and I can't believe I'm almost 3/4 of the way to paying the bills, relying completely on Stop and Shop rather than Lower Dining Hall, and moving my belongings from my parents' house to my own apartment.  Despite my wishing that my career at Boston College could last forever, I have managed to keep my eyes and ears open as this year's seniors transition into the real world in hopes that I might pick up a tidbit of advice here and there.  Here's what I've learned so far.  

1. Ask your professors for help when working on your resume, especially those teaching education courses.  They know what administrators are looking for and can help you to shape your resume around these values.  I recently had the opportunity to review my resume with a special education professional at a Boston College CEC event.  It was extremely helpful to hear her comments.  I had originally been concerned that my resume was longer than the standard length of one page, however she ensured me that as long as your list of experiences are relevant to the field of special education, exceeding this page limit is acceptable and will not hinder you from getting a job offer.  So, consult your education professors!  If you ask, they will help.  

2.  When interviewing, remember that the first impression is the lasting impression.  My Sign Language professor recently described an interview he conducted with a student teacher who had completed her practicum working with Deaf students and was seeking a job at his school for Deaf children.  The first thing he noticed was the fluorescent nail polish painted on her hands.  Nail polish can be extremely distracting for Deaf students who watch signing hands during conversation.  Bright colors and designs catch the children's eyes, thus preventing them from concentrating on the information being presented to them.  And, they tire the eyes quickly.  This is common knowledge amongst teachers of the Deaf.  This student teacher did not consider who she was applying for a job with.  She failed to recognize that the needs of the Deaf community, even though she was seeking a job amongst a signing population.  And, who is to say that the interviewer would must certainly be a hearing person?  What if he or she had been Deaf?  In this case, the student teacher would have needed to sign, and the nail polish would have made communication difficult.  So, when interviewing for a teaching position, come ready and prepared as you would for the school day.  Be conscious of the environment you are entering and what it asks of you. And stick to clear nail polish.

3.  My mother always taught me to come to an interview prepared with at least one, if not more, stimulating questions about the position you are pursuing.  An interview is a valuable opportunity in which you can personally obtain information about the school, its policies, and its values.  Such knowledge may give you a better idea of whether or not the school embraces your educational philosophy and if it would be a fulfilling place for you to work.  In addition, asking questions demonstrates that you have done your research about the school and that you are genuinely interested in the position for which you are applying.  

On that note, best of luck to all the future special educators interviewing in these coming weeks! And congratulations to those who have recently been employed!