Okay - i have obtained my masters degree through Liberty University's distance learning program and have submitted 2-3 apps, my resume, and transcripts each day for about 3 weeks. I have yet to hear back from any of the institutions. Do you think I should start calling to follow-up? Or, should I just continue applying? Is it possible that I could find a position before November - when my student loans become due Or am I pushing my luck? I have applied at community colleges, etc? Also - My masters is in Human Services with a specialization in Marriage and Family. I graduated with a 4.0 - using Blackboard. Any ideas or suggestions are greatly appreciated!!
You need to understand that half of your competition have doctoral degrees and the other half have more experience than you. Be patient. Keep trying.
I don't know anything about your situation specifically, but I always follow up. Always, always. I know your education and experience greatly surpasses mine, but I've never gotten an interview unless I was the one who called (actually, I usually showed up in person). I suspect the rule of thumb applies in most contexts.
dshindoll, I agree that a follow up is always useful. However, in my experience I had to apply pretty widely before I got a position and then that position helped me get another one a few months later. It can be difficult to get your foot in the proverbial door, unfortunately. Keep at it! Brook
I know that before I was able to get a full time position at a community college, I had to do a couple of years teaching as an adjunct. There are simply too many people out there applying for these positions. Why take a chance on someone with zero experience when there are plenty of folks who have spent time in the classroom, as an adjunct. Having said that, it does happen. I have a coworker who had two job offers within a couple of months after her graduation. Zero experience, but she got a job very quickly. Sometimes it just depends on timing, which you have no control over. You will open up more doors, if you are willing to move anywhere. This particular friend that I mentioned had job offers here in Texas and in Wisconsin. She graduated with her Masters in Pennsylvania. It took me two months to get an interview in the first place and three and half months before my first course (on site, in a community college). I taught there for two years (one on site, one online) and started picking up other adjuncting jobs along the way. After two years, I finally got a full time job offer - that had as much to do with my ability to come in the middle of a school year, as it did with anything else. I certainly wouldn't be discouraged after only three weeks. Most of us waited that long or longer (sometimes MUCH longer). It is a normal part of the process. I would contact local community colleges and see if you can adjunct for them this fall. I would call the department heads directly. You will still have to go through the application process, but it will potentially open some doors. One of my adjuncting jobs came because I happened to contact the department head on the very day that a full timer quit, just a few days before the semester started. Heck, she had me on the phone and I was qualified. Why waste time with other things. Time was short. I got the job and taught there for a year and could have continued to teach for them (online), had I chosen to do so. I had a good relationship with them. Another adjunct job came because I was willing to drive 45 miles away twice per week to teach a certificate level course for a community college who had a full time faculty member leave right before Christmas a couple of years ago. The Dept. Head at the school sent an email to area community colleges, asking for anyone interested. I was the only one who responded. More experience for the resume. When I first graduated with my masters, I really thought all these colleges would be beating my door down trying to hire me. I could go to the highest bidder! Alas, that was not to be. There are just too many folks qualified, etc., as we already mentioned. It was a rough reality check for me, but true nonetheless. Once I realized that a plum job wouldn't just fall into my lap, I got serious about sending applications and inquiries. Once I did that, it happened fairly quickly. I sent out 100s of applications/resumes during that first few months. I heard back from very few. Only one offered me an adjunct job. But once you get your foot in the door, it tends to widen. That has been my experience, anyway.
