GET THE JOB! PRESENTED BY AFT 1521 LOS ANGELES COLLEGE FACULTY GUILD FEBRUARY 20, 2016

JOB ANNOUNCEMENTS Jobs in the LACCD are posted on the District website. Go to Click on Employment – then Academic Jobs, then /laccdopleadm.com/postings/s/ For jobs in other districts, sign up for the CCC registry ( and check the site frequently!

APPLICATION MATERIALS Cover letter Resumé (CV) LACCD Job Application form Academic transcripts (copies acceptable initially) Three references Other requested items (e.g. VOE= verification of experience)

YOUR APPLICATION Make sure your cover letter addresses each of the required and desired qualifications in the order listed on the job description. Make the cover letter succinct – preferably one page. Bullet points are okay. Include your transcripts and final degree in the packet (copies are OK initially). CV should be targeted to the position being sought. Choose suitable references.

HOW MAY INTERVIEWEES BE CHOSEN FROM QUALIFIED APPLICANTS? Minimum of five interviewees required. Two must be current adjunct faculty with seniority in the discipline in the LACCD, as long as they meet the qualifications. Usually two interviewees are sent to the college president for the final interview. The college president makes the final decision.

PREPARING FOR THE INTERVIEW Learn all you can about the department. Read its program review, catalog listing, etc. Look at the college catalog to find out what degrees or certificates the department offers. Look at the semester schedule to see the courses taught. Look at the course outline in the ECD system. Seek out an “insider” at the college for insight into the department and college culture. Know its accredited status. Practice answering commonly asked questions (see handout).

THE INTERVIEW Be prepared. Be confident. Be on time! Wear suitable attire. Don’t chew gum. Be friendly and relaxed. (Departments want colleagues they will enjoy working with.) There may be a timed writing component.

THE INTERVIEW Each candidate will have the same amount of time, be asked the same questions, and be given the same due process. You will be introduced to the committee. Greet each member. When answering, don’t look at only the person asking the question. Judge how much time you’ve spent answering each question so you don’t run out of time. Keep answers brief and to the point. You may be asked if you have any questions for the committee. Convince the interviewers that you are the best qualified person for the job and the best fit for the department and the college!

THE TEACHING DEMONSTRATION Candidates are usually allotted 15 minutes for the demonstration. Select a lesson that fits the time frame. Make eye contact with all the interviewees, i.e., “your students.” Present an outline of your topic at the outset. Refer to a course objective or student learning outcome. Set up your lesson as you would in class (e.g., “Last week we talked about….”) Use a white board or multi-media (if available). Write down key words or vocabulary. Do something interactive – ask for feedback. Use humor, if appropriate. Suggest where additional information or help can be found (including your office hours). Be prepared to answer questions from “your students.”

CLOSING AND FOLLOW-UP Have a two-minute wrap up ready to tell the committee why you’re the best candidate for the job. Thank the hiring committee for their time. You may want to follow up with a thank you or note to the members of the committee or the department chair within a day or two. It may take time before you hear anything.

FINAL INTERVIEW The final interview will be with the college president and/or another administrator and/or the department chair. The president may decide to reject all the candidates sent forward by the committee and reopen the position for interviews. The President may decide that the college does not have the funds to move forward on a new hire. Or you may get the job – if so, congratulations!

WHAT’S NEXT FOR THE SUCCESSFUL CANDIDATE? Submit official transcripts for ALL courses taken (for degree and beyond) as part of the rating-in process for salary placement. You’ll have 60 days to submit educational information and verification of experience. Your first year’s teaching schedule may have already been decided. Familiarize yourself with the collective bargaining agreement and faculty handbook. New hires are probationary faculty for four years.

WHAT’S NEXT FOR THE UNSUCCESSFUL CANDIDATE? Don’t give up ! There’s a lot of hiring going on right now in the state – apply elsewhere. Get involved in campus or college work that interests you at a campus that may be hiring. Check for opportunities in non-teaching assignments (e.g., grant writing, accreditation faculty chair, SLO coordinator, program director, equity coordinator). Consider taking advanced coursework or certifications.

NEXT: MOCK INTERVIEW PRACTICE