3 Categories of Candidates

I recently came across a school leader's reflections, who when going through dozens if not hundreds of applicants for an opening at their school, came up with three categories of candidates. I thought this concept deserved more attention so I have summarized them below. I hope when you're reading through these three descriptions, you will identify yourself in the last category!

1) Paper Weak:

This is the candidate whose CV and/or cover letter are not aligned with the job requirements, not showcasing their strengths connected to the job description, are badly formatted with some essential content missing, or contain grammar and spelling mistakes. In some cases, this candidate's cover letter has another school's name or certain key traits are wrong for that school, such as mentioning another curriculum being used. This candidate will quickly be discarded and deemed unsuitable to interview.

2) Paper Strong, Interview Weak:

This is the candidate who has an outstanding CV and cover letter that match the job requirements, both in required and desirable qualities. But once invited to an interview, they fail to perform at the same high level as their documents. They are unable to articulate their experience and skillset and more importantly, neglect to show what they could bring to their new school. They struggle to demonstrate the connections and alignment between who they are, their educational beliefs and practices, and the new school's mission, vision, and values. Essentially, they look great on paper, but face-to-face, they end up being disappointing and are not shortlisted for the next interview.

3) Paper Exceptional, Interview Exceptional:

This is the candidate whose documents reflect clarity, attention to detail, and careful coordination with the new school's job description. Then when they appear in an interview, their precise and purposeful communication reinforces their documents, often demonstrating and even expanding on their strengths as a candidate. They are able to identify and link their actions to accomplishments and contributions to their school community, and highlight how they would bring those talents with them to a new school. This candidate is unhesitatingly invited to continue in the hiring process.

It's my hope that as a candidate, you find yourself in category 3. However the good news is even if you find yourself in category 1 or 2, or if you want to check where you land, I can help ensure you are firmly in category 3. As a JPMint client, your documents will be rehauled and error-free, highlighting your unique strengths and accomplishments. Then, we can work on your interview skills so that you can succinctly talk about your assets and demonstrate evidence of what skills you would bring to your new school. All along the school year, I will send you job leads that I find through my network. I also assist you in analyzing school offers so that you find the right fit, and help answer any questions you have along the way. So from applying to schools' openings to accepting an offer, I am there every step of the way with you. I am now accepting new clients for the coming recruitment season 2026-2027, which can start as early as August for certain positions.

To learn more about how I can help you in your job search,

have a look at the services I offer.