Job Conferences

I'm in DC for the weekend for a private school placement firm's conference. As a Religion major, my job options--especially in teaching--are pretty self-selective. Day Schools aren't interested, and since i haven't gotten the right papers signed, most Catholic schools won't look my way either. Unfortunately, having graduated from a conservative fundamentalist Christian high school, I don't really want to go that direction either.
But today, I fell in love. Have you ever had one of those interviews that made you want to scream, "just give me the job, I can promise you I'll be fabulous!"? That happened today. My 3:30pm interview (my last of the day) was with an all-girls, 4-12, Episcopal school. For me, it was the perfect storm of teaching style, mission, gender-make up and belief.
After weeks of cover letters and luke-warm phone call responses, I struck gold today. I remembered why I wanted to be a teacher and how much I enjoy it.

This day was not only a much-needed inspiration in the often dull and exhausting life of job-searching, I was also able to hone some job-conference-attending skills, which I now share with you:

(1) Think of 2 or 3 experiences or skills you have the dovetail with their mission statement or something unique you see in the job description (I zeroed in on "interfaith" and "student-focused pedagogy"; offering my experience as a religion columnist and a tutor as examples of how fabulously I embodied their ideals).

(2) Do not underestimate the power of closing your eyes and leaning your head back for 10 minutes (i found a great seat near the bathrooms that allowed for un-observed snoozing).