Finding a Teaching Job

Finding a teaching job can be stressful. It can seem an overwhelming task, so over the next few weeks, let’s break down the process into manageable steps and look at some helpful ideas and suggestions.

Today we will focus on finding job openings and possible teaching positions.

This post was co-authored by Kristy MacKenzie and Rebecca Gettelman both pulling from their finding a teaching job experiences.

Two Questions

When searching for a teaching position, the first two big questions you need to ask are:

What type of school are you looking to teach at?
How far are you willing to commute?

What type of school do you want to teach at?

Depending on where you live and the educational options in the area, this might be a very simple question or it may take some serious thought.

Are you looking to teach at a public or a private school? Are you looking for something that is K-8 or a narrower selection of grades? Is charter or private school an option? Or maybe you are looking to go international — what country do you want to move to? Giving some thought to these questions will also help direct your search.

Think about how far are you willing to commute?

Are twenty minutes all you are willing to go or are you okay with forty minutes every morning and evening?
Are you willing to drive further for your dream position?
Be sure to take into consideration things like normal traffic, the effect extra driving time will have on your life outside of work, and whether or not you want to live in the same community you teach in.
Before applying to a job posting go over to Google Maps and map out your route from home to school. How many options do you have? How long will it take? Now double that time in case of inclement weather or traffic.
I knew it was finally time to leave my school after nine-year because my commute was taking up too much time. The commute was as low as 30-minutes if I paid for a toll highway or over 60 minutes if there was traffic or snow.
Finding a teaching job is not just about applying for a job, it is about ensuring the school is a good fit for you.

Finding the Job Postings

Once you have determined what type of school you are looking for and the area you want to look in, you need to determine how schools post openings. There is no one universal way that schools do this.

Start by looking at the school district’s website. Look for a jobs or career section. From there you should find job posting instructions as every district is different. Some districts want you to apply to a centralized job application site whereas others want you to apply directly to a staff email address.
Do not email a principal unless it is explicitly stated that is how the job application process works for that school or district. It could get your application immediately disqualified.
Sometimes a whole area will all use the same posting site.

Canadian Jobs

For instance, schools in Ontario and across much of Canada all post on a website called Apply to Education.
British Columbia uses the Make a Future website.
If you are looking for a job at a Canadian independent school you can also check out the Careers section on the CAIS – Canadian Accredited Independent Schools website.

American Jobs

However, some states in the United States have their own dedicated application site.

WECAN (Wisconsin)
Virginia Association of Independent Schools
EdJoin
EdJobsNH (New Hampshire)
AISNE (New England)
K12 Job Spot
Teaching in Pennsylvania
ISAS (Southwest)

Other Job Posting Sites

School Spring
Indeed
NAIS (National Association of Independent Schools)
ACSI (Association of Christian School International)
Christian Schools International

The listed websites are not an exhaustive list but can give you a place to start your job search.

If you are looking at Catholic schools, find out if the diocese you are looking in posts and interviews through a central diocesan office or through the individual schools. And don’t forget that some public and many independent private schools post directly on their own websites.

Once you have located where the job posts are for the type of position you are seeking, you can begin to apply.

Cover Letter and Resume Resources

I sent out my first teaching resume in mid-2007. A lot has changed since then. I had been using the same template for years. It is important that your resume and cover letter templates update with the times. Go online and buy some nice-looking templates.

I purchased this Teacher Resume & Cover Letter Template + Step-by-Step Writing Guide templates from Write On With Miss. G on Teachers Pay Teachers.
Etsy is also a great place to look for resume templates. A quick search yielded many beautiful templates.
Another set of templates can be purchased from The Superhero Teacher in her Teachers Pay Teachers store.
If you are looking for a resume template for a non-teaching job because you are leaving classroom teaching – check out this FREE Resume Reboot, Resume + Cover Letter Editable Templates & Job Advice from Laura Randazzo.

I hope this blog post has helped you think about finding a teaching job.