How to Find a Teaching Job

As you complete the teacher certification process, you’ll probably begin to consider when and where you should begin looking for that perfect teaching job. Here's what you need to know to determine the best places to find teaching jobs— and when to begin your hunt for a teaching position.

Where to Find Teaching Job Openings

There are several options when it comes to searching online for a teaching position. 

Job Search Websites

You can look at teaching-focused job search websites like Schoolspring.com or Educationamerica.net. Hiring schools and school districts appreciate these spots for providing a place to post job vacancies. For applicants, they are a helpful filter to the educational job postings on the larger job search websites like Indeed.com or Monster.com.

The National Association for Independent School website, Nais.org, is a good place to look for roles at independent or private schools. 

School District Websites

Another way to locate your first teaching position is to go right to the source by visiting the websites of the school districts where you’d like to teach. Often, you’ll find links on the websites where the schools list employment opportunities in their districts.

When searching on school district or board of education pages, you’ll find job openings for a variety of positions. You may come across teacher's aide positions or long and short-term substituting positions, both of which are great ways to get your foot in the door. Think of working as a substitute teacher as a way to sample different schools or grade levels, or as a way to put you in the right place at the right time when that perfect job opens up.

Job Fairs

As with other industries, there are sometimes job fairs available to help teachers network and find positions. 

Nonprofit Organizations

Finally, for new teachers in particular, there are several nonprofit organizations that help connect teachers with jobs, such as Teach For America and Teach For All. As well as these national organizations, you may also find state-level nonprofits with the same goal. 

When Do School Districts Post Openings? 

Many districts start posting job openings in early spring. However, this is not a set rule, and a position could pop up at any time. So, become a frequent visitor to job search and school district sites.

In addition, some districts accept applications all the time, through the use of online application systems. These systems are an effective way to apply for every job that matches your specialty.

Once you fill out the online application and upload your transcripts and teaching certificates, you can apply for job openings as they come up with just a click or a tap.

When to Start a Teaching Job Search

If you hope to be working in the fall after you graduate, it’s best to start your job search as soon as possible. The interview and hiring process can be lengthy because there are often many interested candidates for every open position.

Some school districts will give all qualified individuals an initial interview and then begin the process of elimination, which may involve several more callback interviews. You’ll need to be patient. It’s a good idea to apply for more than one teaching job if possible.

In fact, the key to landing your first teaching job is to not put all your eggs in one basket. It’s acceptable to apply for several jobs at once and if you get multiple offers, you can accept the job that fits you best. If you get more than one teaching job offer, you may even be able to negotiate a better salary.

How the Interview Process for Teaching Jobs Works

Some factors that affect the duration of the interviewing process include the type of position you’re applying for, the date the job is available, or the urgency to fill the spot. Time of year may make a difference as well.

If you’re applying for a job in a "high needs" field like special education, science or math, then the process may not be as drawn out. School districts often like to snap up teachers who have degrees in these fields before other districts hire them.

However, when you apply for a job in a more general field like elementary education or physical education, the hiring process may involve multiple interviews, which could span several weeks or months.

Consider Online Teaching Jobs

While teaching in regular brick-and-mortar school districts is more common, the number of online schools continues to keep growing. There are a variety of teaching and education-related positions available for teachers who want to work from home.