Top 10 Tips for Landing a Teaching Job

Since graduating college 5 years ago, I have searched for a teaching job three times- once out of college, again after a Reduction in Force, and finally when my husband landed a job out-of-state. The job search process can be daunting, but it doesn’t have to be. Here are 10 tips for landing a teaching job!

1) Build and use connections.
I can’t tell you how many times a position in my school was posted as “available,” but the principal really had someone in mind already. Usually, this person was a substitute teacher, a paraprofessional, a student teacher, or a volunteer that the school staff knows and loves already. Whenever possible, find a way to spend time in the school and network so you can be that “in” person!

2) Aim for professionalism everywhere- including online.
Administrators are looking to hire education professionals. Be sure that you make the best impression possible- from your interview attire, to your resume’, to your social media profiles and postings. Professionalism alone won’t win you the job, but a lack of professionalism can make you lose it.

3) Find a proofreader.
When a principal hires someone to teach spelling and grammar, they are looking for someone who can demonstrate it. In a stack of resumes, would you put one on top that says “alot” as one word? A computer spell checker is not enough. Ask a friend to double-check your application materials, especially your resume and cover letter.

4) Organize your job search materials- both physical and digital!
Most teacher job applications ask for your resume, a letter of interest, letters of recommendation, your transcript, and your educator license. I kept important original documents in one folder, made extra copies of everything, and scanned everything I thought I might need digitally. I put every digital file into a designated job search folder, so I was never searching my computer to find the right file. When I started looking, I also created a job hunt bag for my physical portfolio, copies of my resume, letters of recommendation, etc. It was all in one place, ready for an interview at a moment’s notice.

5) Search online…
Use the Internet to your advantage. Find teacher job search platforms (such as K12JobSpot.com and SchoolSpring.com), but be sure you also check the website for the state Department of Education and the websites of your local districts. I made a bookmarks folder on my computer to make it much quicker to check these every day. [You can read more about job search organization here.]

6) … and go in person!
Although digital application platforms can be efficient, a personal touch can make a huge difference. I like to stop by schools (dressed in a suit) and ask if I can introduce myself to the principal. Even if I can’t, I drop off a physical copy of my resume’ if they’ll take it, and I am sure to be very polite to anyone I see! (Sometimes you may not meet a principal- but you want to make a good impression with the secretary, custodian, or whomever you meet!) Face-to-face can be the edge you need in a digital arena. Adding a handwritten thank you note after an interview can tip the scales in your favor, too.

7) Highlight your experience and strengths.
When you create a resume, letter of interest, and portfolio, give specific examples of extraordinary activities you have done. We all have taught lessons, given assessments, etc.- but what did you do that other teachers wouldn’t have done? The more specific you can be, the more you will stand out!

8) Use your portfolio in your interview.
Let’s face it- most principals and interview committees just don’t have time (or take time) to look through your portfolio. When I interviewed, I created a portfolio for myself to use as a prop. When the principal asked a question about my classroom management, I not only told her what I do, but I was able to show her as well. Visuals (especially photographs!) are incredibly effective in helping administrators imagine you teaching in their school. [Read more tips for making a teacher portfolio HERE.]

9) Do your research and show why you want THIS job, not just any job.
Even if you just plain need a job, take the time to research each school and district so that you can personalize your letter of interest and resume’ to match. Ask an example- if they’re an RTI school, mention your previous experience providing interventions for struggling students. Before an interview, this research can also help you come up with great questions to ask that show your interest in the job!

10) Make it “you”!
One time, I applied for a position and never heard back, even though a teacher in the district had personally recommended me. When he asked the principal, she told him there were over 400 applicants for a single position. In an applicant pool so large, you need to do something to make yourself stand out. When I dropped off my resume’ and materials to schools last fall, I placed them in these rainbow folders. Unconventional? Sure, but when a principal mentioned it at an interview, I knew showing a little personality had helped my resume’ stand out.

Sending a deluge of teaching applications with no response can be discouraging, but stick with it! Finding the right school that appreciates your talents and strengths is well worth it. Best of luck to you on your job search!

{Oh, and if it goes well? You may end up in a new position like me! This year I’ll be teaching 4th grade science and social studies! Excited to try something new!}

If you liked this post, you may also find other posts in my On the Hunt for a Teaching Job series helpful… and once you get the job, be sure to check out my series, I Just Got a Teaching Job, Now What?! Thanks for reading  : )

How to Make a Teacher Portfolio That Gets You the Job!

When you walk into an interview for a teaching job, you want to feel confident in your skills but also your ability to show them off!

In some careers, a resume’ listing experience might be enough, but in teaching, I think it’s a huge boon to go into an interview with a portfolio that really shows the details of that “elementary teacher” position you’ve had (or student teaching).

It’s been awhile since I added my On The Hunt for a Teaching Job series, but I know seeing others’ portfolios really helped me (especially as a new teacher!) so I want to share mine.

For my portfolio, I picked up a professional binder. Yes, it’s expensive, but you want the cover to say, “I’m credible and you need to look at me!” I used a pre-made Word template to make a cover page and added a photo of me with my class as well as my contact information.

In the pocket, I include a resume, and the inside has a matching cover page that works sort of like an informal cover letter.  I started with my favorite teaching quote, and used it as a springboard to describe my passion for teaching. I didn’t  rehash my resume’ here- but instead wanted to get them interested in me.

(Note: Please feel free to use something similar, but please DON’T copy exactly what I wrote. You want it to be unique to YOU!)

Another option is to make a brochure. This is really great to leave after an interview, especially if it has a picture so they remember which face goes with which name!

Inside, I use dividers to make it clear where I can find certain things. Notice that I said “I can find,” not “the administrator can find.” Administrators may never ask to see your portfolio or have time to do much with it, but if you happen to be in for an interview, a portfolio can be SO helpful! You can see my dividers here, now that I have a few years of experience:

Here, you can see my dividers before my last update, when I hadn’t taught in my own classroom.

In the past, I just stuck in pages of things I’d done. Most were printed out worksheets, assessments, parent notes, etc. And that was okay, but this time around I decided to show a little more.

One HUGE benefit of blogging is that I take lots more pictures of the things going on in my classroom. So, for instance, when I wanted to show my creative lessons, ta – da!

I wanted to showcase classroom management, and again, I already had the photos. It’s a great way to not just tell what I would do, but show it. I want principals to be able to imagine me and my classroom in their school!

I still kept examples of work and other things behind each section, but these pages made it look really polished.

Even if you’re not going to post them on a blog, I’d recommend finding a cheap point-and-shoot camera (or even a smartphone, if you have one) to take photos of your classroom and projects you do. It really helps when a principal wants to imagine you not in a suit, sitting in the office, but in classroom working with students.

What’s really great about these pages is that you can print another copy (or go to FedEx Office for more color copies if you just have way too much money) and leave a mini-portfolio at schools without having to leave your nice binder. I used these mini-portfolios when I dropped off resume’s in person, too!

When you consider what to include, make sure you think about the basics (classroom management, reading, math, engaging instruction, differentiation, assessment and data, organization), but don’t forget to include a section with your credentials and any honors/ certificates/ professional development/ licenses you may have! (Page protectors will keep you from having to hole punch those important papers.)

Think about what makes you unique as a teacher. When they say, “What are your strengths?,” what will you show them?

Don’t be afraid to make it unique and bright! For some other professions, you might not want to add color or any element of cute, but I think as long as it looks professional, colorful works really well for standing out.

If you’re new here, be sure you check out the rest of this series and my new teacher tips!

Next in the On The Hunt series: How to Stand Out (Even Before a Teaching Interview)

Thanks for visiting!

Keeping Organized While Searching for a Teaching Job

This is my third time searching for a teaching job- first after college, then after a Reduction in Force, and finally after a move out of state. Third time in 5 years, and I’m finally figuring out how to keep everything more organized this time!



So… here’s the start of a new series for anyone out there also job searching in the education field.

1) When you’re applying, make sure to have everything you might need on your computer in one folder.



That means your digital versions of your resume, transcript, letters of recommendation, test scores, license, and cover letter/ letter of interest. (I love to keep this on DropBox so I can access it from ANY computer.)

2) Find out the school systems in the area. (The state DOE can be a great place to find a map of school districts.)



Make a list. Yes, in a metro area, this is daunting!

3) Now, search for each school district’s website and look for terms like “employment,” “human resources,” “job opportunities.”



Create a new folder of bookmarks. I like to do this on the toolbar, so that it’s easy to access on a regular basis. Then, make bookmarks of every different employment page (some will share the same system). In Firefox, at least, you can do this by dragging the logo on the tab and pulling it over to the bookmark folder.

I also bookmark a couple of general teacher job sites. My favorites for here in the Midwest have been www.schoolspring.com and www.k12jobspot.com – any other suggestions?

4) Every day or so, check the sites in one click (Open All in Tabs).



They’ll each open in their own tab, and you can close each one after you check it for new vacancies.

5) Of course, once there are openings, you have to start applying.

Thankfully, a lot of school systems in my new area have decided to use a common application (which makes things SO much easier!). Unfortunately, each application usually requires you to retype your entire resume’ into a new format, and then some.
Have your resume open for easy copy and paste, and a new document for application question/answers. I copy and paste the question into Word and then type my answer there so that I get the full advantage of spell check, the thesaurus, etc. Check that everything transfers correctly (quotation marks and tabs seem to have trouble converting), but then it’s also easy to save your answer in case another application asks you to answer something similar.

6) Track where you’ve applied and when.



I keep a notebook of all of my completed applications, with date, district, and school (if given). This makes it easier to follow up later… and makes me feel accomplished when I’ve turned in tons of applications but haven’t heard anything back yet.

Don’t forget to put your username and password at the top of each application site. Every site is a little frustratingly different on what they require, so write them down now and save yourself the stress later!

7) Finally, don’t underestimate the value of face-to-face networking.

A lot of applications go straight to Central Office, so I like to make a packet to bring by to the principal, when possible. They’re usually the one making the hiring decisions, at least in my experience, and even if I just get to smile and be polite to the secretary, it might help!
I’m working on my packets this week, and plan to include my resume, copies of letters of recommendation, and a customized letter of interest (that shows I’ve done my research on their school). I also like to include a brochure- a little unconventional, sure, but it allows me to show some highlights and photos in a way that stands out (and hopefully helps them remember that I stopped by!)

A lot of work? Yes. But in my area of the country, principals are sometimes getting hundreds of applications for each position. You want to stand out and show them why they should consider you.

Of course, I’m no expert, but I at least feel like I’ve done all I can. I’ll let you know how it works out this time :)