Believe it or not, now is a great time to be a teacher. While many industries are laying off hundreds of thousands of workers and implementing “hiring freeze” policies, most schools are still hiring. A manufacturing company can simply close a factory, but that’s much more difficult for a school to do! True, some schools and districts have had to layoff teachers, and seem to be hiring fewer than they have in the past, but they are still posting jobs and making hires.
Here’s the tough news, though: even though jobs are out there, applications per job opening have soared, so each position is considerably more competitive. For example, 2 years ago, jobs posted in EdZapp attracted approximately 20 applications each on average; this Spring, that number nearly doubled to 38. These are averages, so in some cases (such as Elementary Education and Social Studies) the numbers were much higher. One very small school district in a rural region of Oregon attracted over 130 applicants for a middle school teaching position!
So how can you set yourself apart in such a competitive environment? Be proactive: contact schools directly and show that you’re interested, make sure you have your materials in early and complete, and include something in your application packet that really helps you “shine,” such as a work sample or philosophy statement.
EdZapp has research tools to help you link to school districts nationwide (go to “Find Jobs” -> “Research Districts” after Login, as well as document management services (EZ Docs) and “Zapps” to help you manage your application more efficiently and effectively in this tight market.
How do I leave a work sample or philosophy statement within the EdZapp application system. Also, some districts direct applicants NOT to contact schools directly. What do we do then?
Appreciate the info.
Victoria
Great questions, Victoria.
You can post a work sample or philosophy statement in EdZapp through our EZ Doc Management system: once you login, go to the Documents tab, and follow the instructions to purchase the service. A bit more information is available on the Document Management page, and some tips for the actual mechanics of using this feature are posted as a .pdf file as part of our Online Help documentation.
As for districts NOT wanting you to contact the schools directly, we of course advise you to respect the policies of the district. Having information about individual schools is still helpful, however, when considering where you want to apply, and also in preparing your application. For example, referencing a specific school or principal name in your cover letter indicates that you have at least done your “homework” on the job, and suggests that you have a level of familiarity with the district. Remember that screeners in the central office HR department are looking for uniformity: completeness and basic qualifications; hiring managers out in the schools are looking for something that sets you apart. If all the other applications and cover letters are generic copy-and-paste messages, use yours to show that you know who they are and how you will fit in and make a contribution to that school. At the interview stage, it is much easier to build a rapport with the hiring manager (or panel) when you are familiar with their lingo and locations.
A final tip on this topic: It has been said that, “Luck is where preparation meets opportunity.” You might be surprised at what happens when you thoroughly prepare for a job opportunity by researching everything you can about a district before applying and/or before an interview. Help the reviewers “visualize” you being in the role/position that you are applying for.
Hope this is helpful…Good Luck!
Here is something for everyone that reads this…if you think that 130 applicants is bad for a middle school teaching position in Oregon, try 340+ applicants for ONE elementary position in Oregon. Yep, 340+ applicants… sort of hard to shine on EdZapp when there are this many people looking for jobs! For those of you wanting to become teachers in Oregon, get out now while you can. There are too many teachers and too few jobs!
Good point, Lacey.
Especially in metro and suburban districts, it is crazy-competitive. Elementary has the greatest over-supply of applicants (it usually does), along with English and Social Studies/Humanities at the middle and upper-levels. At the same time, however, Special Ed positions, Speech Pathologist positions, advanced science and math, and specialized language skills are always in high-demand, even now.
Here are some more tips:
Remember that districts are searching a database, so be sure to enter all of the skills and experience that you can to ensure that you are not overlooked in their queries.
Consider expanding your field of expertise into more “high demand” areas, if you can…especially if you are still in your prep program.
Be willing to relocate and/or serve in a more challenging environment (rural or urban).
Sign up to be a substitute at the district(s) that you are most interested in; it will help you make contacts there.
Use the “Save Search” feature after you’ve run a search in the “Jobs” section of EdZapp: you can get an updated list of jobs matching your criteria at any time with a single click (rather than having to fill out the search form every time).
Thanks for the comments, and good luck!
It is comforting to hear that there are still schools hiring. I am currently pursuing my career as a teacher. I am unsure if I would rather be an elementary or high school English teacher. Are there any recommendations to make myself more hirable than other applicants?
My advice, as someone who became certified as an Oregon elementary school teacher in June but has not yet found a teaching job: become a secondary (6-12) teacher! You’ll probably have better luck in your job search!
My husband and I had to leave our beloved Oregon for Texas last summer because we could not find a teaching job in Oregon for 4 years!! We gave up. He is secondary math/science and Ag. and I am just elementary. We took jobs in Sugar Land , Texas near Houston just to get back into teaching! We were recruited from the Oregon Professional Educator’s Fair in April of 09. Hired on the spot!! Our advice to y’all trying and can’t get a job in Oregon? Get out!!! Try Texas. They are looking for teachers and our district pays better than Oregon! It’s a shame, but there are too many teachers and not enough jobs in Oregon. We miss our state, but had no choice.
As Jenie notes in her post, in this economy it may be important to relocate to where the jobs are and gain experience. Relocating even out of state should be viewed as an opportunity. At times it can afford new cultural experiences that serve you well in the future as I learned in my early teaching experience on an Indian reservation. People, both helpful and challenging, are the common denominator wherever you go. You can find joy and professional satisfaction wherever you live and work.
Life’s turns can be surprising and at times cyclic; perhaps one day Oregon will be fortunate to reclaim your enhanced talents.
Jim
Jim Buck
OPEF Coordinator