Education Major Interview and Job Search Information

Alternative Career Options for Teachers (PDF)

Interview Questions for Education Majors (PDF)

Services for Education Majors (PDF)

"Teacher Insight" Behavioral Interview Themes (PDF)

Teacher Credential Information

Tips on How to Get a Teaching Job

Directory of Education Degree Programs

Visit the Teacher Education Center to learn more as you complete you program requirements

On-Campus Interviewing

On-campus interviews are held from the first fall career event until finals week each semester. The heaviest recruitment occurs in October and February.

We encourage you to make yourself available to meet with recruiters while they are on campus. Please contact us if you would like to spend a lunch hour with any company/organization on any scheduled date.

Tips on How to Get a Teaching Job

Basics for Seniors:  begin earlier than you think you need to, especially May graduates. Some districts start evaluating applicants in Jan-Feb for August employment; Spring Break could be too late, although new listings will of course be advertised through Spring and Summer.

Line up the job-search resources you will need:

• Check adjacent link – “Services for Education Majors”.
• Get familiar with online job lists -- state (iasaedu.org “Job Bank”), county (Regional Offices of Education – at county-level), and district-level sites, too.  Note that eRecruiting will include many of these, plus jobs in out-of-state districts!
• If looking out-of-state:
  • check certification and any related testing requirements at least a semester before graduation;
  • research availability of job-search information, services, and job fairs at teacher education colleges or universities in proximity to where you may move.

Update your resume: 

• May Grads: by the end of Fall semester, update with most recent experiences and at least your student teaching location; plan at least one more update in first half of Spring with State specifics.  Make sure it spells out all teaching areas/ endorsements, teaching-related experience and is fully proofed and critiqued).
• December Grads: update over the summer preceding graduation, then at least once more after beginning student teaching.
• All Secondary Grads: make sure your job-search resume does not use the identical format as the standard student teaching application form that many departments require.  “Background Information” must be split into separate categories such as “Activities,” “Work Experience,” etc.    
• Everyone: be sure to add the names (with their permission of course) of at least two or three References, including their contact information (title/school, phone, email). Those from student teaching will be considered the most important.

Follow through promptly on applications for advertised positions:

• School administrators will understand that new grads won’t have all necessary documentation until the end of their final semester.
• Most districts consider it acceptable to apply even if positions have not yet been advertised.

Beyond your qualifications:

• Attitude certainly counts; be enthusiastic, positive and persistent. 
• Having a good sense of humor is naturally a plus. Maturity, creativity, and integrity will also be on any district’s wish list of desired attributes. 
• Be ready to discuss your qualifications in interviews and have a strong portfolio prepared to demonstrate your professional preparation, teaching style/methods, etc.

Be at least somewhat geographically flexible/mobile regarding where you will work.  

      Family considerations and/or “significant others” may limit your options, but the more competitive it is for jobs in your field, the more flexible you’ll need to be.

• Substitute teaching still can be a good opportunity to prove yourself in districts where competition is most keen; same for jobs as teaching assistants in the lower grades.
• If your focus is on the middle or secondary grades, willingness to advise/coach/sponsor student groups can be especially helpful in getting on the list of candidates who land interviews!

Also, utilize your network of friends, family and other educators, especially ISU alums. Your grapevine can be an additional, helpful resource in finding and competing for open positions.