The educational job market is becoming increasingly diffiult to navigate, thanks to the economic downturn. Reports of educator job cuts have put a number of current teachers and prospective educators on their guard. If you recently lost your job, are nervous about starting a career in education, or are considering a planned return to teaching, these features were created with you in mind. This six-part series includes background on the changing educational job landscape, tips on how to craft a résumé and portfolio, how to decode the job interview and navigate the interview venue, and ways to increase your marketability.

The first step in any job search is knowing where to look. The following websites were speifically chosen to help you get started. Some of these resources will help you write a résumé, post it, and find jobs that fit your qualifications. The NEA state affiliates listing page also provides useful information for educational job seekers and can provide you with greater detail about a particular state and its districts.

Remember that, even though websites are a significant part of your job search, they come and go regularly. Using the search parameter “teaching jobs” along with the name of the state or district in which you would like to be employed can go a long way towards helping you pin down other sources. And remember that campus career centers and your personal networks are invaluable in your search as well.

Educational Employment Resource Tools

Teachers-Teachers.com
Teachers-Teachers.com allows job seekers to post an online job application and to create an electronic résumé for free. The site then matches your qualifications to available jobs. After you apply for a job you can use the site to track your search. A state-by-state list of websites that detail teacher certification requirements is featured on the homepage.

SchoolSpring.com
Free for job seekers, this site lets you search for jobs by location, category and grade levels. You can sign up for alerts on new openings. The site also lists job fairs by state and includes international job listings. All listings include information on how to apply.

TeacherJobs.com
This free online resource sorts jobs by state and by category. All jobs listed include descriptions and details on how to apply.

TeachingJobs.com
Similar to TeacherJobs.com, the site is free of charge and offers a keyword job search function that also allows you to search by state. International job opportunities are listed as well.

The University of Kentucky College of Education
This University of Kentucky website provides a comprehensive list of individual states’ job listing websites. Since education job sites change often, some may or may not be active. There are links to sites for private school jobs, and links to informational sites about ESOL jobs.

AAEE.org
The American Association for Employment in Education maintains a wealth of resources including their annual edition of The Job Search Handbook for Educators.

Dr. Mary C. Clement is a professor of teacher education at Berry College, northwest of Atlanta, Georgia. Her research on the hiring of new teachers has received national recognition. She is the author of “The Definitive Guide to Getting a Teaching Job” and “First Time in the High School Classroom.” Both books are available via the NEA Bookstore powered by Barnes&Noble.com.

Continue reading to learn more:

• Part 1: Employment in a Tough Economy
• Part 2: Get Your Paperwork in Order: Résumés, Portfolios, References and More
• Part 3: Crack the Interview Code
• Part 4: From Job Fairs to Phone Chats: Know Your Interview Venue
• Part 5: Be the Job Candidate You Want to Be