Educational staffing is one of the most important aspects of an administrator’s jobs. When a position opens up, it’s important to find a trustworthy, and student focused replacement as quickly as possible. But, finding the perfect candidate can seem like a daunting task on it’s own, especially if you only have a couple summer months to do so! Here are a couple recruiting tips to help you find the best school staff candidates to help meet student needs.
School Staffing Made Simple
- The Job Description. Your job description is the first thing potential candidates will see, and this first impression can go a long way. When writing a job description it’s important to list the specifics of opportunities, projects, and benefits that candidates can expect working in your district, but it’s also important to make the description unique. A bland list is hardly appealing on it’s own. Think about the positive aspects and culture of your school and what about it makes you enjoy working their. You want to put your best foot forward, while also making the position seem equal parts exciting and interestingly challenging. If you’re not well versed in creative writing, ask a coworker to help write the listing, or proof read what you’ve written. Ask them if it’s something they would be compelled to respond to, and if it captures what your school is all about.
- Posting. Once the listing is written, post it on your school districts website, as well as on online job boards to ensure the max amount of people can see it. There are also many sites that specialize in educational job listings, and depending on your needs, they may be worth looking in to. Once you’re listing is up on a job board, you should expect to see a good number of responses quicker than if you’d only posted on your districts site.
- Staff Referrals. As your current staff is aware of student needs and the unique challenges at your school, they may be able to refer people that they know to your position. This can be an invaluable benefit as employees hired this way have shown to have a higher retention rate. The more employees that you can have help get the word out, the larger your pool of candidates will be.
- Local Colleges. Another good option for finding the best candidates to meet student needs is by partnering with local colleges who are looking to place recent graduates. This not only helps you, but it can help give new teachers and educational specialists the start that they need. Additionally, hiring local talent can help strengthen your community ties and build strong lasting relationships with students, parents, and other educational institutions.
- Interviews. Just as it’s important to put your best first forward with your listing, it’s also important to ensure your first meeting is just as polished. Candidates who are made to feel unimportant or unwelcome, are likely to look elsewhere. Remember, in order to find the best educators to help meet student needs, you need to show them that they will be valued and treated like the important assets that they are!
Filling educator positions can seem like a daunting task; however, it doesn’t have to be. Remember to craft your job description in a creative way that highlights the culture and positive aspects that you love about your school, along with reaching out to current staff or local colleges for help in the recruiting process. Finding the perfect candidate to help cater to your student needs is possible, and by following these steps, it can be easier than you think!