Why can't I find a teaching job after graduating?
Applying to dozens of positions across general job boards and specialized education sites yields almost no responses, leaving graduates unable to secure interviews. The complete lack of employer feedback or callbacks makes it impossible to break into teaching, even when casting a wide net across rural and Title 1 schools.
What people tried
Every workaround mentioned in the threads below. We haven’t tested any of them — and nobody here is claiming they worked.
- 1working in retail or other fields
- 2getting certified in high-demand subjects like SPED, math, or science
- 3relocating to remote or undesirable areas
- 4subbing or working at charter schools
- 5Applying broadly across LinkedIn, Indeed, ESL job boards, and platform-specific sites
- 6Asking community members for direct company recommendations and referrals
- 7Applying to positions across a broader geographic area including Seattle and surrounding districts
- 8Considering substitute teaching temporarily despite low pay
- 9Filing for unemployment benefits
- 10Working as a daily substitute or doing LTOs
- 11Requesting feedback and interview debriefs from school administrators
- 12Gaining experience across different districts to build professional connections
- 13Treating the position as supplemental income rather than a full-time living wage.
- 14Using Facebook groups where people share new openings
- 15Trying to find people in various states to learn about openings
In their words
Unedited, most upvoted first, each linked to the thread it came from.
“7 years experience, cannot get HS science/math position (WA state)”source ↗
“There didn’t seem to be as many postings this summer for jobs. He had a few interviews but no offer.”source ↗
“We are very stressed about this and cannot afford to live with one of us not having a job”source ↗
“Im sort of worn out from my hostile admin. What are yalls best ways of searching for teaching jobs if I decide I need to leave this state and find some new work?”source ↗
“If I leave I also can't stand this state (tx) so I am wondering about best sites or services for looking up some PS Culinary teaching opportunities across the country.”source ↗
“I can’t shake the thoughts that I’m just going to have to sub forever and that I’ll never be a “real” teacher.”source ↗
“I cried on the first day of school from seeing all the back to school posts from my classmates.”source ↗
“At a CC you are most likely to be an adjunct part time instructor for laughably low wages and extreme insecurity as well as no benefits.”source ↗
“For most people this is supplemental income, not a living wage.”source ↗
“I cant get hired at ANY school. Title 1, rural, or otherwise.”source ↗
Where this came up
People with this problem also raised
- 7Why are job boards full of impossible roles and ghost listings?
- 2Where are all the intermediate tutorials and deep technical guides?
- 4How to become a teacher without an education degree
- 3How to find a remote HR job when LinkedIn isn't working
- 3Why can't I get a job as a generalist?
- 4Finding a flexible part-time accounting job while in college