Teacher Job Search

Our Center for Life's Work staff put together this step-by-step guide for teaching candidates who are beginning their job search.

Materials You'll Need to Apply

1. Cover Letter & Resume
2. Applications
3. Transcripts
  • Official - Leave in sealed envelopes
  • Unofficial - OK to scan and upload or attach to paper applications
  • Need one from every school attended
  • Registration & Records Office only source on our campus
4. Portfolio

*Different from Academic Portfolio.

  • Shorter, includes selected samples of your very best work
  • Lesson and Unit Plans
  • Assessments you designed
  • Samples of student learning outcomes
  • Bulletin boards/Learning Centers

Do not include academic papers or items with comments by others.

Additional Information

National Job Search Websites
Resources to Assist with a National Job Search
ESL & International Teaching

The University of Northern Iowa (UNI) Overseas Placement Service for Educators connects international K-12 schools with certified educators year round. Services offered include the UNI Overseas Recruiting Fair, credential and referral services, and related publications. UNI is home to the original international fair for educators. They are committed to providing personal attention and quality service to all of constituents and they do charge placement fees to candidates or recruiting schools.

Search Associates - For more than 23 years, we've been assisting thousands of teachers, administrators, counselors, librarians, and interns to find jobs in hundreds of quality international schools and have become the largest and most successful recruitment organization in international education. Every candidate who registers with Search Associates works with a Senior Associate in one of 18 offices around the world.

The International Educator(TIE) - Features American overseas and international school teaching vacancies placed by nearly 300 schools from every corner of the world. Also contains links to valuable resources about teaching abroad.

TESOL International Association - Features a wide variety of teaching opportunities domestically and abroad, many of which can be done during the summer.

ESL Jobs World - This website focuses on connecting individuals interested in teaching English abroad with employers from around the world. It has a clean, straightforward interface to help teachers find jobs quickly and connect with employers easily. It is absolutely free for both teachers and employers. 

International Schools Services Provides educational services worldwide to schools, educators, families, corporations and multinational organizations. Completing a brief on-line registration form (free) will gain you access to names, addresses, phone numbers, and e-mail addresses for schools in numerous countries.

ESL Employment - Free ESL/EFL jobs posting and employment opportunities. Search for the latest teaching jobs and career opportunities abroad in the field of ESL/EFL.

The European Council of International Schools - Information on conferences, jobs, and more.

Online Database of American Employers for Int'l Professionals: Provides information on employer who hire international students following graduation visa application information, etc. http://www.h1visajobs.com/

WorldTeach WorldTeach is a private, non-profit organization based at Harvard University which sends volunteers overseas to teach in developing countries. They are an alternative to the Peace Corps for non-professionals who want to live and work overseas. Depending on their placements, volunteers teach English, math, science, and environmental education to students of educational levels ranging from primary school to university and beyond.

Peace Corps Today, more than 6,500 Peace Corps Volunteers are helping people around the world build a better future for themselves, their children, and their communities. Volunteers live at the grass-roots level in 84 countries, where they work on projects in education, the environment, small business development, health, and agriculture.

U.S. State Department - Overseas Schools "We are here to help you." You can find contact and background information on worldwide American-sponsored elementary and secondary schools overseas, current fact sheets on the 192 American international schools, and helpful job hunting links.

Department of Defense - Education Program Offers links to Child Advocacy Issues, School Calendar, and links to information regarding specific certification areas.

ESL-EJ Began as the brainchild of a group of scholars who saw the need for a freely-distributed academic journal. It has grown to become an internationally- recognized source of ESL and EFL information for people in scores of countries. Subscription and other information available.

Footprints Recruiting Inc. is a professional recruiting agency that links incredible teaching candidates with exceptional employers around the world. We currently have excellent positions all over the world including, Korea, Taiwan, China and Chile and are looking for graduates who are interested in teaching abroad. These are full-time, one year positions.

ESL Cafe -The internet's meeting place for ESL & EFL teachers and students from around the world. Search job postings on International, Korean, and China job boards. Get ideas from the Idea Cookbook, connect with colleagues through forums, and much more!

EF English First - Teach English, travel and work abroad with EF English First.

Fulbright U.S. Student Program - The English Teaching Assistant (ETA) Programs place Fulbrighters in classrooms abroad to provide assistance to the local English teachers.

Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs - Through the English Language Fellow (EL Fellow) Program, highly qualified U.S. educators in the field of Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) or Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL) participate in 10-month-long fellowships at academic institutions throughout the world.