How can academic institutions best position themselves to attract the right candidates for their school? According to Slate.com, teachers say a financial incentive (like subsidized tuition or loan forgiveness) might pique their interest, but they ultimately came to teaching—and stayed—for the kids. Of course salary is an important aspect of any job, but when it comes to attracting the best fit for your school, advertising the impact of the position rather than monetary perks is the best way to encourage candidates to self-identify with your district’s unique needs. To do so, recruiting today’s teachers takes a modernized approach, one that consists of building a brand presence that resonates with the right audience.
One of the first resources job seekers turn to is the company career website. They want to gauge what your values are, what the environment is like and see if they are a good fit for the team as well as the students. What candidates experience when interacting with your school online has a huge impact on whether they can picture a future with your organization. Ensure your career site shines by:
To effectively engage candidates, they need to understand your purpose. Give them an opportunity to gauge how their role will contribute to your school’s overall mission. Many school districts struggle to sell the benefits of the position without feeling as though they are diminishing the challenges of the job. The best way to accurately portray your school is by showing candidates the environment in which they will be working and letting candidates decide for themselves if they identify with your culture. You’ll increase your chances of not only attracting candidates that are a good fit for your environment but also increasing long-term retention. Accurately portray your district’s culture and environment with the following:
For schools in rural districts, the need to secure qualified staff that’s both skilled and also a good fit culturally, makes the shortage struggle even more dire. Reports by Edvantia found that about 600 superintendents from rural districts rated “promoting the advantages of teaching and living in the area” as far more effective on average than housing or relocation assistance and slightly more effective than competitive salaries or benefits. Include a section on your career site dedicated to highlighting life in your city. This will give your school district a better chance of attracting candidates that flourish in unique settings and turn away those who don’t.
Your career site is an important part of a streamlined recruiting strategy that includes web, SEO and mobile optimization. It’s the first step toward attracting top talent around the clock and around the globe.
