I was looking up some online posts for education jobs (admittedly, looking at possible options for next year) and came across a post, listed today, for my school. They post was generic, looking for teachers, as opposed to a specific subject. It makes me wonder though. Our school is small. Maybe 30 or faculty. Our building is tiny. We don't have room for our students (we have to have a morning and afternoon/evening shift in order to fit everyone). Contracts have not been signed for anyone for next year yet. Why is my school already posting for new applicants? Are they planning to let some of us go? Are they already expecting a large number of us to leave after this year? I mean, I'll admit, I'm not having the greatest time here and was thinking/planning to leave after this year - but they're ALREADY expecting teachers, across several subjects, to be gone next year? Wow. I'm not sure what that says about my school...or is this normal??
I know other professions sometimes put general ads up so that they have a stock pile of resumes they can go over before they actually need someone. This way they can weed through the jokes first and then only have to actually talk to people later on. So for the harder to fill positions they don't need to wait as long for them to come in because they have some resumes sent in already.
Most schools in my area put up these kind of generic posts so they can get a pool of applications to keep on file in case something happens and they need to fill a position. It usually says we MAY have openings in these areas and then they will accept applications and keep them on file. Odds are SOMEONE will leave or retire and they will have a position to fill.
Hmm...no one really is close to retirement age (it's a newer charter school; seemed to attract younger teachers) and I guess I find it strange that they posted it so early, before they've done contracts or had any type of feel for who's staying.
well 50% of new teachers leave the profession in the first year. I am sure they are just trying to cover their behinds. For some positions, like math and science, you really have to act fast to fill a position when it becomes available. If someone unexpectedly leaves, they want to be able to fill the position as quickly as possible.
There may also be legal reasons as to why there was a generic post. Laws often require that notices be posted within a certain time frame, with certain wording, etc. Why not ask someone in your human resournces department?
A lot of districts in my area put up a general post for teachers at this time of the year. The district I teach in always has one for each level up - elementary teachers JH teachers, and HS teachers. They do this because right now they have a rough idea of how many people are retiring and who they aren't asking back, but it takes a while to get everyone moved around if they want to change grades or subjects and people within the district who are changing schools. A real opening would have a specific posting for the job with the grade or subject.
ha ha - my school is way too small and disorganized to have a HR department. If this were a large district, I probably wouldn't be questioning this post, but it's a small charter school, with no one old enough to retire. And when I got the job last year, I applied to a post listed in early July!
As a manager, I was always telling people there are some things you will not know about your job. Maybe some teachers have already indicated that they will not be back.
Maybe getting a pool of applicants together now, weed through them or see who is interested in working there now before they have a real need.