Menu

Educational Certification & Career Services

  1. Whitworth University
  2. Administration
  3. Educational Certification & Career Services
  4. Job Search Suggestions

Job Search Suggestions

Important Things to Know

  • Be prepared to invest time and effort in finding a teaching position.
  • Take time to learn about the district and the school you’re interested in via their website and/or onsite visitation.
  • Keep all appointments! If you schedule an appointment, be sure to keep it, whether it’s for an interview here on campus with a visiting school district, or at a district office.
  • Send a handwritten thank-you note immediately after each interview. Follow up after ten days if you have not heard from the district.
  • Maintain a positive attitude. Many positions are filled in August or as late as October due to fluctuation in student numbers.
  • Honor your contract! If you sign a contract, ethically you should keep your word. Districts who are recruiting teacher candidates at career fairs will often offer a letter of intent. They are valid and binding so think very carefully before signing.

1. Complete a district application:

  • Every district has a preference for required application materials and how they should be submitted. Most districts have online applications that take a lot of time to complete. Gather all necessary information before you begin. Take time to thoroughly write out narrative answers to questions before completing your final product. ALWAYS PROOFREAD FOR ERRORS.
  • If you are submitting your application by mail, use a large envelope (9” x 12”) without staples, folds or paperclips so your documents arrive as printer-ready as possible.
  • If you are submitting application materials electronically, here are some suggestions from other Whitworth candidates:
    • Prepare your documents for electronic submission by scanning transcripts, WEST-E/NES score reports and your teaching certificate. Convert text documents, such as your cover letter and résumé, to PDFs. PDFs are more compatible than text documents with the online systems. If you don't have a PDF writer, you can easily download a free version by doing an online search for "PDF Writer Download." Be sure to convert final, error-free versions of your documents. Watch for errors in spelling and grammar! Save both text and PDF versions of your documents in more than one place.
    • Look through the entire application and reserve plenty of time before you begin. Determine if you can save as you go, or if you will need to complete in one session.
    • Use the same name and password for each application, if possible.
    • Before you submit your application, print out each page to have a record in case of lost information or technical difficulties.
    • Check your online application status at least a day or two after submitting.

2. Submit résumé, cover letter, certificate, and transcripts with your application:

  • Unofficial (opened) transcripts are acceptable when applying. Have official (sealed) transcripts ready for when you are hired. Whitworth University transcripts are available through the Whitworth Registrar's Office. You must submit transcripts from all institutions attended. You are responsible for contacting each institution's registrar's office to request a transcript.
  • Once you have created your account through OSPI's eCert system and submitted a Pre-Residency Clearance Form, you will be assigned a certificate number. This number will not change, so be sure to list it on your resume and job applications.
  • Note: You may also be asked to provide a copy of your content assessment (WEST-E/NES) score report for any endorsement exams that you have passed. It is your responsibility to submit those scores. If you no longer have your scores, you will need to contact the testing company at www.west.nesinc.com to request another copy of your scores. Whitworth University will not release your scores. 

3. Check your application status a day or two after you have submitted your application.

  • Check to be sure they have received all materials. You should be able to do this online if you submitted an online application.

You can do it! Let us know when you sign that contract. We'd love to celebrate with you and share your good news with the Whitworth School of Education family for all to enjoy your success! Go get 'em!

Whitworth University
Educational Certification & Career Services
300 W. Hawthorne Road
Spokane, WA 99251

Fax: 509.777.3219

certification@whitworth.edu