Meet the Community Coaches

Sauvik Goswami

Sauvik Goswami

Associate Director, Assessment & Analytics
(Career Coach)
sauvik-goswami@uiowa.edu
Kaitlyn Bailey

Kaitlyn Bailey

Career Learning Specialist
(Career Coach)
kaitlyn-bailey@uiowa.edu
Schedule an appointment

Job Search Resources

Check out student employment, internships, and post-graduation full-time jobs in Handshake. Employers targeting University of Iowa students and alumni use this recruiting system to connect with you! We also have an Education Collection to help narrow your search.

Licensure

Educator Job Boards

Career Fairs

International

Search Strategies
  • Filter results by location, grade level, job type, and endorsement or licensure area
  • Try related terms and common title variations within your specialty to expand your results
  • When targeting a particular school district, check the district’s employment website
  • Set up job alerts when available
  • Use your network to stay up to date with openings

Title Variations

Combine the terms below with your grade, subject, or area of interest 

  • Teacher 
  • Strategist
  • Interventionist
  • Specialist
  • Director
  • Substitute (try long-term or building)
  • Paraeducator, Paraprofessional, Instructional Assistant, or Teacher Associate
  • Academic Support  

Education Roles Beyond K–12

Check out Handshake and related job boards for roles outside of K–12.

Try pairing terms such as education, youth, academic, outreach, training, learning, or program with titles such as intern, assistant, advisor, coordinator, specialist, educator, or trainer (i.e. Youth Program Coordinator, Instructional Design Specialist, Learning and Development Assistant)

Job Search Timeline

During Practicum

  • Build relationships with cooperating teachers and administrators who may serve as references
  • Ask an administrator to observe you teaching and provide feedback
  • Begin your teaching resume and record specific responsibilities, skills, and accomplishments
  • Meet with a Pomerantz Career Center career coach to review your materials and discuss your job-search timeline
  • Attend the K–12 Educator Career Fair to explore districts and begin making connections

Before Student Teaching

  • Create an account on TeachIowa or job boards of interest and identify districts or locations that interest you
  • Draft a teaching cover letter that can be tailored to each position
  • Identify three to five potential references and ask whether they are comfortable writing a letter of recommendation
  • Prepare professional clothing for interviews, career fairs, and school visits

During Student Teaching

  • Add your student-teaching responsibilities and accomplishments to your resume
  • Begin applying based on your graduation timeline rather than waiting until your placement ends
  • Ask references for permission before including their information on applications
  • Ask an administrator to observe you or conduct a practice interview
  • Attend the K–12 Educator Career Fair and monitor TeachIowa and district employment pages
  • Complete a mock interview or practice through Big Interview before your first formal interview

When Should You Start Applying?

Prepare during practicum and begin monitoring openings before student teaching ends.

  • May graduates: Explore districts and prepare materials in the fall. Begin actively searching and applying during the winter and spring.
  • December graduates: Begin searching early in the fall for midyear openings, long-term substitute roles, and positions beginning in January. Continue into the spring when considering the next school year.
  • All candidates: Hiring timelines vary by district, location, and endorsement area. Monitor TeachIowa and district employment pages regularly, set alerts when available, and apply promptly when a strong match appears.

K-12 Educator Career Fair

K-12 Educator Career Fair

This fair is in the spring semester and will be for students in the College of Education seeking employment in school districts. 

Current UI students, alums, and students across the state are invited to meet with over 50 districts to discuss job opportunities.

Resumes and Application Materials

Resume Resources

Resume Examples

Cover Letters

A cover letter gives you an opportunity to connect your experience to the needs of a school or district. Focus on why you are interested in the opportunity, the strengths you would bring, and a few specific examples that demonstrate your approach to teaching and supporting students.

Review the Cover Letter Guide for general tips and resources.

Cover Letter Examples 

References and Letters of Recommendation

Reference requirements vary by district. Review each application carefully to determine whether you need to:

  • Enter references directly into the application system
  • Submit one or more letters of recommendation
  • Upload a separate reference page (least common)

Choose people who have directly observed your teaching, professionalism, or work with students, such as:

  • Cooperating teachers
  • Practicum or field experience supervisors
  • School administrators
  • Faculty members
  • Supervisors from relevant work or volunteer experiences

Visit the References Guide for guidance on contacting references, preparing your reference list, and keeping references informed throughout your search.

Interviews

Interview Resources

Common Education Interview Topics

Be prepared to discuss:

  • Your teaching philosophy and approach to building relationships with students
  • Lesson planning, instruction, and assessment
  • Differentiation and support for varied learning needs
  • Classroom management and student behavior
  • Collaboration with families, colleagues, paraeducators, and support professionals
  • Inclusive practices and creating a welcoming classroom environment
  • Using feedback and student data to improve instruction
  • A challenge you experienced and how you responded
  • Why you are interested in the school, district, grade level, or subject area
  • Grade or subject specific questions
  • Examples from student teaching, practicum, and other experiences with students

Volunteer and Gain Experience

Part-time jobs, internships, summer roles, and volunteer experiences can help you explore education careers, strengthen your application materials, and build skills working with children and youth. 

Volunteering in Schools

  • Review the school district’s volunteer webpage or contact the district office
  • Complete any required application, background check, or approval process before contacting individual schools or working with students
  • Follow the district’s instructions for identifying a school or volunteer placement
  • Once approved, contact a teacher or school directly if the district requires you to arrange your own placement

Students applying to the University of Iowa Teacher Education Program must also complete a 10-hour pre-admission school field experience in an approved school setting under a licensed teacher. Review the requirements and submit the signed verification form with your application.

Find Additional Opportunities

Past Student Internship Experiences

Below is a sampling of internship sites that Iowa students have registered in recent years. 

  • Educational Curriculum Development Intern, African American Museum of Iowa  

  • Educational Curatorial Intern, Brookfield Zoo Chicago  

  • Special Education Specialist Assistant, Davenport Community School District  

  • Summer Instructor, Gifted Education Research and Resource Institute, Purdue University  

  • Summer Teacher, Concordia Language Villages  

  • Education Intern, Des Moines Performing Arts  

  • School Counseling Intern, Iowa City School District  

  • BASP Instructor, Willowwind School  

  • Student Family Advocate Intern, Iowa City Community School District  

  • JV Dance Team Coach, Liberty High School 

Handshake and LinkedIn are great tools to further investigate sites where UI interns have been employed.