Our organization
Corps and Alumni
How to apply
We value all who engage in the work to end educational inequity, and we are committed to selecting candidates who are uniquely qualified to succeed in the rigorous, entrepreneurial environment of Teach For America. We encourage you to learn more about our mission and impact before submitting your application.
While the amount of time and specific activities involved in each person’s application process varies, the following information will give you a better understanding of our staff application process to help you as you plan your job search.
Timeline |
Application process |
Interview process |
Contact us |
Timeline
The overall process from application submission to offer tends to take eight weeks for most roles. The process can occasionally take longer and in those cases, there will be frequent communication about the status of your application.
Given the rigor of our process, you should plan ahead and submit your application as early as possible. If your timeline for finding a position is shorter than eight weeks, we encourage you to still apply as timelines can vary depending on the position and team. If you are granted an interview, you will have the opportunity to share your specific timeline with your interviewer and we will do our best to accommodate your situation. While we have openings at every time in the year, most opportunities are publicized between January and May, with start dates in July.
Application process
Our hiring process is highly selective for all positions. Last year, we received 24,000 staff applications and hired approximately 600 new full-time staff members.
In order to apply, you must complete an online application by accessing the “Apply Now” link at the bottom of each job description. Please visit our current job opportunities to search for available positions. You will receive an automatically-generated e-mail from staffing@teachforamerica.org confirming receipt of each application you submit. If you do not receive this confirmation, please contact us immediately. Unless a deadline is specified in the job description, your application will be reviewed on a rolling basis and you should be notified of whether you have been selected for an interview within ten business days.
We recommend that you complete your online application carefully and accurately, and that you apply for no more than three positions at a time. It is important that you highlight your strengths and avoid typos or other errors when writing your cover letter and resume. Your cover letter should demonstrate an understanding of our organization and the position(s) to which you are applying, and your resume should outline your past accomplishments and management/leadership experiences. Please also include any required supplemental materials (e.g., a writing sample) that we specify in the job description as your application will not be considered complete without these materials.
Interview process
Initial interview
Only a select number of applicants are invited to participate in an initial phone interview. During this initial conversation with a Teach For America representative, you will be asked to share more about your past accomplishments, and to articulate your interest in and fit with the position(s) to which you applied. Please note that if you have applied to multiple positions, we will only consider you for the roles for which you are best suited.
Subsequent interviews
If, based on the initial phone interview, your experience and skill-set are judged to be competitive for the position(s) to which you applied, you will be invited to participate in an average of two to four additional interviews with members of the hiring team. These interviews may be conducted by phone or in person, depending on your location and the location of our hiring team. We view these conversations as an opportunity for both you and your interviewer(s) to determine whether the position is a strong match for your skills and professional interests. You will be asked to elaborate on previous experiences in which you believe you demonstrated the skills required for the position. You should also consider this interview as an opportunity to explore the level of challenge and professional growth the position might offer you to best self-assess your fit for the role.
As part of this series of interviews, you may be asked to role-play a scenario you might encounter in the position and/or to complete a work-related exercise (e.g., a mock project plan, an analytical exercise, or a response to a prompt). Please be prepared to dedicate one to three hours to complete your exercise. In addition, finalists can expect that we will contact the references that they provided in the online application.
Anti-Discrimination Policy
Teach For America does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, ethnicity, religion, sex, gender, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, age, marital status, veteran status, pregnancy, parenthood, or any other basis prohibited by applicable law.
Contact us
If you have any questions about applying to staff positions at Teach For America, please contact us at staffing@teachforamerica.org. We strive to respond to e-mails that require follow-up within one business day.
