Whether you’re an undergraduate or graduate student, one of the best ways to prepare for your dream job is to gain experience in your field, such as through a part-time job or internship.

Future teachers, school counselors, and school psychologists should look no further than local schools for work experience. Nearly all public school districts in California hire part-time tutors, aides, and other positions that pay above minimum wage, with Orange County rates often starting around $19 per hour. These positions, with fixed hours during the school day, can easily fit within a college student’s class schedule while providing valuable work experience. Many only require a high school diploma or limited child development coursework, so they are open to undergrads and grads alike.

EDJOIN

Unlike most private companies and nonprofits that list job openings on sites such as LinkedIn and Indeed, most schools and school districts post available positions on EDJOIN, the primary education job website in the United States. Once you create an EDJOIN profile and submit a job application, you may be able to update and revise it to easily apply for other positions.

Some districts, such as Long Beach Unified School District, host their own career webpages however, so start your job search by locating schools and district in your area and check each site regularly for updates and new postings. Also note that public charter schools may list their job openings as part of a district or separately.

When searching EDJOIN and other education career sites, note that “certificated” jobs require a teaching credential, certificate, or license, whereas “classified” job positions don’t require a credential. Thus, teaching aide and other paraprofessional positions will be listed as classified.

Local District Jobs

Located in central Orange County, Chapman University is surrounded by a number of school districts that are regularly in need of part-time classified employees. Here’s a short list of districts within commuting distance of Chapman’s Orange campus:

Common part-time job titles to search for are instructional aide (IA), instructional assistant, paraprofessional, teacher’s aide, and AVID (Advancement Via Individual Determination) tutor.

In addition to part-time, regular classified staff positions, public charter schools and school districts also need on-call substitute teachers. Orange County substitute teaching positions often pay $150 or more per day. In California, it’s possible to obtain a one-year, renewable Substitute Permit even if you do not hold a teaching credential. See the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CTC) for the steps and requirements to apply for a Substitute Permit.

Chapman Career Resources

Students and alumni of Chapman’s Attallah College of Educational Studies can contact Chapman’s Career and Professional Development (CPD) Office for help exploring career paths in education, community organizations, and beyond. CPD offers career resources, workshops, and one-on-one counseling free of charge.

We also encourage you to follow Attallah College on LinkedIn for regular career tips, job listings, and industry news.