From Candidate to Classroom: Research-Based Practices for Recruiting and Hiring Highly-Effective Teachers
Category: Staffing, Finance, and Operations
Teacher shortages are widespread, yet the reasons people choose (not) to enter the profession remain poorly understood. We conducted two survey experiments in which thousands of undergraduates chose between pairs of hypothetical jobs. This allowed us to evaluate the effects of differences in pay, working patterns and other job attributes on job choices, as well as explore how personality type and values underpin job preferences. Contrary to existing research, which is largely based on self-reports, we found that extrinsic rewards have the most influence on job choices, even among those who are considering teaching. Policymakers looking to address shortages should improve the extrinsic rewards of teaching and communicate these, alongside the many altruistic and meaningful aspects of teaching, to potential new recruits.
Keywords
teachers, occupational choice, recruitment, survey experiment, conjoint experiment
Education level
Document Object Identifier (DOI)
10.26300/2qgv-x483
