• Education
• Recruitment

Top Challenges in Education Recruitment

Recruiting in the education sector is uniquely rewarding—but it’s also full of challenges. Between teacher shortages, compliance pressures, and shifting candidate expectations, education recruiters face daily obstacles that demand creative solutions.

1. Ongoing Teacher Shortages

One of the biggest hurdles is simply finding enough qualified teachers—especially in subjects like STEM, SEN, and early years.

 How to overcome it:

Build long-term talent pipelines by engaging with early-career teachers and trainees

Partner with training institutions and universities

Re-engage past candidates and build a strong alumni pool

Use CRMs like MyTalentCRM to track talent year-round and maintain warm candidate relationships

2. Last-Minute Vacancies and High Absence Rates

Schools often need temporary staff at very short notice. Delays can disrupt learning and cause stress for leadership teams.

 How to overcome it:

Maintain an up-to-date list of supply staff ready to go

Use automated alerts and matching tools to quickly fill urgent roles

Offer incentives for flexible availability and reliable cover work

Ensure your CRM enables fast communication with candidates and schools

3. Strict Compliance and Vetting Requirements

In education, safeguarding is non-negotiable. Recruiters must ensure that every candidate is fully compliant before entering a classroom.

How to overcome it:

Use systems that automate and track compliance checks (DBS, references, RTW, etc.)

Set up reminders for expiring documents or training renewals

Use checklists and digital forms to standardize the vetting process

Audit regularly to avoid gaps or delays

4. Matching the Right Candidate to School Culture

A good CV isn’t enough. Candidates need to fit the ethos and values of the school, or risk low retention and morale.

 How to overcome it:

Get to know your schools deeply—understand their leadership style, pupil needs, and team dynamics

Use candidate profiles that go beyond qualifications to include soft skills and personality traits

Offer trial days or short-term placements before committing to long-term hires

5. Keeping Candidates Engaged

With so many agencies competing for talent, it’s easy to lose candidates to faster or more responsive recruiters.

 How to overcome it:

Stay in touch regularly with your talent pool—automate check-ins and availability requests

Share useful content (tips, interview prep, news) to stay top of mind

Personalize your outreach, even at scale, using CRM automation

Ask for and act on candidate feedback to improve your experience

Final Thoughts

Education recruitment will always have its challenges—but with the right tools, workflows, and candidate care, those challenges become opportunities. Agencies that invest in better tech, faster communication, and deeper relationships will thrive in this ever-changing landscape.