CalWest Educators Placement

When Doritt worked there she was very helpful and secured many interviews for me, especially for a teacher looking to start their career. However, when she left CalWest, I was dropped from the service and was told that I couldn’t be helped. I received some interviews on my own account from the same places I was told I wasn’t qualified for originally after I was dropped through my own contact. I have now been teaching at a public school for the past 6 years.

CalWest was wonderful to work with. The employees were friendly, prompt at responding to questions, and showed genuine concern for my search. My materials went to many schools, and I received interviews. I secured a position (not through CalWest), in part thanks to suggestions they made for improving my materials.

Lots of talk, not much walk. Smoke and mirrors. WeCare™
You get the picture.
CalWest accepted my application late February. By their own account, March-​May are the most anemic months in the annual hiring cycle. June and July are, of course, dead time. (Incidentally, CW also bungled my paperwork, which prevented me from attending the last (ostensible) recruitment event). Not surprisingly, I did not score a single interview.
Come August, I was very surprised when CalWest informed me that my portfolio would be dropped. I asked why and was forwarded an overwrought, corporate CYA letter on «We are not at liberty to discuss our methodology.»
I was planning on staying with CalWest for at least a year, hoping that the upcoming hiring season would yield better results. After all, I’d invested much time and effort with them (more on that below) and I figured the organization also understood that it was important to sponsor a client during the peak hiring months. (Incidentally, I would completely understand their decision to sever sponsorship after one or two years without results, meaning no job offer or making finalist lists).
Altogether, I wasted some three hours filling out CalWest application materials, at least two more by commuting and meeting with the WeCare™ screener (at the most inconvenient time and place possible) and a $ 40 non-​refundable fee which was cashed with lightning speed.
In return, I got three months of… nothing. Gosh, darn, thanks for the professional support! CalWest really had my back!
Oh, lest I forget. I also had to spend time crafting careful, courteous email responses to the WeCare™ screener who kept compulsively asking «are you still interested?,» «what are your plans?» and «it’s late in the season, so you should really keep other industries in mind, too.»
How about you STOP wasting my time and energy with this faux WeCare™ BS and instead try DOING SOMETHING to help me land a job? That’s what I REALLY felt like telling her.
Moreover, it is COMPLETELY inappropriate to approach a candidate with unsolicited and nosy questions about personal and professional plans, especially through direct email (which forces the candidate to respond or else come across as rude and uncooperative).
Prior to having my portfolio «expunged,» CalWest asked if I’d be willing to take a «confidential» survey with a third party to discuss my experience with the organization. Foolishly, I agreed (idiotic misstep).
I told the interviewer I was disappointment because I had missed out on the last recruitment event (because CW did not process my paperwork in a timely manner) and at the lack of interviews (because of the slim job pickings during dead months), but I also said I was optimistic about the upcoming winter/​spring season.
Shortly after, VERY shortly after, CalWest informed me that my portfolio would no longer be sponsored. Coincidence? I don’t think so (and in the process I wasted another 30 min. in order to «help» CalWest with their «survey»). Alternatively, it could be that CalWest had already decided to remove my portfolio but wanted to get «one last squeeze» out of me. Either way, the whole experience has left a bad taste in my mouth.
If CalWest was remotely serious about placement and dedicated to treating enrollees like professionals rather than a fast-​cash withdrawal, their commitment to sponsorship would be for at least a full year cycle.
To take money from candidates during low hiring and dead months only to drop them before peak season rolls around is disingenuous and FRAUDULENT.
Also, take a look at the CW racial composition. Lily-​white. Except for one Asian woman. In CALIFORNIA, 2015! And, since this is an all-​woman staffed business, you’d think the head honcho would be, too. Nope. White guy. Of course. But, you know, CW believes in education, in children, in the future, they are WeCare.™
STAY AWAY from CalWest and apply to schools on your own.
Furthermore, it’s time to tighten the screws in regard to the smoke and mirrors game played by CalWest and all other placement agencies.
Where are these agencies’ publicly available & independently verified stats & placement rates? Don’t let CalWest and others keep capitalizing on evasive «our method is mysterious and we are prestigious» claptrap.
It’s CW’s privilege to be working with you (not the other way around), and it is THEIR obligation to court you with concrete facts (not mystique) as to why you would want to invest your time, energy, money and TRUST in them over another agency (or none at all). Same thing goes for every other employment/​recruiter agency.
Where are the BBB organizations on this?
And, to close, a personal victory note, aka «the proof is in the pudding»: I also applied to schools CW does not work with and, just last week, received notice I was accepted for a part-​time position.

Been with CalWest over a month now and still not a single interview. I met with a CalWest rep who was nice (why I am giving this place 2 stars instead of 1), paid the $ 40 admin fee, and that’s it. Granted my position is a very specialized but I thought I would have had at least 1 interview. I’ve also been to none of their events as they haven’t had any since I joined CalWest. I thought at least I would get a meal, network opportunities, and free pens but that hasn’t happened. Based on the reviews here, I figured I would be out $ 40 and so far that’s what has occurred.

I was a candidate with CalWest for about a year and a half. Everyone I dealt with was friendly and extremely responsive (Kailen, Alla, Fleisch, and Margo). I secured several interviews that I believe would not have otherwise obtained on my own.
The $ 30 or $ 35 is a paltry administrative investment (one I made up for just by eating the great food at one of the members’ only recruitment events). They updated their website this year and it is clean and user friendly and takes less time than many of the employer online applications.
As much as part of me might not want to admit it, jobs – and, perhaps in particular, private school jobs – are obtained in considerable part based on «who you know.» And Cal/​West has those connections.
And to clear up what may be a misconception, the use of Cal/​West does not restrict one’s job search. Because staff is so responsive, it is just a question of quickly touching base and seeing if they can help. In other words, using them as a true partner in the process.
Ultimately, my teaching interests took me away from independent schools. But for those looking for a partner in their search for independent school jobs on the West Coast, signing up with Cal/​West is a no brainer. The question isn’t why would you use Cal/​West – the question is, why wouldn’t you?

Very bad placement firm. I wouldn’t recommend you rely your search on that firm. You might just end up having nothing.
Last winter I began to work with them when I need to relocate from east to the west coast. They had several interviews with me and asked me to pay $ 30 fee in order to be accepted. After I completed everything and became a candidate, I got NO referral from them. In January I emailed their staff and asked if they have any opening in my field, and they immediately gave me one. So why you didn’t give the position out earlier? Very confusing! Anyway, I was not contacted by any means and that is a waste of $ 30.
I’m grateful that Calwest is not the only firm I used, though I thought it is a stronger one on the west coast. I also used Carney Sandeo and got two job offers for the next school year.

I have had a better experience with several other placement companies (for example, Carney & Sandoe). I have the same complaint about interviews — the first time I interviewed in NY, I had an in-​person and it was fine. A few years later, they wanted a follow-​up interview. The person never called me at the appointed time. They emailed me the next day to say they had a «childcare emergency» and wanted to reschedule. Then, they never called me for our rescheduled appointment. Even if your babysitter bails, you can take a minute to call the person who is waiting at home for your call to let them know. I sent them an email letting them know the interviewer kept flaking out and they decided to just waive the interview, so it clearly was not important in the first place.
I also want to add that, if a job is posted that you are interested in, you have to tell them before applying on your own. I did this once and was told that I didn’t have enough experience for this job and they would not be interested in me until I had at least 3 years of experience. They told me they would not forward them my file because it would make it seem like they didn’t have quality candidates. The person I was speaking with was somewhat rude about it, as if I was imposing greatly on her time by following their own stated policy. However, Carney & Sandoe sent them my file, without my prompting. The school called me up and I made it through 3 rounds of interviews to become a finalist, showing that Cal/​West had it wrong. I think that they look at candidates «by numbers» — distill your application down to number of years of teaching and ignore things like advanced degrees and quality of schools that you attended.

I have had a really good experience with Cal/​West as a placement firm. As a teacher with only 1 year of teaching under her belt, Cal/​West got me several interviews where I moved forward to the final round of interviewing, which is a school visit and teaching demo. They were always helpful when I emailed them about new positions I was interested in. They also worked with me by giving me advice on how to handle certain situations and conversations with schools. I went to their connections event in San Francisco, which was also a great experience. I was able to talk to many educators and make some good connections. I also had 2 interviews set up just from talking with representatives from schools. Although I never received an offer, I am still impressed with their service. I will definitely use Cal/​West again when I am looking for a job down the road and have more experience.

CalWest Educators is a topnotch, professional service. Throughout the entire hiring and negotiating process, I felt supported and guided. Their communication was stellar and prompt. Lee Miller, the director, was always accessible, and took a great interest in my career goals for advancement. She gave me wonderful advice that helped me find a position that was a great match for me. I attended the Connections Event they held, and had four interviews. The event was run incredibly well. I was able to find a post through them that I am excited to start. I am very happy with my decision to use CalWest, and would recommend that all qualified candidates go with them. I know I certainly would again in a heartbeat. Thanks, CalWest!

I have worked with several other placement firms (national and international) and these guys are by far the best. They wer excellent with communication and I felt that they took a personal interest in my placement (not simply taking a shot-​gun approach as many do). In fact, when I received an offer through another agency, they advised me to take it (knowing they would not get a commission) as it was the best offer for my professional growth.
Should I go on the market again, I will sign up with them immediately.

I have used Cal/​West twice now (five years apart), and both times they quickly found me a fantastic job. Everyone I interacted with at Cal/​West is friendly, helpful and committed to finding my perfect match. I will absolutely use Cal/​West in all of my future career pursuits!

These guys are awesome and they take the time to place teachers in their perfect schools. They gave very helpful advice and know lots of people in the independent school industry. I’m very excited about my new job and wouldn’t have known about it if it weren’t for Cal-​West.

Do not bother with these people. Borderline scam. I had 2 interviews that were no call/​no shows, and then 2 months later they dropped me from their program without any communication. I only found out because I tried to sign in and couldn’t. Horrible communication and a procedural disaster.