Search Programs

I've been meaning to do a blog on sub job assistance programs for some time, and I am finally getting around to it today.  Last spring I described to you how the internet sub system called AESOP works.  After a few weeks of spending hours and hours on the system waiting for something to come along I thought there must be a better way to work the system.  I was actually just googling the system looking for more information about the program when I discovered that there are several companies that offer downloadable assistance to finding sub jobs.  The basic program will refresh your page every few seconds and makes some sort of sound to alert the user that a new job is available.  Each system, though, is slightly different in how the execute this search.

Jobulator
Jobulator is the official program that works as a peripheral with AESOP.  It is made by the same company that creates AESOP so it is designed to work seamlessly with the program.  With jobulator you download a widget onto your desktop that makes a ringing sound when it detects a new job.  You can then enter your pin onto the widget and it will accept the job.
Benefits:  It is created to work with the system.  They also offer a 30 day trial and you pay $40 for a years subscription.  
Drawbacks:  Jobulator has to be enabled by your school district which unfortunately mine has not.  It also does not have monthly subscription price.  If you get a teaching position or longterm sub spot, you're pretty much out the money you paid for it.

Assignment Assistant
With Assignment Assistant you download a file which logs you into AESOP and refreshes your page as often as you set it (I set mine for every 7 seconds).  When it detects a job, a voice echoes "Hello!" excitedly for  about 15 seconds.  The best part about this program is that it automatically accepts the job for you, even if you're not right next to the computer.  You can also set your computer to only accept jobs that match specific criteria.  After I got the system down, I set mine to only accept full days and to not accept special education jobs.
Benefits: Automatic acceptance and the ability to filter jobs through preferences.  They have a montly fee of  9.95 so you're not stuck if something comes up.  As I understand it, this program is developed and maintained by a current substitute teacher, so he knows the system and what people want out of it.
Drawbacks: It only works with Internet Explorer (which I hate!)   And although they have good customer service, the developer e-mails everyone almost every day about the program.  I got a little sick of everything clogging up my e-mail.  I've also heard from some people that it didn't always accept jobs based on preferences.  It also rejects jobs that don't match your preferences so you can't go back and accept them later.  Also, because it works by refreshing your browser you get an annoying click every few seconds.  It didn't really bother me, but I know some people don't really like it.

SubJobSearch:
This program seems to run along the same lines as Assignment Assistant.  They seem to have a few different features though.  They do have where you can set up preferences for schools, times, and even teachers that you do and do not want to work for.  The other thing they offer is an automatic start up time.  Their example is you can set it to start looking at 4AM and their alert will wake you up if they found a job for the day.
Benefits: Even more control over what jobs you accept.  It seems to cost $25 for the year (though it's a bit confusing by the website).
Drawbacks:  They don't offer a trial period.  Reviews I've read from other people said that their customer service was terrible and that they're a bit cocky about their program.

Sub Sidekick
I just found this one at the beginning of this school year.  They offered a free 30 day trial so I took it.  This program also runs via widget.  It starts automatically when you start your computer and searches AESOP ever 30 seconds.  You can also set the program to only accept jobs for specific time durations, schools, and to include or exclude pretty much anything you want.  This program automatically accepts jobs as per your settings.  One day I just let my computer run while I was at another job and came home to three new jobs already lined up!  I also like that you can set it not to reject jobs that don't perfectly match your descriptions.  It will also alert you whenever there's a job available on your system whether it matches all your preferences or not.  You can also set it to send you an e-mail or text your phone when it detects jobs.
Benefits: I found this program a lot easier to use than Assignment Assistant and I haven't gotten one e-mail from them besides the "you got a job" e-mails.
Drawbacks: It's price is 9.99 a month which isn't terrible, but also isn't cheap.

I haven't subscribed to a program yet and I'm not sure if I will.  It's been really nice using sub sidekick the first few weeks as I wait for the sub season to pick up again.  I might pay again during the slow months just to make sure I still have jobs.  Right now I really can't afford a luxury like this and I'm not sure it's worth it when I CAN find jobs on my own, just maybe not quite as easily.  I'm hoping really hoping that my substitute networking is going to pay off.  I already am going to work two days for a friend this year!

The First Week

School has been in session for a week now, and I already have stories!  I've been blessed to find half day jobs for every day but the first day of school so far (more on this blessing in a future blog).  My first day I was covering for a teacher who only needed to leave for an hour but by contract the sub has to have either a half day (3.5 hours) or full day (7 hours) of work.  So, I bounced around to a few different classrooms performing odd jobs to help several different teachers.

My second day was very similar.  I taught two periods for an orchestra teacher and showed films to both classes that the students were uninterested in.  It made for two very long hours.  After the classes, the office was supposed to put me to work but they had nothing for me to do.  I spent the extra hour and a half reading.

Yesterday (Tuesday because of the holiday weekend)  I again read in the teacher's lounge for an hour and a half due to a lack of busy work.  Then I taught two periods of junior high English.  I had a fabulous discussion with the 7th graders about what makes good writing.  After explaining that showing in writing is always better then telling, one student asked if that meant film was better then books.  I then engaged the students in a conversation about how film and books were very different mediums and each did different things better than the other.  We then played a rousing descriptive game where each member of the class had to describe part of their "dream car."

Today I had a job teaching at a special school for performing arts and reasoning.  The teacher I worked for teaches English, social studies, and performing arts.  Today I taught two performing arts classes that were a blast.  I led the class in warm-ups and led them through several dance exercises.  At the end of the day, the teacher was interested in my endorsements because she is having a baby in the spring and needs a long term sub.  She was very excited that I have a theatre endorsement as well as the English endorsement.  If all goes well, I'll get a few months teaching in the same classroom.  There are a few hiccups that might get in the way, but I'm very hopeful that this will work out for next spring.

I've got a few more jobs already scheduled for the next few weeks.  I'm very surprised and grateful that I acquired so many jobs so quickly.  I'm hoping the rest of the year is just as fruitful as these first few days.