I am a retired teacher and I just completed my first year of substitute teaching and a LOVED using SubstituteAlert this year to get my jobs! I wasn't sure which of the many substitute apps available would work best for me, so I actually tried three different popular substitute teacher apps at the same time during their free trial periods, and I liked SubstituteAlert the best! I was always notified very quickly whenever jobs became available, and I got every single job I wanted all year long using SubstituteAlert. I also like the way the APP is set up - it's nicely designed and very easy to use so it makes it a snap to keep track of my jobs and manage my work schedule. I highly recommend it to anyone who is subbing - it's reasonably priced, and worth every penny! It makes finding your jobs quick and easy!
I have tried out many different apps for this, and this one has been my favorite since I first discovered it a couple of years ago! I have even at times tried others at the same time to see which app was faster, and this one always came out on top, which is really important to me, because the district I sub for, the good jobs will be taken within seconds of it becoming available, so the notifications coming by text and me having the option to accept it on that same text got me a lot more jobs! And it even allows you to list names of teachers that are on your "never sub for that teacher again" list, so you won't be bothered with notifications from them! I so heartily recommend this app!
I started with the free trial and when it ended, I felt I didn't really have a choice but to subscribe; it worked so well that it was a no brainer! There is no time delay between the job being posted and me receiving the notification via this app. It's instantaneous. I'm able to work every day because of it, and never have to check the Aesop website. I do wish it had a calendar view and I was able to cancel a job from the app, but for $4.99 a month, I'll take it! Don't hesitate with this app, just get it, it's a miracle for substitutes.
I am still in the trial period, and will provide an update if I decide to purchase (leaning toward not purchasing). I have Jobulator, and am upset that Jobulator no longer interfaces its calendar with Frontline (formerly Aesop). I give this app a 2 rating for two reasons:
1. It does not show how many vacancies are currently available on the icon. Jobulator does. Click on the app and it does list all current vacancies. I shouldn't have to click on the app. Jobulator has it beat in this area.
2. There are no monthly calendars. Jobulator has monthly calendars that shows the days I chose a vacancy or blocked out. This app lists only the vacancies taken. This is a serious shortcoming. Ideally, the app should have the same calendar as Jobulator, and then do what Jobulator used to do - click on a day in the calendar to pull up the teacher, subject, and school. Because Jobulator no longer has this function, I downloaded this app, yet, this app is actually worse.
I am not a fan of Jobulator because it no longer provides the calendar interface, but this app is worse. Too many shortcomings. Fix the items in 1 and 2, and then it gets 5 stars.
I like the multiple ways to receive job notifications but the two most critical features missing (which I rely on) are the calendar view and the desktop app.
I rely on the calendar view of scheduled jobs to see what days are free (I currently have an overlap between this app and Jobulator and use Jobulator to see my availability) and when I'm working. It's exactly like the online Frontline site calendar view.
I do love the list view of jobs and details so I don't have to log into Frontline to see the job details for each day, that's awesome!
I also am missing the desktop app that allows me to not have to stay logged into the internet on my desktop just to be able to receive notifications (I am currently relying heavily on Jobulator as I test out this app before paying). Actually, the desktop notification don't do me any good. The times I've been home and heard Jobulator go off on my desktop to announce jobs (and the internet browser is open) I've had no notifications from SubstituteAlert! If my phone dies or I left it upstairs, I have no way to know that there's a job available.
Add these two features (Calendar View showing availability like the frontline site calendar & Desktop App that announces posted jobs) and I'll have no reason to stay with Jobulator!! I'd gladly pay for your app instead!
I've used other substitute apps but this one is far superior in speed and alerts so you can grab the assignment immediately! I work Monday thru Friday also and get all my jobs through SubstituteAlert. I tried the other leading app but their customer service was terrible!! SubstituteAlert will respond quickly and are extremely helpful and courteous. I just got a long term position and forgot to cancel my subscription temporarily. They gave me a full refund for the month I was charged!!! I recommend this app for anyone looking to grab as many daily assignments as possible!
I have been subbing for a few years now and I can tell you this APP is great. I also use Jobulator because this app does not have the whole package. If it could provide the user with a web connection to AESOP and in the main menu also provide a calendar of my days working and still available like Jobulator does then it would get 5 stars. I actually keep Jobulator around just for those two functions. Help me leave Jobulator and provide the user with those capabilities and you will be a winner ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
2nd Review
Please ask developers to add a calendar that "in a glance" you can see a month at a time where the days you are scheduled to work are highlighted. This is a big plus for a couple of reasons. 1) when someone is scheduled to work half days and you work in more than one district, it keeps you from accepting two jobs the same day. I can't make it to one job in the morning and another job in a different district in the afternoon. 2) I can review my work days at a glance instead of scrolling through and reading each day. That takes too long. JOBULATOR provides this and it's a big plus. It would give this APP 5 stars and put you on top of JOBULATOR.
Kim
Sent from my iPad
I have used this app to schedule my sub jobs. There are times I click on the assignment and it's gone. I understand it's first come first serve, so if I ponder on an assignment, it will be gone. Also, not having my notifications turned on and the app readily open, it does delay me from accepting the job. As for the couple of whiners who claim to not being able to ever book an assignment, maybe your variables are out of alignment. So as long as others are content to sitting in front of a computer to book your job, or calling in, or getting the 5 am call for an assignment, please continue what you're doing so it makes it easier for me to continue filling my weekly calendar with sub spots.
This app is wonderful! I am new to substitute teaching. As many others have mentioned, competition is fierce when trying to acquire sub jobs. I researched several apps that would help secure a sub job. I selected this app because it has the following attributes:
1. Easy to set up
2. You can select a sound (that is different from what you already have on your phone) to notify you - which makes it easy to identify an alert
3. From the main screen, you can access a page of available jobs
4. From the main screen, you can access scheduled jobs
5. Can sync with your phone calendar
6. When an alert comes up on your phone (as well as when you look at scheduled jobs you will see date of job, hours, school, teacher and grade level) Easy to accept a job
7. The school district I am with uses Aesop and I have an iphone. The app works well with both Aesop and IOS.
8. I liked the fact that I did not have to provide a credit card number for my free trial
9. The customer service staff is outstanding. They are VERY quick to respond and were able to resolve my issues (errors on my part).
I recommend this app without reservation.
Love this app! As soon as I signed up, I was getting jobs! You DO have to be quick on the fly to get the jobs when they come up. When I've hesitated to check my schedule, I usually lost the job. So I try to keep the days in mind I can sub so I can respond as quick as possible. I prefer to get just a text (& not a phone call or email). It's nice that you can customize how you want it to notify you. And really nice that the job goes into my calendar automatically. I just haven't figured out how to make it "alert" me when the job is coming up. Overall great app and so nice not to have to log onto AESOP every time I wanted to check for jobs.
Suzanneretired 2015
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