RecruitFront vs OLAS?
In the New York State (NYS) education landscape, OLAS (Online Application System) and RecruitFront are the two primary platforms used by public school districts for hiring. While they share the same goal, they differ significantly in their regional dominance, user experience, and how they are used by administrators.
Marketshare
OLAS - OLAS was created decades ago and has remained relatively unchanged since its inception. Due to its longevity and low competition in public school recruiting technology, it is the "industry standard," used by the vast majority of NYS public school districts.
RecruitFront - In a market of shockingly sparce competition—especially in light of teacher shortages—RecruitFront is a rising competitor, growing rapidly, particularly in specific regions and BOCES.
Scope of Jobs
OLAS - Primarily instructional (Teachers, Admins, TAs).
RecruitFront - Comprehensive: Instructional PLUS non-instructional (Bus drivers, nurses, IT).
Integration
OLAS - Standalone recruitment portal.
RecruitFront - Part of SchoolFront, a larger HR management system used by districts for payroll and onboarding. Integrated with Indeed.com. Integrated with Zapier for social media posting.
Visibility
OLAS - Broad "clearinghouse" feel; districts "search" the database.
RecruitFront - Modern "Applicant Tracking System" (ATS); jobs auto-post to LinkedIn and Indeed and social media.
Which is "Better"?
Neither is inherently "better," but they serve different strategic purposes for your job search:
Why OLAS might be better for you:
Scale: If you only use one, OLAS is where most teaching jobs live. You can apply to dozens of districts with a single "General Application."
Ease for Teachers: It is the system most experienced NY teachers are comfortable with. It is essentially the "Common App" for NYS schools.
Why RecruitFront might be better for you:
Modern Features: RecruitFront is generally more mobile-friendly and has a cleaner interface. It allows for more "creative" artifacts like digital portfolios and video introductions to be attached more easily.
Exclusivity: Some competitive districts have moved away from OLAS entirely to use RecruitFront. If you only check OLAS, you will miss these openings.
Direct Onboarding: Because it integrates with the district’s internal HR software, applying via RecruitFront often means your data transitions seamlessly into your employee file if hired.
Strategic Advice for NYS Candidates
To capture the interest of competitive districts, you shouldn't choose one—you should master both.
The "Two-Tab" Strategy: During peak hiring season (March–August), check both daily. Don't assume an OLAS district will post on RecruitFront, or vice-versa.
Verify via District Websites: Competitive districts often list their "official" application method on their own "Employment" page. If they list a RecruitFront link, apply there specifically rather than relying on a general OLAS profile.
Tailor Your Portfolio:
On OLAS: Focus on a strong, keyword-rich cover letter because the interface is more text-heavy.
On RecruitFront: Take advantage of the better upload capabilities to include high-quality PDFs of student work samples or links to your digital portfolio.
BOCES Factor: Many BOCES (Board of Cooperative Educational Services) have fully migrated to RecruitFront. If you are looking for specialized roles or shared services positions, RecruitFront is often the primary gatekeeper.
The Verdict: OLAS is still the quantity leader (more jobs), while RecruitFront is often the quality leader in terms of the technology and the specific "modern" districts that choose to use it. To be a competitive candidate, maintain a 100% complete profile on both.
