To be eligible for a referral bonus, referrals must be submitted via SmartRecruiters using one of the above methods outlined under “How to Make a Referral.” You should not submit your referral to your DOO or Principal, email a recruiter or have an applicant list you as a referrer on their application. Additionally, referrals who are hired must remain on staff for 90 days.
How to Submit a Referral
Uncommon Employees
OPTION 1: Submit your referral directly via SmartRecruiters’ Employee Referral portal.
OPTION 2: Share your personal referral link so your referral can apply directly, and you'll still get credit.
Non-Uncommon Employees
To refer someone for any of our open roles, visit our company page on SmartRecruiters, and search for the role. Click on the “Refer a Friend” button to submit referrals to our recruitment team.
Payment Timeline
1. Apply
Submit a referral!
2. Process
Referrals enter the interview process, which can take 2-3 weeks.
3. Hired!
Referral receives a job offer and signs their agreement.
4. Paid
Bonuses are issued once a referral is employed for 90 days. Review our FAQ section for payout timeframes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Referral Bonuses are paid out on a quarterly basis via an employee’s normal payroll process according to the following dates for all referrals hired and still working at Uncommon Schools for at least 90 days (or on the date that a referral bonus is paid out, whichever is earlier):
- September 30, 2025 — Bonuses for all teachers and leaders referred and hired for the 2025-26 school year, who started on or before September 1, 2025
December 15, 2025 — Referrals that start between September 2 and December 1
March 30, 2026 — Referrals that start between December 2 and March 1
June 30, 2026 — Referrals that start between March 2 and June 16
If you are NOT an Uncommon employee:
External Referrers will be paid once a referred staff member works 90 days. Processing will occur monthly and will take 6-10 weeks from the time a referred staff member works 90 days. Processing time is dependent on receipt of all external referrer paperwork by the Talent Recruitment Team.
Yes. All referral bonuses are taxable. This is an IRS regulation and Uncommon is not able to make any exceptions. The standard bonus tax rate is approximately 45%. Taxes will be taken out of bonuses for employees and the total amount paid out to you will be the amount of the bonus after the taxes have been deducted. Any referral bonuses paid out to external referrers over $600 will receive a 1099 form to include when submitting your tax return.
No. Due to concerns regarding the tracking and monitoring of staff referrals, as well as the significant administrative burdens on our Talent Recruitment staff posed by the need to track down referrals not made through our Referral Platform, we have determined that attempting to accommodate referrals not submitted through the Smart Recruiters platform will pose an undue hardship to the organization. Accordingly, all referrals must be submitted through the SmartRecruiters platform.
SmartRecruiters makes it easy for you to submit, track referrals, and for hiring managers and recruiters to track and manage referrals. Please refer to the directions listed above for how to submit a referral via the Smart Recruiters platform.
| Referees | Are NOT eligible for… | ARE eligible for.. |
|---|---|---|
| Principals & DOOs |
|
|
| RSIs and RSOs |
|
|
| Hiring Managers for Home Office, Regional, and School-Based Teams who refer candidates for their open roles |
|
|
| Individuals who are not employed by Uncommon Schools | N/A |
|
| Recruitment Team Members; Executive Team Members; Companies or Organizations that currently have a contract or agreement with Uncommon Schools Placement firms, recruitment, and staffing agencies, and independent contractors; College or University personnel who partner with our recruitment team to source |
|
Once you submit your referral via SmartRecruiters, you will be able to access the referral portal to see the status of anyone you referred. If your referral is hired and works the required 90 days, a member of the Talent Recruitment Team will reach out to you with specific information about your referral bonus.
You may submit a resume and contact information to recruitment@uncommonschools.org, however, you will not be eligible for a referral bonus or any referral drive prizes.
Email the Talent Recruitment Team at recruitment@uncommonschools.org.
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