Teaching as a Second Career - Tips to Jump Into an Education Job
Teaching as a second career has become increasingly popular. Mature teaching job candidates, who are making a second career in education make excellent teachers.
The career transition to teaching is usually done because the individual is passionate about perusing a job they always wanted. They are looking for a career that would more rewarding than the job they wish to leave. Does that sound like you?
Are you entering teaching through the alternate route program? It is a very popular method of entering teaching as a second career.
Even if the education job market is tough in your area, you should continue to pursue your passion for teaching. If you have tons to offer your future learners, why not start the career transition process without making further delays. I have seen people make all kinds of excuses for not moving forward – don't be one of them.
Finding an excellent teaching position can be difficult, even during the best of times. In periods of economic difficulty, it can seem impossible. In some geographical areas, depending on the economy, prospective teachers need to be more aggressive than ever in locating and securing a teaching position. Don't ever give up on your dreams.
If you are looking for a teaching career, don't despair. Teaching jobs are still available, but it may take more effort to obtain one. Consider using the following techniques for mature and experienced professionals to increase the likelihood that you will secure a position.
Second Career Alternative Choices - Know Where to Look
While there are an assortment of places where you can find education opportunities listed from numerous school districts, there are still districts that only post on their website. Be sure to learn how the school district you are interested in announces job openings. It could be a teacher job fair, teacher newsgroups, or bulletin boards.
To learn how to access hidden district jobs, read gain an edge finding and applying for teaching job posts. While it can be time-consuming looking at websites for multiple school districts while job searching, doing so will decrease the likelihood that you will miss a posting that may be a perfect match for your teaching skills. Add the sites to your Internet favourites and visit them often to make sure you don't miss an opportunity.
Your social media network can fill up quickly with teacher job posts if you are plugged into the right networks on LinkedIn, Twitter, and other popular social media. To narrow your social universe, join networks open only to high school teachers, elementary school teachers, and so on.
Employ these social media networking tips to propel your job search forward
Develop a Competitive Teacher Resume
Create an attention grabbing, aesthetically pleasing, accomplishment-based resume for a teacher with no experience in the classroom to ensure you will stand out from the rest of the candidates. If you are writing a first year teacher resume and have internship or practicum experience be sure to draw from that experience.
Review successful teacher resume and cover letter samples for ideas on how to position yourself for the teaching position you desire. Be sure to select a format that will effectively highlight your talents and qualifications as a teacher.
If you were a stay-at-home mom with little outside work experience, or a productive employee for one company for 20 years, consider writing a functional vs a chronological resume. A functional resume, can raise a red flag, but at the same time it emphasizes your relevant skills for the education job you wish secure.
These skills may include those developed through volunteer work – top fundraiser for local school events, parent chaperone on monthly outings, after school tutor to elementary children, helping at the library, or summer day camp activities leader for five years.
Are you getting some creative ideas for writing your second career resume? I hope so!
Teaching as a Second Career will Require Including Teacher Skills Needed
Remember, you will likely be up against a large number of candidates, so make sure you explicitly point out the strengths that you possess.
These may be the factors that stick in the hiring committee's mind, and may help you win an interview. These strengths relevant to teaching will also serve as keywords in your second career resume, which is critical to securing an interview.
All teacher job candidates need to understand teaching keywords and skills to use when writing your resume. If deputy head teacher, international school teacher, or special education teacher do not appear in your resume, your CV will not appear in a search to fill these job positions.
These same education keywords will be scanned into the recruiter's resume databank and used to call up your resume for a teaching job position in the future.
Point Out Talents and Skills to Perform a Teaching Job as a Second Career
Do you have a unique skill that would benefit the school? Be sure to mention other ways you could be an asset, such as coaching sports groups, teaching a literacy club, playing the piano, or facilitating a drama club.
Many schools are interested in hiring someone who can perform double duty, or help out will extra-curricular activities. Remember schools are increasingly budget constrained. If you can help a principal run a more productive and cost-effective school, you will have her attention. In job and recruitment counseling interviews ask what skills are valued for the teaching job you are pursuing. Consider updating your teaching skills through part-time courses. Returning to college or university as a stay-at-home mom can prepare you to land the teaching job you desire as soon as your children are out the door themselves to school.
Research the School and School District
If you do not convey in your student teacher resume why you are a perfect match for the targeted school, your submission could be viewed as a generic application sent to every teaching job opening. Make sure that you learn about the school district for which you are applying, because if you do not sound interested in the school district, they will likely not be interested in you.
Find something unique about the school that is of interest... or in an area you know your expertise would be helpful. For example, if they have low reading scores, emphasize your proven ability to increase reading scores by using effective reading strategies.
Present Yourself Professionally
You are applying for a position as a teacher, so look and act professional at your teaching job interview. Schools are less likely to hire someone who seems timid and nervous at an interview.
After all, if you seem insecure in front of a hiring committee, how will you be in front of a class? Practicing through mock interviews can help you get rid of your job interview jitters and present a confident front.
Schools are looking to hire someone who can impart knowledge and lead a classroom, so let them meet that person at the interview.
The market is flooded with qualified candidates who are eager to secure a full time position in their field. If you are serious about getting a teaching job as a second career, you need to be aggressive, and make sure that you prove yourself in your interview. If you WOW them with your knowledge, skills, and professionalism, it will be hard for them not to offer you the teaching position.
And, if you follow these job search tips and steps you should successfully land a teaching job as a second career.
You can do it! I have seen this career transition many times.
If you need professional resume writing or job search coaching – don't hesitate to reach out to us. We would enjoy helping you to make teaching your second career.
Do not forget to review our job search tips for teachers over 50. Also look into the international teaching market, where teachers are always in demand. Read in-depth blog posts about how to find an international education teaching job and start gaining valuable teaching experience. Also peak in at these ESL teacher resume writing tips.
While you are there you will find lots of job search, and resume and application letter writing tips to get ideas on how to write your academic CV curriculum vitae to land a job at home or abroad.
Learn more about Candace Alstad-Davies by reviewing my about me page. From that page, you can review testimonials and frequently asked questions.
Need some writing help making a stellar teaching as a second career resume, application letter, or CV curriculum vitae? Take the time to review and order one of our resume packages or individual services.
Have questions, please connect by sending an email to Candace or call toll-free at 1 877 738-8052. I would enjoy chatting with you.