Getting Started in Education: How to Get Your First Job as a Teacher

Overview

• The different requirements by state
• How to decide on the right subject area
• When to begin your job search and how to ace the interview

The education sector can offer a rich, rewarding career experience for those who enjoy working with kids and helping them learn throughout the school year. A good teacher knows how to keep students of varying abilities and learning styles engaged as they progress through the curriculum. They can help students fall in love with learning.

Those interested in finding a teaching job will find that uncovering the perfect position might take some effort. However, with some preparation, you can find the right teaching job for you. The following steps will help prospective teachers find the right role as a teacher.

Educators have a rich and rewarding profession that draws people from a variety of different backgrounds and experiences. Before getting started on the job search, however, it is important to review state credentials set by the United States Department of Education for teacher certification.

These credentials play a critical role in eligibility for those interested in teaching in a public school, in particular. Sometimes, new teachers can get jobs in private schools without having to obtain a teaching license, but public schools generally follow their state guidelines. Private schools might have their own rules about the types of credentials they want to see in aspiring teachers.

While the rules will vary between states, earning the necessary credentials to get a teaching position typically requires earning at least a bachelor’s degree and going through a teacher preparation program. During this process, aspiring educators will learn about important parts of teaching, such as creating lesson plans and classroom management.

They will also go through student teaching, which helps provide them with some teaching experience. During the student teaching experience, the school district will assign a student teacher to a classroom. There, they will observe an experienced teacher and slowly progress to the point where they can create their own lessons and teach the class. At the end of the teacher certification process, teachers will need to pass Praxis exams. Their test scores will influence their licensure.

Beyond the degree program to earn a teaching certificate, some prospective teachers also earn a master’s degree in a particular subject matter that they would like to teach. This helps demonstrate further professional development and a passion for the subject, which helps make them an appealing candidate.

If you would like to become a teacher but don’t have a teaching certificate, you can check with the state to see if they have alternate paths toward becoming certified. Some offer accelerated programs for experienced professionals to help them get in the classroom faster. Those without a certification can also look at the requirements for their local private school to see if they might find a job there, as well.

Those interested in becoming a teacher also need to carefully consider the type of teacher they would like to become. The title of “teacher” can cover a wide variety of different roles. To begin, consider the age range and grade levels you would like to teach. Elementary school teachers, middle school teachers, and high school teachers all have very different experiences.

In addition to the age of the students, teaching experience and expected credentials can also vary widely between different types of positions. High school teachers, for example, should be experts in certain subject areas, like English or history. Elementary education is more holistic for teachers, as they will generally teach their group of students several different subjects.

In addition to traditional classrooms, there are also teachers who specialize in types of teaching, including special education. Options for full-time and part-time teachers exist as well and can be carefully considered by those considering entering the field.

Now that you have reviewed your necessary credentials and how you can earn your teaching certification to obtain a teaching job, it’s time to begin your job search.

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) expects there to be a 4% growth rate for kindergarten, elementary school, and high school teachers, which will result in over 56,000 new job openings for elementary school teachers and over 40,000 for high school teachers. These new jobs are in addition to the jobs that will open up due to retirement or people leaving the profession. This means that those interested in finding a job will have ample opportunities to apply for their desired positions.

You can look for a job in a variety of different areas. Network with your existing connections and let them know that you want to move into education. You can gain information about job openings, connections with those hiring, and even advice about putting together a strong application.

Make use of job boards, as well. For example, Joblist allows you to search for relevant jobs and save your favorite job listings for later. By answering a few simple questions, you’ll receive search results customized to you.

Those who want to get a job will need to focus on four main components of their application:

• Their cover letter
• Their resume
• Their letters of recommendation
• A portfolio that demonstrates their educational credentials

Finding a job revolves around demonstrating to the school district that you will be a great teacher and the right candidate to fulfill their position. On your resume, emphasize any experience you have that will accentuate your dedication to education and helping children.

In your portfolio, those considering hiring you often want to learn more about the lesson plans you have created in the past, examples of student work you might have from other classrooms, or reviews you have been given.

Particularly if you’re new to the field, consider gaining some additional experience as you work through the application process. Some places you can gain valuable experience outside a traditional classroom include:

• Tutoring children in the subjects you want to teach
• Working at a summer camp
• Getting hired to work in a day care setting
• Working as a coach or volunteering with youth extracurriculars
• Volunteering with youth mentoring programs
• Working as a substitute teacher

As you gain these valuable experiences, you will also learn a lot about your strengths when working with children, which will help you when you get to the interview part of the hiring process. You can also gain pieces for your portfolio, such as reviews, examples of student work, and lesson plans.

Once you have presented yourself as a great teacher in your application, you may get called for an interview. Be prepared to discuss your teaching philosophy and your background as an educator during the interview.

Review common interview questions before you arrive. For those entering education, you can expect to hear questions like:

• What made you want to become a teacher?
• What are your classroom management strategies?
• How do you incorporate technology into your lessons?
• How do you help your students develop their social and emotional skills?
• How do you work with parents to encourage them to support the educational environment?
• What do you do to incorporate real-world lessons into your plans to help students make connections to the events around them?
• How do you review material and assess understanding and progress?
• How will you help students who require extra attention, such as those considered gifted or those with an individualized education program (IEP)?

These types of questions will help gauge your competency as a teacher and also how well you will fit in with the overall environment at the school. Remember that not all schools are the same in terms of philosophy and goals. Before you come to the interview, make sure you thoroughly research the school and the school district so you fully understand the student population they serve, their educational philosophy, and how you can contribute to the learning experience they work to create.

Finding a job as an educator can be immensely rewarding for those who enjoy working with children and helping them learn. However, those just beginning their job search will find that taking the time for quality preparation can make a significant difference in their ability to demonstrate their strengths and skills as an educator.

As you begin your job search for the right teaching position, see how you can use Joblist to simplify the process of searching for jobs and finding appealing positions. Get started finding your next position today.