No Teaching Job for 2009-2010? Still Stay Involved in Education
If you are facing the prospect of not being employed as a full-time teacher this fall, you should consider what alternatives you have to stay involved in education throughout the 2009-2010 academic year to improve your chances of landing a teaching job in the future.
Substitute teaching is probably the most obvious alternative. School administrators often regard subbing as a job audition. If you are able to prove to administrators that you can handle the tough job of being a substitute teacher, you are showing them your talents rather than just providing a resume and an application. Some teacher candidates are concerned, however, that a school district will want to keep a talented substitute teacher as a sub and will pass them up to hire other candidates for full-time positions. If you prove that you are an outstanding teacher, smart administrators will want to employ you full-time when they get the opportunity rather than take a chance that you will leave their district for another job elsewhere. If that becomes the case, they lose you as a substitute teacher and as a full-time teacher.
Unfortunately, some teacher candidates do just an adequate job (or worse) as a sub. Since many schools need substitute teachers, if you show that you are a mediocre sub, you may still be called for daily sub assignments because someone has to be in the classroom, but the district will find better candidates for full-time vacancies. If you choose to sub, take each assignment as a professional challenge to showcase your teaching talents.
There may be para-professional jobs available for you such as being a teacher’s aide. If you choose this route, work closely with the teacher or teachers you are assigned to demonstrating your professional capabilities. Don’t try to upstage the teachers or to usurp their authority. First gain their trust and respect and then look for opportunities to excel in the classroom with the welfare of your students being your highest priority.
Other options for you may be coaching, getting involved with extracurricular activities such as a school play, tutoring (either in the schools or in private firms such as Sylvan Learning Centers), or working for an online cyber school, an early childhood center, or an organization that runs programs for children such as a YMCA. You may find employment at a community college or pursue a graduate assistantship related to education if you choose to seek a master’s degree. If you do choose a graduate degree program, consider one that will earn you additional certifications making you more marketable in future job searches. Graduate classes also provide excellent networking opportunities with professors and with other students who may be employed as teachers.
If teaching is your passion, you need to stay involved in education somehow even though there may be higher paying jobs available outside of education. If you are not involved in education, you risk losing touch with teachers and administrators in the field who may serve as references, and you may have a hard time staying current with issues in education. A few years outside of education will be difficult to explain to administrators who will ask, “Why should I hire you when there are other candidates who have current, related experience in education?”
Stay involved in the field of education and gain additional experience, refine your teaching skills, and expand your professional network. Most likely, your efforts will pay off in a teaching job eventually.
--John F. Snyder,
Co-Director of Career Services,
Slippery Rock University of PA
Comments
I followed my heart, and with kids grown and gone returned to college to get a teaching credential and masters degree. Then, it took 3 years to get a teaching job. The job lasted for two years. Budget cutbacks have put me out of work. Substituting, coaching, volunteering, are fine if you live at home with mom and dad, but if you're an adult with a mortgage, student loans and real living expenses, substituting at $100 a day just won't make it.
Posted by: Patrick Burke | August 14, 2009 11:46 AM
I live in San Diego and I completed a Mild/Moderate credential in Special Education at SDSU in Spring '09. Much to my complete disbelief the job market is so tight that I'm unable to find a position. I have not kept in contact with many of my classmates that completed their SPED credential when I did but of those I have been able to contact, I estimate that around half of them have been unable to find a teaching job. I have put in just over 30 applications through EdJoin to districts up and down the state of CA and have only received two interviews through EdJoin. I applied to SD and LA Unified and I'm approved and on their wait lists, but I only received one interview through LA unified but no offer. Before receiving my credential I worked nearly full time as a sub but the last year I worked as a sub it was very difficult to get a full weeks worth of work and with the economy I expect it to be even more difficult now.
Posted by: Tim R. | October 7, 2009 2:09 PM
With all of the effort I've put into my education, I would absolutely love to stay in education, but I have bills to pay and I would prefer not to live in poverty. I'm not going to spend my time doing anything I can to stay in education regardless of the pay.I would find it much easier to tell an administrator that I left teaching because I was not offered a job rather than explain to a bill collector that I can't pay my bills because I'm a starving educator.
Posted by: Tim R. | October 7, 2009 2:19 PM
Hi, Just wanted to share my input. Wow it has been a hard row to haul. Teaching such a rewarding job but very discouraging at this present time.
Posted by: Elizabeth | October 30, 2009 7:59 PM
I have been looking for a full-time position for a year and a half now. I have interviewed about ten-twelve times with mostly CVESD, and once with Cajon Valley and once with SDUSD. Wow it has been a huge blow. When I was in my program I felt so little competition. Now I see a lot of people out there I am interviewing against have already had their own class. I have only had a support staff position, which has been a great way to meet wonderful teachers and learn from them. I have been in this position going on my second year. I got the position through knowing staff as a result of student teaching. The district NSD is a little district so it's kinda difficult to acquire full-time status. Plus on each sight there is usually three part-timers like me waiting for that full-time position, one of us gets picked up as the full-timer and the others (our close colleagues don't get the job, OUCH !
We will see. I hope to get a position this year ! BUT if I don't miraculously get a position this year I loose my status in the APLE loan forgiveness program which I could have been excused for 19000 of loans.
I am so mad though because I was offered a long-term sub position that turned into a full-time in SDUSD, which I didn't take because the principal said there would be no way to get picked up as full-time for the year to follow. You really never know. The administration says one thing and then it all changes.
Its very frustrating. I feel lucky to have a part-time with extra hours teaching intervention classes.
Posted by: Elizabeth | October 30, 2009 8:17 PM
Teaching was a second career choice after raising children and a career in commercial finance. No one said while I was attending school that finding a job would be this difficult - just the opposite everyone said that my experieince as a mom and nursery school teacher and a grade student with a 4.0 cum and excellent recommendations would get me ajob. NOT TRUE! Oh I've had interviews but they turn out to be courtesey interviews because the contract says they must interview 3 people. They already know who will get the job but have not problem wasting my time to fill their quota. And do you know who gets the job? People with a connection - they know someone in the district, on the school board, their father/mother/brother went to school with the principal or superintendent. My son is now considering education as a major and I'm torn about what to tell him. Not to mention that I'm extremely frustrated and will most likely leave the education field. I too have expenses and need to pay bills. Too bad, I really enjoy teaching and the kids. My husband says the principals and schools will be missing out - I will too.
Posted by: mart | November 16, 2009 7:50 PM
The economy being what it is, the teachers who were "supposed to" retire, are staying put. When will new people be needed? Who knows? When the economy gets better and the 55 and over group hopefully retire, perhaps new people will get a chance. I have two master's degrees and no prospects. I also am a sub, which only proves helpful, if you are a drill sergeant personality!
Posted by: M Smith | November 18, 2009 8:33 AM