Have you been thinking about a career change?
There are many reasons why people look for a new opportunity.
Maybe you’ve just started a family, and you want to be closer to home.
Maybe the career that you chose, is not as appealing as it once was.
Or, maybe you’re looking for a career where you feel like you are making a difference in the world.
If you are thinking about changing jobs, a career as a teacher may just be the opportunity you’ve been looking for.
You may think that only those that went to school to be a teacher can apply, but teachers with diverse backgrounds in MANY fields are in high demand around the country.
Being bilingual, having an interest in working with special needs kids, or having a background in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics STEM are all demographics that may make you an excellent candidate for a teaching position.
In fact, the demand is so high for candidates with these skills that districts around the country are providing financial incentives such as signing bonuses, annual stipends and student loan forgiveness to attract the right candidates.
School administrators love interviewing career changers.
Why?
Because they know that you have life and work experience that will inspire young people. You can only learn so much from theory, and career changers bring enthusiasm and practical experience into the classroom that makes a big difference for students.
When thinking about the prospect of making this change, one of the primary benefits is the ability to apply what you learned in industry to make a difference in the lives of children.
Think about it.
You’ll be shaping and molding young minds ready to learn from your experience in the world. You won't be abandoning the subject you spent time on, just reshaping your focus and finding a new way to share it with the next generation.
Other attractive features of a career in teaching include:
No honest discussion of such a big life change would be complete without a discussion of the challenges that teachers face.
As a teacher, you can often expect heavy workloads during the school year with large class sizes and potential issues with classroom behavior. These are two of the major reasons listed for those that start and then choose to leave teaching.
It’s important to closely assess yourself and whether you have the patience to deal with children before deciding to make the change.
The key here is to not get overwhelmed by the thought of a new position. Talking to others who have made the switch can provide you with valuable insight.
To help you with this process, I have two books for you to read first. Go pick up a copy of "The First Days of School" by Harry Wong. Or if you are thinking about becoming a secondary teacher, get "The Classroom Management Book" by the same author.
Once you read these, you'll either have more confidence in a career change or you will have decided that teaching is not for you.
The image of an overworked, underpaid teacher is one that is portrayed in the media and can often scare away ideal candidates from the career.
However, one study found that teacher satisfaction is on the rise and that more teachers feel that they can be autonomous in the classroom and use alternative methods of teaching to keep their jobs interesting and their students learning.
Another good sign is that a high 93 percent of K-12 teachers surveyed by the University of Phoenix in 2017 noted that they were satisfied with their choice to become a teacher.
77 percent of people that changed careers by becoming a teacher in the last 10 years responded that they would recommend others follow the same path.
If you’ve determined that teaching is the right for you, don’t go it alone. There are many options to get your teaching certification. In the state of Texas, finding an alternative certification provider is the most popular route to becoming a teacher.
An Alternative Certification Program will help you navigate the sometimes complicated process of becoming certified. A great program will help you answer any questions that you may have, and if you are on the fence about pursuing this opportunity, they will help you answer the question of whether you are a good candidate for the career.
Topics: Becoming A Teacher
Your Comments