Teaching is a rewarding career and it’s a great way to make use of your talent, passion and enthusiasm. However, getting a teaching job can be more difficult than most people realise. That’s why we’ve put together this list of tips on how you can increase your chances of getting a teaching job in 2022!
Know your subject area
Knowing your subject area is important for a number of reasons. First and foremost, it will help you determine if the job you’re applying for is the right fit for your skills and interests. Second, knowing what kind of classes you want to teach will inform how much research needs to be done before starting at a new position.
Being a teacher is a lifelong journey and you cannot possibly enjoy it if you teach something you do not enjoy. So make sure you pick a subject that you thoroughly enjoy yourself. This way, you will also be better prepared to sit for teaching job interviews as you will be able to answer difficult questions tactfully.
Get teacher training and qualification
You must be qualified to teach before you start appearing for interviews to get hired as a teacher. You can start this by going for a full time undergraduate course like B.El.Ed. or B.Ed. However, if you are someone who is not in a position to invest 3-4 years to get a teaching degree then you can opt for a diploma or other teacher training courses like basic teacher training, Montessori teacher training, etc.
Several aspiring teachers also go for industry-recognised teaching qualifications like PgCTL. It is approved by the Office of Qualifications and Examinations Regulation (UK Ofqual) and awarded by The Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA), Dubai, UAE. This makes PgCTL a globally accredited teaching qualification. And thus, with 10-month course certification in hand, you will be eligible to apply for teaching jobs abroad as well.
Keep up with technology
A 21st century teacher must be updated with all the latest technologies and gadgets that are used in a classroom. Schools are going hybrid and they want teachers who can seamlessly switch from physical to virtual mode of teaching and vice versa.
You can easily find several online teaching courses to learn about the popular educational technology that schools are using today. Such certifications boosts your chances of getting hired at reputed schools and also increases your value as a teacher.
Be enthusiastic about learning.
In the world of education, it’s important to demonstrate enthusiasm for learning. While there are some people who can sit down in front of a classroom and teach without any preparation at all, most teachers need some degree of training before they can be effective teachers.
As such, you should always be on the lookout for new opportunities to learn about your field or other areas of interest—from conferences and workshops held by organisations like National Council Educational Research and Training (NCERT) or The District Institute of Education and Training (DIET), which offer extensive resources on teaching practices; from books and articles written by experts in education; even just attending professional development sessions offered by various institutions across the country!
Have a clear and concise resume
You should have a clear and concise resume. The most important thing to remember when writing your curriculum vitae is that it’s not just about what you can do—it’s also about who you are as a person. Make sure every sentence on your CV is an honest reflection of yourself.
Create an impressive teaching portfolio by documenting all of your work experiences through social media channels such as LinkedIn or Facebook, where employers can see what activities you’re involved with outside of school hours (e.g., volunteering). List your skills and qualifications, your achievements (both professional and personal), and some of your relevant life experiences.
Invest in yourself and your career
It is crucial that you invest in yourself by upskilling your teaching techniques. Learning and teaching both are undergoing rapid changes. The post-covid era in education is extremely volatile as schools are experimenting with new methods to create an engaging learning experience for their students.
You must remember that the job scenario is extremely competitive, even for teachers. So, don’t hesitate to invest in the right certifications. There are some excellent online teaching courses in India that will help add value to your resume and make you stand out from the contenders.
Understand the trend
Develop a sense of what is going on in the field. Are there any new trends that you should be aware of? Do you feel like this particular job is becoming more competitive or less so? You need to know these things so that when it comes time for you to apply for a teaching job, so that you can make an informed decision about how competitive it will actually be. Social media can be an excellent tool here. Join teacher communities from across the globe and take part in important conversations. Learn and analyse about newer teaching method and see how you can use them in your classroom when you become a teacher.
Conclusion
Even though the competition is cut throat, becoming a teacher today is truly one of the most exciting things. You get to teaching multicultural classrooms, and experience technology in its glory from a close distance. With so much collaboration going on in the education sector, teachers today can visit different countries and learn a lot from their educational systems.
We hope this article has helped with some important tips and tricks to nail that teaching interview. If you have any additional questions or want guidance for your teaching profession aheda, reach out to a Suraasa mentor and book a counselling session today.
