Are you thinking of taking teaching as a profession, or changing your full-time job to follow the passion for teaching? While the job of teaching comes with many rewards, it has its own set of challenges. Many individuals decide to pursue a career in teaching just for the flexibility it offers, out of love to educate young minds. Shortage of highly qualified and experienced teacher has led to more job opportunities in this sector. A teacher, irrespective of the age of students he or she works with, has many responsibilities such as preparing the course curriculum, providing general knowledge on happenings around the world, and focusing on overall development of the child. An educator plays a huge role in influencing the mind of a student and can mentor him/her become a successful and responsible citizen of tomorrow. Before you enter in this valuable profession, understand the steps required to become a teacher.
Know the education system
Since the education system has evolved so much since you were a child with the technology coming into the picture, it is necessary to understand the teaching methods that are prevalent today if you want to get this job. This is true for a fresher teacher as well as an experienced professional who has been in the field for years. Also, teaching in a local public school would be much different from private institutions.
Decide if teaching is the right profession for you?
Although this could be a satisfying career, one must understand whether he/she is willing to spend a considerable amount of time with students. As a major part of your day would revolve around providing the best to your pupils, you must have that persona to teach not only academics, but also other values like socialization, communication, or working towards goals.
Take a degree course
It is one of the careers where an individual gets a chance to contribute to society and make a real difference. Hence, obtaining a teacher's degree from an accredited institution should be the next thing in your mind. There are many teacher preparation programs – both online and offline available. Depending on the grade you want to teach, choose your degree course.
Examine your interests
While you are selecting the certification program, also decide what subject you would like to teach once the course is over. This will assist in selecting the major/minor subjects of your degree course. Deciding your career goals in advance will make things clearer – whether you want to be a kindergarten educator, or a senior professor in a reputed university.
Get some classroom experience
Every theoretical knowledge is incomplete unless it is implemented in practical life. You may get a chance to visit schools, teach students, and prepare reports. To get an idea of how being a teacher feels like, volunteer and try teaching basic concepts to a bunch of kids in your locality. Also, be ready to step in as a substitute for a local school if the need arise.
Get required certification
Many institutions list certain prerequisites and certification they are looking for in a prospective candidate. Get a valid license from the center you obtained training from. Before you apply for an interview, it is necessary to check the criteria to secure a teaching job at a place. Obtain a genuine certificate from an accredited government center.
Write a resume and get hired
With a degree and certification in hand, it's time to look for educational institutions that are hiring. You would need to write a concise and constructive resume that highlights your teaching capabilities and experience. Use this resume as your selling point in job fairs, institutions with vacant positions, or even communicate with your network that you are searching for a teacher's role.
Before choosing any profession, you must understand its traits and the impact it would have on your lifestyle. Hence, before opting for a career in teaching, assess practical considerations like salary, qualifications, certifications and availability of jobs in your area prior to making a decision.
