How to Land Your First Teaching Job
Posted On December 14,2022
As the field of early childhood education (ECE) continues to grow and evolve, so does the interest in teaching. If you’re passionate about working with young children and want to make a difference in their lives, this is your chance. Landing your dream job is certainly possible, but it takes a little planning and preparation to get there first.
Before you start drafting your cover letter and resume, it’s essential to take stock of your skills and qualifications first. Finding a great teaching job begins with excellent training. The good news is, you don’t need to commit to several years of schooling and massive student debt to become a preschool teacher, but you do need some formal training. Look for a vocational school that offers a comprehensive early childhood education degree program, like Athena Career Academy. The Early Childhood Associate degree program is typically a two-year program, but still results in a successful and rewarding career in the education field, without spending several years at an expensive university.
How to Get Your First Teaching Job Without Experience
Landing your first position after earning an early childhood education degree takes patience, time, and persistence. To boost your chances of getting your first teaching job, follow these steps:
Create a Cover Letter
Resumes are a significant part of getting an employer’s attention but what happens when they have stacks of resumes to sort through? How do you make yours stand out? A cover letter is an opportunity to introduce yourself, so don’t skip this step. It’s essential to tailor your letter to the specific job you are applying for. Your cover letter should highlight your accomplishments and explain things your resume does not. Make sure to request an interview at the end of the letter.
Craft an Incredible Resume
A carefully crafted, error-free resume will grab the attention of an employer but also show them you’re a qualified contender for the job. When you’re applying for a teaching job without experience, it’s important to highlight the skills and qualifications you’ve developed in other fields and demonstrate how they relate to education. Common teaching-related competencies may include, coaching, training, managing groups, tutoring, guiding, storytelling, researching, collaborating, evaluating, goal setting, critical thinking, etc. You can include your transferable skills or experience on your resume in a professional summary, or work history/skills section.
Practice Common Interview Questions
Knowing what to expect in your first teaching interview can help you answer questions confidently and make a good impression. Aspiring teachers without experience may encounter the following topics in an interview:
- Your motivation for working at the school you’ve applied to.
- Your discipline strategies for students.
- Your plans for speaking to parents effectively.
- Your style of using technology in person and virtually.
- Your reasons for wanting to teach.
- Your opinion for what makes a great teacher.
Make sure to arrive at your interview on-time and bring any requested materials with you, like a professional teaching portfolio if needed or letters of recommendation. Follow up your interview with a thank you email.
How Can I Learn More?
If you’re interested in earning your early childhood education degree so you can pursue a career in the education field, contact Athena Career Academy today. Athena offers a warm, welcoming environment where students thrive. Not only will you receive a quality education from a top-notch school, but you’ll become part of an intimate learning environment with one-on-one attention, low tuition rates, and excellent career opportunities upon graduation. The sooner you start the process, the sooner you’ll be on your way to applying for and landing your dream job.
