All posts by Neil

Becoming a teacher after being a teaching assistant

If you are already in the field of teaching by working as a teaching assistant, you may be able to develop your career further and become a teacher. There are many different paths that you can take to become a trained teacher, and one is through an apprenticeship whilst you continue to work as a teaching assistant.

If you feel that you want to further your career, you should organise a meeting with the head of the school to discuss your personal goals and ambitions to obtain the qualifications to become a fully trained teacher. The school may be able to offer you a deal, where they pay for your training while you continue to work as a teaching assistant, then once fully trained you will have a job with your own pupils.

To prepare yourself for the change of role, you could opt to lead some classes. This way you will know if teaching is definitely the right career choice before you begin your degree.

Alternative careers for teachers

If you are considering an alternative career path from your current job as a teacher, there are so many options out there for you. With experience of being a teacher you would a gained many skills that are easily transferrable across many other jobs. These include:

Exam marker- Exam marking is a great option if you want a break for face to face interaction. This career can help to boost your income, and provide you with time to consider your career choices.

Bank Teller- A bank teller can be an ideal career change for a teacher, this is due to your great communication skills and professional presence. Two skills required in the bank while helping their clients.

Educational supplier– Various companies have products that target teachers and the school sector, having a teacher to represent these products will help add some value to their product and also assist them in product marketing.

Becoming A Special Education Teacher – A Rewarding And Challenging Career

There are many rewards in store for those who step foot into the field of special education. If you have the drive to assist special needs students, then this career path could be perfect for you. There are several educational options to think about when considering a commitment to helping those with special needs. Special education certifications vary depending on the jurisdiction of where you want to teach, but many counties across England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales require a minimum of a bachelor’s degree and some require the completion of a master’s degree education.

If taking your education to a new level is of interest to you, then you might want to consider earning your supplemental degree online. Online programs can be less expensive than attending a traditional university. You also save commute time whilst you’re able to live at home. In addition to this, you also have the flexibility of taking courses and doing your independent study at your convenience – a lack of time doesn’t have to stand in the way of pursuing that desired degree.

Besides having the right educational qualifications, there are other traits that a good special education teacher should possess. A keen sense of empathy and understanding goes a long way in this field, whilst you often need to be creative in your teaching methods; being able to offer alternate ways of solving a problem for example. You should also be comfortable managing small classrooms and working one-on-one with students that have assorted learning challenges. Not all teachers are cut out for the tests that face special educators and there is an abundance of extra paperwork, as endless reports must be provided for the families as well as regulatory agencies and onsite school administrators. So do keep all of these points in mind if you’re considering a career as a special education teacher.

The reason why to apply for a job using a recruitment agency.

Finding a job isn’t an easy task especially when the jobs market is at a particularly competitive time. If you’re looking for a new role then you will be likely to find yourself applying for a wide range of positions, often many more than you might think you need to.

Often recruitment is just a game of luck, but there are certain things that you can actually do to increase your chances of finding a position.
It is not always that simple, though, and there is a range of other mitigating factors to consider such as; the standard of your qualifications, your work experience, the state of the current job market and the sector in which you wish to work.
One of the methods to get yourself noticed is to register with a recruitment agency. The recruiter will take care of your application and highlight all of your best points to a perspective employer. Recruiters can also give you feedback on your CV and interview technique- which can make a massive difference to your employability.

Becoming a student again

With the increasing need for qualifications in the workplace, more and more people are going back to college, or starting university courses in their 30s, 40s and beyond. In fact, in the UK about 20% of new graduates are over the age of 25. And it’s even higher in the US, with around 39% of students in the older age range. As with most things, there are advantages and disadvantages and it’s important to consider these before making a decision.

While 18 year olds are at university to improve their chances in the job market, they have many other reasons for being there. They wish to enjoy the student experience, often living away from home for the first time, with access to cheap alcohol and entertainment, new friends and a whole new environment. All of this is an important part of growing up and finding their way in the world, but gives older students a clear advantage, as they are usually much more focused on education as a means to a better job and an improved quality of life. Lecturers therefore welcome mature students, knowing that they are likely to take their studies more seriously than school leavers.

As an older student you might also have to adjust to having less money, especially if you had a well-paid job before. Alternatively, you may have to continue working in order to support a family. This can create additional stress and so you should plan your schedule before starting your course. If you feel that full-time work will not be possible, it is essential that you plan your finances accordingly, either by saving, taking out a loan and of course, checking to see if any financial aid is available in the form of study grants or bursaries.