Your dream of making a difference in education is becoming clearer and clearer, then comes the daunting final question: which position are you going to apply for when the time comes? You know that you want to work in a k-12 school, but what’s your ideal job?
The process of looking for and applying to schools is almost exactly the same for teachers as it is for students. You already picked a college and a major, you just didn’t think you’d have to do it again so soon! Follow these strategies below to uncover your ideal job in a k-12 school!
- Go over your work and volunteer history like a detective looking for patterns. What’s the common thread in your professional life and even in your personal life if you had to identify one? Career quizzes, personality tests, and college and career counselors are also great resources to help assess your passions and strengths.
- Take some time to reflect on what made you decide to pursue a career in education. What have you most enjoyed in your journey so far? You can hone in on your ideal job through figuring out what you would most enjoy spending your day doing.
- Join professional groups and clubs to network with peers who share your goals. Some have more direction than you, others have less, but everyone works together to motivate each other to achieve their goals. There’s no better people to talk to!
- Research schools on websites designed for parents to do their own research on where to send their kids. You can find out everything that the parents know about the school and not just what the administration will tell you. Find a job posting on a career board, then check comments from the parents about the school online.
- Try and visit the school campuses once you’re looking at specific jobs. Keep in mind that everyone will have their different ideal school in addition to their different ideal job. Could you commute there every day? How would you get along with the students, your coworkers, and the administration? Find out how long you would have to wait before you could transfer to another school to make sure you don’t get stuck in a job you don’t enjoy.
Following these strategies and asking yourself these questions will not only help you find your ideal job in a K-12 school, they will put you in a great place to ace your resume, cover letter, and interview!
For more information about working in schools and how to ace your resume, cover letter, and interview visit our Resources page here.
