Careers >> Browse Articles >> Career Profiles

+1

Three Ways to Get Into Teaching as a Second Career

Three Ways to Get Into Teaching as a Second Career

The challenge of creating a resume and cover letter for a teaching position is daunting enough when your credentials, experience, and qualifications are rooted in the educational community. However, the task becomes even more formidable when you are one of the 50,000 individuals who come to teaching every year via the alternative route certification program.

Many job seekers in this situation overtly play down their prior work experience in an education interview, hoping to focus the prospective employer solely on the minuscule classroom experience they have gained through student teaching or practicum work. This is a big mistake!

What you should first do is identify those skills that are transferable between your former career and that of teaching. For instance, if you have spearheaded training programs or volunteered in an adult literacy program for non-English speakers, these are skills you can highlight on your resume, as they are indicative of your teaching abilities.

Second, you should lead off the resume with a strong, education-focused profile that details the strengths and unique value you bring to the classroom. Be sure to use thoughtful keywords to demonstrate your understanding of “teacher-speak,” terms such as ‘cooperative learning’ or ‘cognitive development’ to describe your classroom style or objectives.

Third, use your cover letter to give your prospective reader some insight into why you elected to shift gears in your career with a transition into teaching. Seize the opportunity to discuss your talents and strengths, your enthusiasm and excitement, and your willingness to dig deep and do whatever it takes to make your dream of teaching a reality.

Read more.
Explore CareersThe Ultimate Guide to Getting a Job as a Teacher

Explore CareersA Guide to Teacher Interviews

Explore Careers100 Teacher Interview Questions

Explore Careers A New Guide: Interview Questions for Teachers of Every Grade & Subject


+1
  • Photo_user_blank_big

    sarareid

    21 days ago

    228 comments

    This is very informative article.I was wondering this stuff only. Thanks for such a great post. It is very useful for me. I would like to know more in this topic. Hope for know more in it.
    Thanks.

    adaptateur

  • Photo_user_blank_big

    tonysam

    4 months ago

    6 comments

    I hate to rain on this writer's parade, but if you're over 40, don't even bother with teaching. Age discrimination is rampant in the field. It is getting to the point where older teachers are more likely to be targeted by administrators and thrown out for the most bogus of charges. Better to retrain for a line of work which isn't so inhospitable to older workers.

Recent Activity

Photo_user_blank_big
zsazsa received the quiz result of "Hip Teacher", about 2 hours ago.
Photo_user_blank_big
zsazsa received the quiz result of "You should consider teaching math or science ", about 3 hours ago.
Dscn0496_max30
Katie_vesna received the quiz result of "School Leader Extraordinaire", about 3 hours ago.
Dscn0496_max30
Katie_vesna received the quiz result of "Spontaneous and Energetic Teacher", about 3 hours ago.
Photo_user_blank_big
lil_mami411 gave a thumbs down to The Article "25 Schools Hiring Now", about 4 hours ago.
Photo_user_blank_big
lil_mami411 received the quiz result of "Good candidate for Primary or Secondary Teaching", about 4 hours ago.
Photo_user_blank_big
kimtaylor commented on: "Lesson: LCROSS Moon Mission", about 5 hours ago.
Photo_user_blank_big
kimtaylor commented on: ""Link Up" Words", about 5 hours ago.
Photo_user_blank_big
kimtaylor commented on: "Fantastic Flexible Foldables for Math", about 5 hours ago.
Photo_user_blank_big
kimtaylor commented on: "Picture Book Maker", about 5 hours ago.